Dash Pad 'Caps' Quality?

Posted By: TMP66

Dash Pad 'Caps' Quality? - 10/27/08 02:39 AM

I'm thinking of buying one of the dash pad 'caps' for my '66 Belvedere.
I've never seen one. Just how tolerable is the fit, quality and looks of these things?
Thanks!

Posted By: pishta

Re: Dash Pad 'Caps' Quality? - 10/27/08 02:46 AM

I looked at a cap for my '65 Barracuda, it was a vacuum formed hard vinyl shell that fit over the existing foam pad. It was nice looking but didnt feel correct, obviously, but the look was nice. It secured by an adhesive. at 70 bucks, it looked great, but wasnt in the budget.

Posted By: Scott Carl

Re: Dash Pad 'Caps' Quality? - 10/27/08 03:20 AM

I have been looking for a solution for my Challenger dash and found this: http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/howto/5139_dashboard_rebuild/index.html

Its made by a company called Accuform Plastics and for the E- body its around $125. The article claims they are similar to original in feel and look. I'm going for it as soon as I can justify the cost

Posted By: Lefty

Re: Dash Pad 'Caps' Quality? - 10/27/08 04:23 AM

Quote:

Just how tolerable is the fit, quality and looks of these things?

I can only answer for the cap I bought for my 66 Coronet. The fit is only as good as the job you do when gluing the cap to your old dash pad. It's not fun because silicone sealer is messy stuff. The quality is ok, but they aren�t going to pass as an original anywhere. Mine looks good to me, but I didn't build the car to do the "show" circuit. I'd say they are great for a driver, but no more than that.

Posted By: Jim_Lusk

Re: Dash Pad 'Caps' Quality? - 10/27/08 04:23 AM

I put one in my old 67 Barracuda fastback. Fit was not real good, but from the passenger compartment it looked good enough. You could see how it didn't fit well though the windshield.

Posted By: DaytonaTurbo

Re: Dash Pad 'Caps' Quality? - 10/27/08 06:28 AM

I bought one for my sig car but never did install it. My dash is cracked badly so I figured anything will be an improvement. It's hard plastic but hey not like that vinyl on my stock dash is anything close to stock after 35 years of the sun beating down on it.

Posted By: dgc333

Re: Dash Pad 'Caps' Quality? - 10/27/08 12:38 PM

Quote:

Just how tolerable is the fit, quality and looks of these things?
Thanks!

I have had one in my 68 Barracuda since 2000. The grain is not quite the same and it does make the dash pad harder to the feel but if you didn't know it was a glue on piece there is nothing that would make you take notice.

Posted By: NV69B7RR

Re: Dash Pad 'Caps' Quality? - 10/27/08 03:34 PM

I had one for my old 70 Cuda and wound up selling it. The fit was very poor, required lots of trimming and just didn't fit quite right. Also the texture was almost smooth compared to an original pad. Put the $ from that towards a new pad, you'll be much happier in the long run.