HAS ANYONE USED A DASH PAD COVER FOR THEIR DASH?? INPUT??

[4THECHALLENGE]

HAS ANYONE GONE WITH THE CHEAP AL;TERNATIVE TO REPAIR A DASH?? JUST WONDERING LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK SINCE IM CONSIDERING THIS.

[nivvy]

I still run a carpet looking dash pad cover from year one.its nice n all but im just to lazy to pull the dash........    its the last int piece to replace... summer time ill go with a new pad all together.......... nice for a temp fix is all....... 

[wiiildcat]

I put one of the hard covers on and it cracked in about 3 weeks, was only 60 bucs and I did have the car outside in sun with windows up

[4THECHALLENGE]

how is it as far as looks??

[MEK-Dangerfield]

You should be able to get one of the hard covers for around $100. The looks aren't bad at all, but I just didn't like the hard plastic feel to it. Besides, it sounds like you have to take your original dashpad out to get this hard cap on correctly.   


   Mike

[Slotts]

It depends on your tastes. It won't put a check in the plus column, if you decide to sell the car.
You can easily spot a cover around the vin tag, vent, etc before even toughing it.
With all of the work involved, maybe hitting the swaps would be worth the time.

 

Slotts

[422STROKER]

Depends what you want out of it.

I am happy with mine and would rather find something else to spend the $$ on.  My car will never be worth all the $$ with the mods so for now the cap stays.

Tom

BTW, the VIN area is usually tough and the vents as well.  but all in all not to bad for the $$.  I paid 85 on the bag for it.


By tdavist, shot with DSC-W55 at 2008-08-21


By tdavist, shot with DSC-P72 at 2008-03-30

By tdavist, shot with DSC-P72 at 2008-04-09


By tdavist, shot with DSC-P72 at 2008-04-09

[loco340cuda]

If money is tight and you want a decent fix for you dash I would say go for it. These caps are good for drivers but if you have a nice car I would say get the pad replaced.   Since my car is currently a driver I just went with a cap.  It was worth the $90 I paid for it.  In the future when I get the car painted I will go ahead and a get a new dash pad.  I have attached some before and after picts to give you an idea what a difference it made with my car.  Just to note in the after pictures the flash on the camera makes the dash look a little white and chalky but in person it looks clean and black.

[71bigblock]

I have one on mine, it was there when I bought the car.  Looks fine for now, someday when everything is gone through, it will get replaced. 

[js27]

I have used several on B and E bodies. I never had a problem with them at all. I had a choice between $ 800.00 for a new pad or $ 98.00 for a cover and $ 25.00 for some dye and put the other $677.00 to good use. If the dash is out of the car and you take your time and trim around the vin and then use a light bead of silicon around the edges you should be fine.
JS27

[4THECHALLENGE]

thanks for sharing. What do you guys think of the five hundred dollar dash pads on eBay? So far after this I'm considering going with the dash cover any suggestions on brand?

[Srobinson4]

Depending on how you are using the car I would say spend the money if you can.  It is well worth it. 


SRR

[Changin Gears]

Another thing you can do with the cover is cover up unused A/C vents.

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

Dash cap on mine.  Check out chapter 48 in my resto site.   It shows a few pics of the new cap installed.  I am pleased.  Mine is a driver but I still can't see $800 for a new pad.

http://www.papadaveonline.com/images/Albums/48/

[moparmussel]

i have used 3 dash caps on projects and when installed properly work fine! cut away loose chunks of old dash pad,and i smoothed a little calking over the large holes. when glueing use a lot of criss cross,try not to blob glue. glue around complete hole for vents,vin etc. stack some weight on cover to have good contact while drying.final coat of vynal protectant,looks great. well,looks great for $100 solution to $900 problem!