OK, I spent 4 hours last night surfing TC for information specific to the restoration of my dash. I do have a seatbelt light for a 05C build date.

Two issues:

one - was the dash chromed first or not. I can't tell on mine because someone repainted it. For judging purposed would it be correct to paint the silver?

two - was the area around the gauges flat and the rest of the dash semigloss or was the entire dash semigloss?

I know when I restored my 1964 Vette I could just go straight to my judging manual. I bought Paul Herd's Restoration Guide and it is missing a bunch of information specific to a correct restoration.

I guess my additional question is this......is there and authoratative book or website I can go to to get questions answered?

I'm surely not an expert in this subject, but I will tell you what I believe to be true. The whole dash was semi-gloss, not flat black. If you paint the silver around the holes, it will NOT be correct, they need to be silver.

If you want a correctly restored dash, and money is not a problem, try http://www.cvvacuumplaters.com/restoration.htm

Thank you Cesar,

Do you know of any reference books I can go to verify / upgrade the authenticity of my 1972 SS?

Stan, the dash is a semi-satin Black, from the factory the rims aroumd the gauges are a dull type aluminum look, the silver paint marker trick will get you very close, there is NO silver around the 4 small openings inbetween the gauges

Thanks Nick,

What books had you found helpful in the restoration of your Chevelles?

Original dashes where chromed not silver. The satin black was applied second.
All gauge openings (but not the 4 small ones for turn, bright, brake), outer edge of dash, radio trim, ac panel trim, lighter letters, wiper letters, and ac ducts trim where chrome.

I agree with Steve S. Also, be careful with Paul Herd's book- bunch of mistakes. You'll get better answers from the experts on this site.

I would have to disagree with the bright chrome, I have seen 2 bench mark 70 cars, and niether of the cars dash bezels were bright chrome, I have pictures of the Red LS-6 car on my computer at home if anyone is interested, I have in the past sent my dashes out and had them done also, till I saw these cars. the 69s on the other hand had the bright chrome, MR DN ,,I am not an expert, but I have been known to have built a pretty nice Chevelle or two in the past, surley outta 40 Chevelles I learned alittle :),, Stan, Paul Herds book is full of good information, but also alot of mistakes, the best information avail is on this site,, but the book is ok for general use,,

I certainly wasn't referring to myself when I mentioned "experts", I was referring to guys like you, 40 Chevelles would certainly qualify! Interesting tho about the Bench Mark cars, professional restorers always told me chrome was correct. I guess nobody's perfect.

I'm back with this thread. I shipped my dash out to Vacuum Platers last week. Does anyone know if the edging around the "Fasten seatbelt" light should be chromed?

Has anyone with a 1972 used Vacuum Platers? Do they do a 100% accurate job?

I guess the question is better late than never!

Yes, raised area around seat belt light should also be silver. I haven't used CV, but I have corresponded with the guy (Chuck) on a few occasions. From what I was told, you will not get 100% correct, but close. The concern that I had was in the raised lettering, which he ends up painting. Here's his explanation why:

Our process is such that we use a much thicker base coat. What happens with this is that the textured finish can be filled up very easily with this paint.
So we actually mask off the entire textured finish with a latex.
We then trim out all the areas that are to be chromed and then air brush after wards.,
The problem with the letters is that we do not have a way to trim out the letters.
If we do then there is a slight line between the letters and the textured areas which has the latex I mentioned before.
Or worse yet a over spray in between the letters making a blotchy painted area which is even worse than just painting the letters.
I have tried several ways and in each case if there is repairs I cannot win.
So we have had to paint the letters by hand which actually takes longer than if we could plate the chrome as original.