I have an 70 A-body Rally dash that is in good shape (ie. No cracks), but otherwise needs completely refinished. Re-chromed, painted, woodgrain, etc. Is there a way to refinish this at home? Where can I just get it rechromed? Where can I buy the woodgrain? I can get a new bezel from BEA for $445, and I did some price checking on dash restoration shops, and to have the bezel restored, it will cost nearly that much. Are restorations of these parts going to the wayside, since new parts are now available?? Should I sell quick before everyone realizes this?

thanks

If you are close to Medina (about 30 mins South of Cleveland), give Mike at BEA a call and stop by his shop. See the part in person, and my guess is you'll leave with it.

Even if the resto on your bezel comes out top-notch, all that work was done on almost 40 year old plastic. That alone would give me serious pause.

i bet those shops were low balling you on the price to restore your dash, they know the ropos are out.

Take it from me, I was in the same situation you were in two years ago. I had a perfect rallye dash cluster for my 70 Duster, just needed to be restored. I sent it to Mr. G's and he rechromed it, repainted the black, polished up the lenses, etc. It looked gorgeous, unfortunately though, compared to the one that Mike sells at BE/A, it looked like crap.

Restored one's basically get vacuum sealed with the same foil you use on model cars, or so i was told by Mr. G's. I made the mistake of puting tape along the bottom of the bezel when repainting some scratches in my frame, it peeled all of the chrome off of the cluster!

For the price, just go out and buy one from Mike, you won't be disappointed. I just bought one before MATS earlier this year, i get compliments on it all of the time!

You can restore it yourself, but it wont look as good as a new one. Most people spray the whole cluster down with argent silver or something comparable, paint the black with a semi-flat, and the woodgrain you can get from almost anyone. But seriously, just get a new one.

It's all about personal choice. Mikes product is a great looking piece, but it's just the plastic bezel/lenses, etc., you will still need to get the rest of the gauges rebuilt etc. Mikes are chromed with real chrome plating which is more durable than the factory vaccuum plated originals, but not exactly "correct" in that respect either. As far as accuracey, I've noticed a few tiny variables in the molded in letters on the faces but only us "2% ers" as Mike calls me ( ) would ever notice it. They are, and look very nice overall.



I've restored my own using originals that have been rechromed (vaccuum metalized) by www.gcartrim.com, if you have a nice mint plastic core and have GCAR re-chrome and detail it you'll likey invest roughly the same money as you would buying a new one from Mike and you will have a very nice 100% original/appearing piece when it's done.

If you just send the entire dash cluster assembly, gauges and all, you can spend from $1,000-$1,500.00 for a completely restored unit ready to bolt in (that's what mine have run anyway). The variables include gauge replacements if needed, optional internal gauge upgrades or additions, misc. plastic repairs if needed, etc.



*BTW, in response to Batman, I wouldn't send my worst enemies parts to Mr.G's!

Thanks for the comments guys. Since the Rally dash would be replacing the standard dash, and it's not going to be a 100 point's resto, I think my money would be better spent on the repo. The gauges look good, I'd just have to test them, and maybe I can polish the lenses to make them look decent.

Mike's got lenses too!

I think those are included in the lenses Mike sells.