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c3 dash cap or complete pad?

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Old Apr 3, 2011 | 01:07 AM
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Default c3 dash cap or complete pad?

hi i have a 79 corvette with black interior except the dash pad is white. i want to change it to black so all the interior is the same, is it worth the saving to buy the dash caps? do they look tacky/ hard to install correctly. or should i spend the money and buy a new black dash pad. if anyone has a photo of one with a dash cap they have done on their own that would be great. thanks
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Old Apr 3, 2011 | 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by tobyj7
hi i have a 79 corvette with black interior except the dash pad is white. i want to change it to black so all the interior is the same, is it worth the saving to buy the dash caps? do they look tacky/ hard to install correctly. or should i spend the money and buy a new black dash pad. if anyone has a photo of one with a dash cap they have done on their own that would be great. thanks
toby-

To me.. if you were going to keep the car I would put the dash pad in it vs the cap.

The caps have made great strides in the past two years and do look better than ever, but there are things that just don't look right when they are installed.

One thing that always sticks out to me is the headlamp bezel won't fit very well. Another thing is I didn't care much for the way they fit around the center dash bezel or the speedo bezel. But the one thing that I see happen as they get older is that they tend to crack in the door jambs from the leading edge of the door.

Sure they can make a great improvement to the dash of the car especially if your dash pad is looking bad.

If you do decide you want one, we have these in the forum member special price section. Right now you'll receive an additional discount on this item by putting in the current sale code.

http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=27023

Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Apr 3, 2011 at 09:44 AM.
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Old Apr 3, 2011 | 10:49 AM
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Complete pad, hands down.
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Old Apr 3, 2011 | 01:55 PM
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Hi t,
Based on the posts I've read, I agree.... new pad.
Regards
Alan
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Old Apr 3, 2011 | 10:13 PM
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Here is the link for the dash pad assembly. If you use the current sales code you will get an additional discount off this price. The details are in the sales thread.

http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=24338
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Old Apr 4, 2011 | 05:17 AM
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yeah i think the pad is the go, thanks for feedback. how long would it take to change a pad it there much involved?
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Old Apr 4, 2011 | 05:00 PM
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This will help you install the pad.. http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=263 How long to install. Hard to ask me that question, I've done this to many times in the past.

Willcox
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Old Apr 4, 2011 | 08:09 PM
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Definitely go with the pad, no point in doing it half way!
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Old Apr 4, 2011 | 08:19 PM
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If the dash is not damaged, why don't you dye it?
I have found the replacements for interior parts to be of low quality in general.
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Old Apr 4, 2011 | 08:27 PM
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To me as one that has installed this CA repro pad... T

hey have made this pad to me better than what came on the car.
There are two flaws in the original pads that most are not aware of.. and CA has done a ton to correct both.

One is at the bottom by the steering column.. it was always to close to the column and would squeak.

Another one was the area around the glove box door. On the original pad where the door sits the original cars made the door almost look like it warped on the outer top side. The repro pad for the most part has corrected this issue.

The GM pads when available did not have holes drilled in it, and neither do the repros.. so you'll have to make sure you have the parts in the correct place but even that is not a huge deal. One of the most common goofs when installing this pad is when you put the screws in the center dash bezel. Make sure to use the correct length screws or it will pass though the pad and make a hole in the exterior.

This pad installs pretty quick as long as you follow directs.


IMHO
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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 12:22 AM
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I've installed the dash cap and I now want to put some 4x6 speakers in. It looks alright, and most people I've shown it to didn't notice that it was just a cover. That being said -- has anybody got any ideas? I can try and angle the speakers in from the bottom by removing the glove box/speedometer or I can cut the cap and try and make it look nice.

Advice would be most welcomed.
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