Quote:
Originally Posted by tyspet
I've been researching the cost to restore a 70 GTO interior - cant seem to find any repro dash pads. I've found dash pad covers for the 70, and I've seen in the ames catalogue there is a dash pad listed, but with no cost and just that you need to call them about it.
Do most people just use the pad covers?? I dont picture those working that well.
Where should I look??
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Hi everyone,
I haven't been on the site in a while. I just happen to have a few minutes this evening and decided to log in and see what was up.... and see that my ears should have been ringing!!
I searched around for a while and came to the same conclusion....they want a lot of money for a reconditioned dash. More than I wanted to invest for a dash pad at the time.
Ames Performance has a listing for an aftermarket dash for the 70, but the company that is supposed to build it hasn't came through yet and it may still be quite a while before one is available.
Here's roughly what I did for the install: I decided to use the cap from Ames Performance. First, I used 40 grit sand paper on a sanding block to sand the cracked dash down to remove any high spots. I had a lot of huge cracks that I filled with Liquid Nails (get at Home Depot). After repeated test fittings and some minor trimming around the driver's side air vents, it fit pretty well. I also used short screws in the bottom that I screwed up into the bottom of the dash to help hold the cap in place. Before I put the adhesive on, I gathered all kinds of wedges and blocks, weights, etc that I wanted to use to hold it down in place. Be careful wedging too hard against the windshield. I actually saw my windshield lifting while I was trying to apply pressure between the windshield and the dash cap top.
It took some work, but well worth it. For roughly $110, I now have a dash pad that looks pretty darned good. Most people will never know that its only a cap. I attached a pic of the before and after.
Good luck.
Dale
