Dash Top Panel Installation
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 826
Likes: 3
From: Seabeck WA
Dash Top Panel Installation
I ordered a new dash top panel for my '89 from Corvette Central to replace the original one that had split. Of course, no instructions on how to install it. Has anyone ever done this before? How does it look?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 275
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Is straight forward remove the two screws at the demister outlet, then remove two screws above the center dash vents.
Now pull the dash towards you, the demister outlet gap is a nice place to pull it (needs quite a bit of effort but it pops out easilly), if you still have the speaker mounted to the dash pad check for it and lift the dash pad up and back. Disconnect the speaker wires and remove the dash pad completely.
Now for installation, place the dash pad and slide toward windsheild.
Leave a couple of inches and press the dashpad down while sliding it in place, there are four tabs that lock onto the windsheild frame and hold it down. Check the sides are down and nothing sticking up.
Then reattach the screws and you are ready for a test drive
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,142
Likes: 1,729
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Done it before, pretty straightforward once youre in there. Its a bit of a pain to get it in right while youre sitting in the car with it. I really recommend you make sure you don't drop or lose any clips or screws. Make sure that thing is snug in there before you put the plastic bezels back in.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 826
Likes: 3
From: Seabeck WA
Done it before, pretty straightforward once youre in there. Its a bit of a pain to get it in right while youre sitting in the car with it. I really recommend you make sure you don't drop or lose any clips or screws. Make sure that thing is snug in there before you put the plastic bezels back in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,082
Likes: 3
From: Conowingo Maryland
You had us confused. you will get sometype of glue to hold it down you will need to remove the 2 screws at the defrost duck. put down the adhesive slide it on and install the 2 screws. do not let the sun get near it as it will look like a wash board in no time. i tried 2 and got about 2 months out of each of them before they looked like crap. One day in 100 dg heat and they were toast. Good luck
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,889
Likes: 8
From: Whitefish Falls Ontario
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
If it's anything like the 84, there are 2 screws in the defrost vent and a total of 6 across the front.. 2 in the center and three on the left and one on the right end.. For the one om the right I had to remove the fuse cover and the side plastic.. On the center and left I removed the two bezels.. There are four clips across the back and also two on the front over the breadbox..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,227
Likes: 697
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Hi
Is straight forward remove the two screws at the demister outlet, then remove two screws above the center dash vents.
Now pull the dash towards you, the demister outlet gap is a nice place to pull it (needs quite a bit of effort but it pops out easilly), if you still have the speaker mounted to the dash pad check for it and lift the dash pad up and back. Disconnect the speaker wires and remove the dash pad completely.
Is straight forward remove the two screws at the demister outlet, then remove two screws above the center dash vents.
Now pull the dash towards you, the demister outlet gap is a nice place to pull it (needs quite a bit of effort but it pops out easilly), if you still have the speaker mounted to the dash pad check for it and lift the dash pad up and back. Disconnect the speaker wires and remove the dash pad completely.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
If it's anything like the 84, there are 2 screws in the defrost vent and a total of 6 across the front.. 2 in the center and three on the left and one on the right end.. For the one om the right I had to remove the fuse cover and the side plastic.. On the center and left I removed the two bezels.. There are four clips across the back and also two on the front over the breadbox..
This is the way the screws are on my 89 also..The only difference is there is only 1 clip over the Bread box. Once all the screws are removed the pad has to be pulled straight back and then lifted up slightly to clear the front....WW
Last edited by WW7; May 22, 2014 at 10:24 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 826
Likes: 3
From: Seabeck WA
Thanks to all for your input. I just tried to remove the old dashtop speaker grilles (I have new ones) prior to installing my replacement dash cap. Gawd! They're - like - screwed in from underneath the dash or something. I can't get to them or even pry the *x!%$xx things loose from the top!. So, Is the only way to get to them to pull the dash, anyhow? Please, tell me there's another way to remove them!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,227
Likes: 697
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Thanks to all for your input. I just tried to remove the old dashtop speaker grilles (I have new ones) prior to installing my replacement dash cap. Gawd! They're - like - screwed in from underneath the dash or something. I can't get to them or even pry the *x!%$xx things loose from the top!. So, Is the only way to get to them to pull the dash, anyhow? Please, tell me there's another way to remove them!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 23
From: mesa az
Yes it's expensive and it took me a couple months of searching for a nice dash pad. You can buy a excellent condition dash pad for $225-$250 shipped. Not bad compared to $400+ from a vendor. My own plan of attack for each hurdle has been to save the money and keep in mind how much it will improve the car. If you want you can just put a fabric pad over on it and forget about it. All the trouble I went to was to cover up the gap created when mine split. I still have the cover over top and you can't see it's new. But the gap has been closed so mission accomplished.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,227
Likes: 697
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Yes it's expensive and it took me a couple months of searching for a nice dash pad. You can buy a excellent condition dash pad for $225-$250 shipped. Not bad compared to $400+ from a vendor. My own plan of attack for each hurdle has been to save the money and keep in mind how much it will improve the car. If you want you can just put a fabric pad over on it and forget about it. All the trouble I went to was to cover up the gap created when mine split. I still have the cover over top and you can't see it's new. But the gap has been closed so mission accomplished.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 23
From: mesa az
I paid $125 plus $40 shipping for a reproduction dash pad. Never installed. I found it on Craigslist. I was extremely lucky. However I don't think if he buys a pad that is in excellent condition it will suddenly crack.I could be WRONG and it just might split right down the middle and his money wasted. He is the one who has to decide where to draw the line with cash into the money pit. I know where there is a pad out of a wrecked 1986 or 1987 that looks brand new. I inspected it in Carson CA. He is asking $225. At the time I did not have the cash or I would have bought it. I purchased a different part out of the same car. He has the parts inside out of the car.The sun in my opinion is why plastic gets brittle. A garaged car isn't gonna suffer the same as a car which gets lots of sun exposure.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 826
Likes: 3
From: Seabeck WA
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. You were right with the number of screws and how to pull it loose and then get it back in again. The new dash cap and speaker grilles (all black) look great together. I AM A HAPPY CAMPER!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 826
Likes: 3
From: Seabeck WA
New Dashtop Cap & Speaker Grilles
I'll try to post some but it may be a few days. Zip CV sent me two left-hand speaker grilles so I won't have the whole thing permanently assembled/glued in until I receive the right grille from them.