Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?

[74 challenge]

I got a cap for my 73 Cuda as I could not buy a new dash and a new 5 speed at the same time. Mine does have the indent for the "barracuda" plate on the pass side. I trimmed off all the old dead foam and vinyl that was curled up and made what was left level. I took some expandable foam (which was probably not necessary) and sprayed some in the vacant spots and glued in the pad like the instructions said. I did trial fit first, and you have to cut out the VIN slot. Unless you look hard, that is the only place that is noticeable that it is not real. Of course, it is not like a new dash, but didn't cost a grand either.

could you not just leave the spot for the vin and get some new rivets and attach it on top for a cleaner look? I understand the merrit of not doing this with a huge dollar car but for most what is the issue?

[dpcd67]

Yes but I figured you are not supposed to remove a vin plate. It would have looked better to put it on the cover instead of cutting a little window for it, too late for me now.

[Sleepychallenger]

During the resto.........and now......

did you do yours in the car with the windshield out?

[Tejas R/T]

 

[dpcd67]

I left the windshield in.

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

did you do yours in the car with the windshield out?

I had the windshield out and the dash in..........worked well.  And it still is in the same shape today as when I put it in....The vin spot was already cut out in the pad........I glued it down in just a few places on the front and about 3 near the windshield bottom area. 

[Sleepychallenger]

So no script or plate on yours

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

So no script or plate on yours

No...........not even a spot where it should be......but as a lot have said...the $120 or so vs the $800+.........makes a lot difference when you are building a driver car. And that was all I started out to do.  I have been lucky and won a few awards but with so few Mopars around here.........there isn't too much competition either. 

[Sleepychallenger]

Do you think it is possible to heat that area and press in the name plate? Mine will be a driver but there are little things that I love on the car that I want to keep

[dpcd67]

I thought mine was the cheap version but it does have the inset for the BARRACUDA emblem on the  passengers side. I guess some are different. Pressing in the detent? I would call the maker and ask about that.

[Sleepychallenger]

I thought mine was the cheap version but it does have the inset for the BARRACUDA emblem on the  passengers side. I guess some are different. Pressing in the detent? I would call the maker and ask about that.

Where did you get yours? Was it the inset for the plate or the script?

[dpcd67]

It is an Accuform Plastics dash cap; it has a 4 inch inset on the right side so the Barracuda plate can be glued on to it.  I got it from a dealer on ebay.

[Sleepychallenger]

For those of you that left the dash in, how much of the pad did you trim before putting the cap on? What adhesive did you use? How did you brace it until it was dried.

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

If I remember right, there was a tube of adhesive with my cap.  I put it only in a few places to allow movement with heat and cold.  The pad had a few high spots so they were shaved down to level.  As you can see from the pics (old) there was the duct tape fix used too.

I had the windshield out and the dash in..........worked well.  And it still is in the same shape today as when I put it in....The vin spot was already cut out in the pad........I glued it down in just a few places on the front and about 3 near the windshield bottom area. 

[Sleepychallenger]

thanks Dave. Im trying to relay the info back as much as I can to try and get the cap to look as good as possible till I can afford a real dash