78-82 Plastic Dash Covers?

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Feb 29, 2004 | 04:16 PM

jerryjfunk

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Melting Slicks

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From: Pittsburgh PA

78-82 Plastic Dash Covers?

Does anyone have one of those plastic dash covers installed in their cars? I'm considering giving it a try for a quick fix until I have $500 laying around to buy a new dash. They say you almost can't tell it's a cover. Any experience with this? Better yet, any pictures of one installed?

Thanks!
Jerry

Feb 29, 2004 | 04:23 PM

78 Vette

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From: N.Y

Re: 78-82 Plastic Dash Covers? (jerryjfunk)

I never used one but I remember reading on this forum how more then one person had a horrible experience with the quality.

Feb 29, 2004 | 06:44 PM

kanka

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From: marble falls texas

Re: 78-82 Plastic Dash Covers? (jerryjfunk)

Had one on my 78 when I purchased it. THE sorriest peace of crap I ever seen!!! The fit was very bad , you had to glue around all open holes and sun caused it to warp no matter how you glued it down. don"t waste your money , if you do use the dash cap just plan on buying new gauge and cluster faces when you buy your new dash pad. :mad :confused: :cuss :reddevil

[Modified by kanka, 11:52 PM 2/29/2004]

[Modified by kanka, 11:54 PM 2/29/2004]

[Modified by kanka, 11:56 PM 2/29/2004]

Feb 29, 2004 | 08:06 PM

motown 71

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From: St. Clair Shores Michigan

Re: 78-82 Plastic Dash Covers? (kanka)

A little creativity for ya.
Fabric store carries thin leather, vinyl and many other coverings.
Use a expanding spray insullation to fill all cracks or inperfections,
also from the fabric store, a fabric adhesive. Using the leather a heat gun will help at all the corners and edges.
Yes I've done it. :thumbs:
P.S. total cost....under $15

[Modified by motown 71, 7:08 PM 2/29/2004]

Feb 29, 2004 | 08:59 PM

bjandajatbraves

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From: Doswell VA

Re: 78-82 Plastic Dash Covers? (jerryjfunk)

I just got one and put it on my 80. costed 100 $. I like it, I have no complaints. You'll have to paint your glove box because it doesn't cover it. Also you have to loosen a few minor areas which it tells you about for the cover to slide under them. It says to take off the headlight ****, which at the time I didn't want to do because I didn't want to get behind the insturment panel to get to the release button, so I just filed the hole out a little bigger, and it turned out fine. Also paint your defrost vent when you take it off so it matches. Make sure you have any work that you want to do that would involve taking off the dash (ex: wiring, door adjustment) finished, because this cap has no screws. That means If you want to take it off, you have to rip it off and buy some more of the adhesive stuff and reinstall it, which by the way wasn't really very time consuming. Oh yeah, they usually only come in black so you have to paint it, I used paint and no sand primer from zip. It took me more than one can of paint to get good coverage since the original black is a dark color. So anyway , I like mine.

Feb 29, 2004 | 09:11 PM

Enad

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From: Feenix Az

Re: 78-82 Plastic Dash Covers? (jerryjfunk)

I bought one because like you I didn't want to fork over $500 for a new dash. :smash: I did not care for it. I still ended up buying a new dash.

Dane

Mar 1, 2004 | 11:16 AM

jerryjfunk

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From: Pittsburgh PA

Re: 78-82 Plastic Dash Covers? (motown 71)

I was considering the more "creative" route, although I'm not as energetic as you. I was considering taking it to an upholstery shop or something and having them cover it. How did yours come out? Do you have a picture?

Mar 1, 2004 | 01:08 PM

Ak. Mal

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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg

Re: 78-82 Plastic Dash Covers? (motown 71)

Motown,

I've been thinking about doing this for a couple months now. I figure if I need to replace it anyways, I might as well try to recover it. If the results are bad I'm only out a little cash and some time.

Can you give me a little more detail on how to take care of the cracks? I have a large one on the front edge of my 80's dash. It has kind of pealed upwards. Do I need to cut that out or sand it down before filling the crack?

Any help you could offer I'd really appreciate.

Thanks