Anyone using this setup? I have a 68 I was thinking of putting this in. When I called Covan's they said it was an overlay. I have to lay it over my stock dash and use existing screws. Seemed kind of cheesey for the high price tag.

http://www.covansclassic.com/parts/description.php?II=312&UID=2006032914234772.16.172.105

I personally dont think its cheesy but as they say, to each his own.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2294000-2294999/2294341_2_full.jpg

IMHO, they are EXTREMEY overpriced for a thin piece of molded ABS plastic.

I agree about it being expensive for what it is, but It's still much less expensive than the $1500 to convert to factory style gauges. (of course I realize this can be cheaper if using used stuff)

I'm not saying I dont like the original stuff, I just wanted something else, and this was a good alternative and I don't have to put gauges in my a-pillar and under the dash.

I have one I put into an El Camino:
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/medium/CovanDash_002.jpg
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/medium/CovanDash_001.jpg

They are expensive. They are made of pretty flimsy plastic. They are NOT an overlay, they completely replace your existing guage holder.

All that aside they do not look too bad and a lot better than some backyard creations I have seen pictures of. You do have to watch out for what is included. I picked up my gauges seperately so I could select exactly what I wanted rather than use one of their packages. So I did not know they had a special wiring harness available until I called them up to ask about indicator lights. Their harness provides very small LEDs which you can see in the second picture.

Feel free to ask any particular questions and I will elaborate.

I got one for my 68 chevelle It looks ALOT better than having the orginal dash IMO. I prefer having the all aftermarket look over an orginal. I put black face gauges with yellow numbering instead looks real slick.

Does it replace the whole plastic dash or just where the guages go? I am not exactly sure what you mean when you say guage holder. They do look nice, it's just the price tag that I having a hard time with. Does it plug right in with a guage car?

Just where the gauges go.

IMHO, they are EXTREMEY overpriced for a thin piece of molded ABS plastic.

I have to agree. I just cant justify dropping that much money on one of those Covan dash inserts or whatever they are supposed to consider them.

Personally. I would much rather spend the time making one myself anyways.

you could probably pay a maching shop to make an insert cheaper than you could buy a covans.. IMO

Does it replace the whole plastic dash or just where the guages go? I am not exactly sure what you mean when you say guage holder. They do look nice, it's just the price tag that I having a hard time with. Does it plug right in with a guage car?
The whole plastic dash. I differentiate between the plastic portion and the rest of the dash which includes the pad and glove box.

As to plugging in... this is not really a factor of the Covan's part. Replacing factory gauges or lights with aftermarket gauges, such as go into the Covan/s insert, will require some electrical rework. Covan's does sell a dash wiring harness that is actually made by American Autowire. This harness includes full instructions on the update and seperate connectors so you can disconnect the gauges from the main harness.

If you dont want to drop the $899 upfront you can take the route that I did. Bought just the dash portion for $250 then just got the guages seperate as the money came in. If you want to use the covans wiring harness you have to purchase the autometer guages they are listed on there site then you can order the wiring harness seperate from them. Just an easier way to break everything up and get alittle at a time.

Man, I wasn't aware that so many people would be buying such overpriced pieces of plastic. If i had know I'd shell out a grand to make a nice mold for an entire custom dash (door to door) and then sell em for like 500 a pop out of fiberglass, 1000 out of carbon weave.

you can look at my custom one in my link, I personally dont like it, the fit and finish sucks, but I didnt expect much, I made the mold out of scraps and used scrap carbon fiber. Does its job though.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/155658991/1155659311056835108ZfaKHG

-Ryan

Man, I wasn't aware that so many people would be buying such overpriced pieces of plastic. If i had know I'd shell out a grand to make a nice mold for an entire custom dash (door to door) and then sell em for like 500 a pop out of fiberglass, 1000 out of carbon weave.
-Ryan

What are you waiting for? I'm going to need something soon for my car.