Author Topic: Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?  (Read 10140 times)

Offline 440CudaDriver

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Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« on: March 21, 2013 - 05:58:59 PM »
So I got a dash cap for my cracked dash in my challenger and this thing does not fit like a glove..
I searched you tube for dash cap installs and all I found was a 79 trans am and that cap was a piece of cake!
Anyone who's done one please share some tips
Thanks
1973 Challenger 340 Vanishing Point white
2014 Challenger RT Plus Orange




Offline usraptr

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Re: Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2013 - 06:46:03 PM »
Did you take your dash assembly out of the car?  It's not that hard.  I can imagine it being a PIA if you leave the dash assembly in.  Out of the car should be a piece of cake as I'm sure they were installed as an assembly at the factory.  My 2 cents.  Good luck.
1970 Plymouth 'Cuda.  Matching numbers 440 U Code, 4 speed pistol grip, Rallye dash, AM 8 Track, Shaker hood, 15 inch rallye wheels, Dana 60 4.10, Super Track Pak.  One of 134 - 440 "U" coupes codes built in 1970 and one of 100 - 440 Super Track Paks built in 1970.

Restoration pictures at:  http://spanks4thememory.smugmug.com/Cars/70-Cuda/7240639_M24oi#465274575_2MBqW
(Edited 8-1-17)

"usraptr" = United States raptor - bird of prey = United States Bald Eagle.  FYI, somebody else thought of it first so I had to drop the "O" in raptor.

Offline blown motor

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Re: Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2013 - 06:50:39 PM »
By dash cap do you mean dash pad or dash pad cover. I believe there is good info on replacing the dash pad in the archives section of this forum.
In search of the eternal buzz!

Offline 'Cuda Hunter

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Re: Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2013 - 07:25:57 PM »
If your doing the Dash Cap, I would suggest removing the full dash and do it out of the car.
That will make a huge difference on the finish product.

"All riches begin as a state of mind and you have complete control of your mind"  -- B. Lee

Offline shoooter

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Re: Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2013 - 07:30:10 PM »
If your doing the Dash Cap, I would suggest removing the full dash and do it out of the car.
That will make a huge difference on the finish product.

What the easiest way to remove the whole dash assembly? Any links? I would imagine it would be easier out of the car

Offline 'Cuda Hunter

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Re: Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2013 - 07:35:59 PM »
It has been discussed many times here.
Some guys here say they can do a full dash out in twenty minutes.  That is the dash and frame of course.
Took me a couple days out and  back in.
"All riches begin as a state of mind and you have complete control of your mind"  -- B. Lee

Offline 'Cuda Hunter

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Re: Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2013 - 07:38:02 PM »
"All riches begin as a state of mind and you have complete control of your mind"  -- B. Lee

Offline 440CudaDriver

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Re: Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« Reply #7 on: March 21, 2013 - 08:56:44 PM »
Dash pad cover glue on type
My dash is in good shape except the top
I figured you would fit it and glue it seems more complicated
1973 Challenger 340 Vanishing Point white
2014 Challenger RT Plus Orange

Offline gkring

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Re: Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« Reply #8 on: March 21, 2013 - 10:03:53 PM »
Trying to glue it was worthless for me. I used a cap on the barracuda until there was a group buy a few years ago from ultimate rides. Anyway the best luck I had was trimming carefully to allow the center speaker cover to hold most of it in place. A few well placed black flat head trim screws combined with gravity held the rest down. Looks okay from outside the car and sure beats 40 year old dry cracked foam looking at you. Think of it as a stop gap until you can save up for a real dash.
Greg
1970 Challenger convertible-in process
1970 Barracuda driver

Offline challengermaniac

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Re: Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« Reply #9 on: March 21, 2013 - 10:06:31 PM »
New Dash Pads are GOOD.  New Dash Caps are BAD!
Charlie
70 Challenger 340/4 Purple
70 Challenger T/A Red
Edmonds, WA

Offline 7212Mopar

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Re: Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2013 - 01:30:51 AM »
I just ripped out a dash cap installed by the previous owner that did the restoration. They used silicone to hold it down. I think the sun eventually made the area around the defroster vents wrapped. Looks ok from afar but not very good up close and feels like plastic. The area of the vin tag is especially ugly. I am waiting for the new dash pad from Roseville to reinstall. Just sharing what I found and whatever you see will work for you.
1973 Challenger Rallye, AT with 1971 340
2012 Challenger SRT8 392 YJ,  6 spd

Offline 440CudaDriver

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Re: Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2013 - 08:40:37 AM »
Sounds like going backwards to me. Thanks for all the input I think I will return the pad cover and order a new dash pad when I got some extra money.
1973 Challenger 340 Vanishing Point white
2014 Challenger RT Plus Orange

Offline 72cudamaan

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Re: Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2013 - 11:16:58 AM »
Sounds like going backwards to me. Thanks for all the input I think I will return the pad cover and order a new dash pad when I got some extra money.

Unfortunately you just missed the group buy for dashes. And UR just announced a major price increase. Maybe if you
hurry you can find a replacement from old inventory? (Not NOS, but dealers stock I mean.)
If I cant fix it, it's broke
 
Andy  (phukker whither)

Offline 72cudamaan

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Re: Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« Reply #13 on: March 22, 2013 - 11:18:27 AM »
Would these pads work better if you take the dash out of the car and strip the old vinyl and foam off? Then the pad would
sit at the correct height.
If I cant fix it, it's broke
 
Andy  (phukker whither)

Offline Surfmichaels

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Legendary dash cap.. Not as easy as it looks?
« Reply #14 on: March 22, 2013 - 11:40:56 AM »
What did people do before the aftermarket parts were available? I've searched for DIY dash pad rebuilds but the only thing I could find on the whole internets was this one link http://roykeithclassics.com/Dash_Pad_Repair.html

Anyone try something similar?