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What's the latest in a replacement for a cracked Camaro dash pad?
Mine was more or less perfect until I pulled the car out of cold storage this spring. There are no less than a half a dozen splits now!
I've read just about every thread...
I've also come across these on E-Bay:
1984-1992 Chevrolet Camaro Z-28 Dash Cap Skin Overlay Cover - 223 Chevy $102.55
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1984-1992-Chevrolet-Camaro-Z-28-Dash-Cap-Skin-Overlay-Cover-223-Chevy/271646886415?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29384%26meid%3Dc33e7ad7c8144d428b8736fb461584ad%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D370621091912&rt=nc
NEW Molded Dash Cover / Top Pad Cap / FOR 1984-1992 CAMARO $129.99
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Molded-Dash-Cover-Top-Pad-Cap-FOR-1984-1992-CAMARO-/370621091912?hash=item564abd1048&vxp=mtr
1982-1992 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z28 IROC DASH COVER MAT DASHMAT BLACK black $39.95
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1982-1992-CHEVROLET-CAMARO-Z28-IROC-DASH-COVER-MAT-DASHMAT-BLACK-black/191275234849?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29384%26meid%3D6671a63141b9427b81fa877735c9092e%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D271646886415&rt=nc
Please share your experiences.
Thanks.
I used one of those covers on my old pad to hold me over till I found a good one.They really look good in the car.The only thing (for TAs)they only come in the early 82-84 version and they just cover the speakers like the Camaro's
(TAs have the speaker grills)but I was very satisfied with it.
I have one of those overlays that came with my car and it had such a high gloss finish that I just pulled it out this weekend and hit it with a matte finish so it would not reflect of windshield and make it impossible to see out during certain times of day from sunlight.
I have to say that from the pictures, it looks pretty good. That it's an overlay doesn't really matter that much to me one way or the other. It all looks a lot better than a dozen splits.
I'll have to zero in on exactly which product that is before I decide to order one.
Please keep us posted on what you decide to go with. Mine cracked from sitting outside in the cold this winter. This is the second one I've had that has cracked.
As I have a spare dash pad or two(...all cracked) I may try the Plasti-Dip approach. I'm thinking I could fill the small and very narrow cracks I have with a latex caulk and then give the whole works a spray job.
I've got nothing to lose but a can of spray paint.
One of the ones mentioned above for $147 is now only $10 with free shipping. I believe there are 3 left. I bought 2!!!
And they'll be sold out in 3......2......1....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121273035940?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
One of the ones mentioned above for $147 is now only $10 with free shipping. I believe there are 3 left. I bought 2!!!
And they'll be sold out in 3......2......1.... http://www.ebay.com/itm/121273035940...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
WOW,$10,You cannot go wrong with that!!!Buy it now.
I have considered recovering mine with vinyl but it's so bad I'd have to do bodywork to it first. I got to thinking that a cover like this would smooth out the surface well enough to be covered. The replacement dash pads are very expensive and as others have experienced are still not immune to cracking. It seems recovering one would be a closer-to-permanent solution.
How close is the fit of one of these covers? Do you think it could be attached to the factory pad and then cover the assembly. One issue it seems would be getting to the attaching screws down in the defrost vents. I can't remember if there are screws at the windshield base.
From the pictures I've seen, the covers are a reasonable solution. Certainly better than a dash that has a dozen splits like mine developed over the winter.
I would think that if you installed the dash cover and then attempted to recover that, it may prove problematic. It seems that the covers are difficult enough to manage without a pad on top of it.
This is one the best examples I've seen of a straightfroward recovering of a factory pad. I may just go out and find an interior shop that would be willing to take on the job. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...-dash-pad.html
From the pictures I've seen, the covers are a reasonable solution. Certainly better than a dash that has a dozen splits like mine developed over the winter.
I would think that if you installed the dash cover and then attempted to recover that, it may prove problematic. It seems that the covers are difficult enough to manage without a pad on top of it.
This is one the best examples I've seen of a straightfroward recovering of a factory pad. I may just go out and find an interior shop that would be willing to take on the job. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...-dash-pad.html
Good find on that thread. That is really what I am talking about. I hadn't thought about striping the outer cover off. This is a no brainer for me. I have a walking foot consew that I use for misc jobs like shifter boots, door panels etc. I haven't attempted seats yet as I'm a novice/hobbyist. Getting my seats kit made by Princess so I may try this in the mean time. Thanks a bunch. Oh and the covers do look great. The only issue for me is the crunched corners which it doesn't look like the covers, well, cover. Or do they?
The only issue for me is the crunched corners which it doesn't look like the covers, well, cover. Or do they?
Good question. I haven't seen one in person or had a close up view of an installed picture. I have one busted corner too in addition to all the splits.
I'll have to ask around.
Looking at 84 1LE's pictures, there's none showing the finished product with the corners sewn up. I'd like to see how that came out too.
Best pic I got before I painted it, I havent taken a pic since. It looked great but the glare was crazy.
That does look pretty good.
It's a little difficult to tell from the this picture but how well does the cover conceal the extreme corners of the original? I ask becasue one of my corners is broken off and if the pad only overlays to a certain degree, then the broken bit will be obvious. It kind of looks like the original hangs down a little from the cover...
Best pic I got before I painted it, I havent taken a pic since. It looked great but the glare was crazy.
It appears that you installed your cover without taking the AC Vents off.I can see the old dash there.The one I had for the TA,you removed them and place them on the cover.
