ramairthree
Well-Known Member
dash cap option.
Like many of you with cars this old,
I had a pretty nasty looking dash.
Now, with barely driver quality 73 Satellite interior, no headliner, and wrong color/pattern buckets, plus a ratty carpet, a valid question is "why worry about the dash?"
Well, because I have little free time, and do my projects one thing at a time.
Dash caps are a third or less the cost of a dash pad, and in MOST cars just a quick clean and install.
However, for those of you with this generation B-body, I have to warn you about that wood grain trim on the passenger side.
It is held in by half a dozen phillips head screws. You cannot properly fit/install the dash cap with it on. And at least three of the screws, even with ash tray and glove box out, you cannot get to- be it a flexible shaft screwdriver, swivels on socket extensions, etc.
To really get it out right, you need to remove the dash. And in my opinion, if you are going to have to do that, just do the dash pad.
It is a better fit than the cap, will look better and last longer. Anyways, that is my two cents on this after my escapade.
It is not that it does not improve the look, just that if you are going to need to do that much effort just invest the extra cost of a read dash pad. Also, some have great long term results with a cap, others break them relativly quick.
some armor all to the wood grain, and ten minutes with a tooth pick and some model paint were all I did for the insert.
Like many of you with cars this old,
I had a pretty nasty looking dash.
Now, with barely driver quality 73 Satellite interior, no headliner, and wrong color/pattern buckets, plus a ratty carpet, a valid question is "why worry about the dash?"
Well, because I have little free time, and do my projects one thing at a time.
Dash caps are a third or less the cost of a dash pad, and in MOST cars just a quick clean and install.
However, for those of you with this generation B-body, I have to warn you about that wood grain trim on the passenger side.
It is held in by half a dozen phillips head screws. You cannot properly fit/install the dash cap with it on. And at least three of the screws, even with ash tray and glove box out, you cannot get to- be it a flexible shaft screwdriver, swivels on socket extensions, etc.
To really get it out right, you need to remove the dash. And in my opinion, if you are going to have to do that, just do the dash pad.
It is a better fit than the cap, will look better and last longer. Anyways, that is my two cents on this after my escapade.
It is not that it does not improve the look, just that if you are going to need to do that much effort just invest the extra cost of a read dash pad. Also, some have great long term results with a cap, others break them relativly quick.
some armor all to the wood grain, and ten minutes with a tooth pick and some model paint were all I did for the insert.
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