So, the dash on my 83 was TRAAAASH! It's been cracked in so many places that it's just in pieces.

Exhibit A:


So, I bought a new Dash pad. BUT, the new one doesn't have the two grooves along the front edge, obviously the original dash. So, if I want to go back to stock, I need that. I also think the newer dashes are too deep. The holes didn't quite line up right. Did any of you pay for a Just Dashes restore? How much was it, if I may ask...

Thanks!

 

I have an 82-84 dash pad in my 88. It does have the "seam" along the front edge, but it bolted up fine. None of the dash plastic is exactly tight tolerance, try putting in the screws just halfway until they're all in. you may have to wiggle the dash pad around a little, to get them to line up.

 

Wanna swap? I got an 88 dash...

 

There are actually two different '82-84 Firebird dashpads. The first design that was used in '82 and the early part of '83 had speaker grills that snap in and have square corners. These were very prone to cracking from the corners of the speaker grill openings and many were replaced by dealers while the car was still under warranty.

The 2nd design has bolt-in speaker grills with round corners. This style doesn't usually have cracking problems unless the dash pad is really baked from the sun.

Last I heard, Just Dashes gets around $600 to do a 3rd-gen dash pad.

 

i have one of those 82-84 dash pads i would let go cheap for ya if you want. It has two small cracks, one each coming out of a corner of each speaker grille and runs to the corner of the front defroster vent, probably 3 inches i'd guess. you can repair it, there was a magazine that did a write-up on how to do it on an old challenger dash that's made of the same stuff. Repaint it with some good vinyl paint and done. It'd be easier that fixing yours and finding a mint 82-84 one. PM me if you want more info, thanks
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actually, nevermind, just realized you have a bird, the pad i have is for a camaro.