Good question. I haven't seen one in person or had a close up view of an installed picture. I have one busted corner too in addition to all the splits.
I'll have to ask around.
Looking at 84 1LE's pictures, there's none showing the finished product with the corners sewn up. I'd like to see how that came out too.
Thought my ears were burning! Which corner you referring to? Pretty sure I posted pics with corner/s before (w/ foam) & after (w/ stitching).
I recovered mine this past weekend. Started Sat afternoon finished Sun. It's really not too difficult if you have decent crafting skills and can do a little bodywork lol. I originally planned to stitch the corners but was concerned about getting them placed correctly since I would have stitched them first, then glued it to the dash. Anyway, I took a bunch of pics and will start a thread about doing it cause I learned a few tricks. My dash was horrible so I am very happy. As you can see the corners aren't perfect but look worse in the pics than it does in the car. The drivers side came out a lot better than the passengers did.
Has anyone installed a cap? Any pictures of one of those?
I know the 70-72 GTO/LeMans dash caps fit really nicely and you have to actually touch them to tell there is one on once they've been installed correctly.
I did with the 86 TA,it fit like a glove,it was great!the only thing that I didn't like was the speaker grills and the fact that it's molded for the 82-84.
Those look like a decent way to hide the cracks! I ended up getting a new replacement pad (OER makes one for Camaros) - but it costs twice as much as one of those caps.
Only issue is if you have a 82-84 Camaro, they're not an exact match…but close enough unless you're doing a concours restoration...
Those look like a decent way to hide the cracks! I ended up getting a new replacement pad (OER makes one for Camaros) - but it costs twice as much as one of those caps.
I'm inclined to go with a replacement pad rather than a cap but I'm interested in pictures of either. Part numbers or links too.
Haven't seen that one. I see they have an overlay and a replacement pad.
Okay guys....heres the skinny on my experience with coverlay dash caps...and what I beleive will also will be the testimony of "WifesCar" judging by his pics from above. I ordered one and installed it EXACTLY like the instructions stated. It says to clean the dash and underside of of new cap with windex....did that. It then says to use the clear silicone they provide ONLY around the outside edges and around speaker and defrost vents. Do NOT use the silicone all over as it needs to be able to flex, contract, in the hot and cold. I did all this. I let it dry for two days in the house with no sun exposure to let it cure. Guys....this is not a good product. After installing it, it sat in the sun with the t-tops out for no more than 2 hours while I was detailing the car and it bubbled up in the middle no less than a full inch and a half and then laid back down when it cooled off. While it bubbled up it broke all silicone seals and needed to be reglued. The silicone stuck to the original dash great, but the backing on the overlay cap was shiny and very slick so it didnt stick at all. I removed all silicone from original dash and then sanded and scuffed the overlay cap's backside so it would stick better....but before gluing I rechecked it for fitment and sure enough, it had warped! It snapped back on, but did not fit like a glove like it had right out of the box. the worst warped spots were the speaker covers. One was concaved, and the other was bubbled out, and it had a warped spot right in the middle of the dash.. Looked horrible. Now scroll up and look at WifesCar's photo posted above and pay close attention to the speaker covers and you will see the slight warping. Also right in the middle of the dash. Yes it looks better than a cracked dash, but it is still highly visible when sitting in the car. Trust me. So, this time, going AGAINST the instructions for gluing it, I went with a much better adhesive. Permatex black silicone. It is a much better adhesive and has a higher heat resistance. Instead of gluing it only on the edges to allow flexing....I bought a big tube to go into a caulk gun and glued the crap out of it. It doesnt move a bit and has sat in the ninety degree weather now for over a month. It is MUCH better than gluing around the edges if you scuff it like i did and scrap the windex and use rubbing alcohol! However, what was warped is still warped even glued down. Cant change that. It has not gotten any worse even sitting in the direct sun though. I even tried heating it with a heat gun and flatening it back out. It worked somewhat, but still showes where it warped. So...bottom line, if your going to get the cover cap, scuff it really good on the underside, clean everything with rubbing alcohol, and throw out that cheap silicone provided and get you some permatex black silicone, and glue the sh*t out of it. I am not happy with it at all. I cant stand sitting behind my dash pad that essentially looks just like Wifescar's but that is just me. I have contemplated buying yet another cover cap and starting over with my new found knowledge, but dont want to risk it. So I have found one a little cheaper than OER, classic industries, ecklers Ricks Camaros from "the parts place" on AMAZON for 399.00 that is a reproduction. I should also say that The Parts Place has a website too but their dash pad is higher on their site than they price them for on amazon. I guess because of mass quantity? not sure why, but I will try it out and let you guys know the good, the bad, and the ugly. Ordering it now. If you are interested in this reproduction pad, the product # on amazon is IN3666R Just put that in the search bar when you go to amazon.
Scratch that....Amazon wanted 399.00 plus 76.00 for shipping. Found the exact same seller on ebay with their exact same product IN3666R for the same 399.00 but only 46.00 shipping. Going with Ebay and will update when it arrives!
My cap came with the car, I have bought abother un cracked dash from a friend for cheeeeeaaaaap. But don't want to install it because it's so nice lol. It's in my spare room closet for safe keeping. But the cap does have a slight wave to it but it's much much much better than the cracked dash. I did have to hit the top with a matte coat to reduce glare on the windshield.
I've been contemplating carrying it to a local upholstery shop and having it wrapped in black leather to match my seats, then find a leather steering wheel and shift ****.
