OK,,, I've been bouncing this one around in my head for awhile. I have a 70 el camino 350 w/round gauges,,is this stock? or was it a special order option at the time? A friend of mine said the whole dash (might) be out of a Monte carlo. Is there any way to tell if its original?? He's got me thinking now. Thanks Dan

Round guages were optional on all Chevelles and Elcamino's from 70-72. They were also part of the SS pakage If you ordered an SS you automaticly got the round gage dash.
The Montecarlo dash is the same dash used on the Chevelle and Elcamino with SS or round gages, except it has woodgrain around the gages. So if you have woodgrain, its a Monte dash.


Jeff

I would like to clarify further....
yes, all chevelles and el caminos with the ss package did have inst clusters with round facings. But, as mine was, gauges were still an option on the ss models. Standard were idiot lights in these round pods. I am in the process of changing my cluster over to gauges.

Also, the monte carlo cluster in either form was identical as far as mechanicals go, it's just that the dash face plate was woodgrain instead of black.

And, i believe you could get gauges as an option without having to have the ss package. But, you would only have the standard round idiot lights with the ss package and not on a regular el camino, this would have had the rectangular speedo cluster if the gauge option was not chosen and it weren't an ss.

Hope this helps.

[This message has been edited by DAVID IN GA (edited 10-03-99).]

another thing you might want to consider: my dad and i picked up two monte carlo gauge clusters for about $100 each this weekend, because they are "less desirable" than the chevelle pieces. well, you can just pop off the metal piece that has the woodgrain on it, and underneath you have a chevelle dash! then you sell the monte carlo pieces for $20 at the next swapmeet! or, do what i did in my 71 olds cutlass, paint the woodgrained piece with wrinkle finish black and then with body color over it.

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Ian McDermott
1970 Chevelle SS 396
Gold Member #101
E-mail: havoc@chevelles.com
Web page: chevelle.dhs.org (http://chevelle.dhs.org)
ICQ UIN: 3923441

...or you could send the Monte pieces to me! Have you had a chance to enjoy the plastic printed circuit board (PCB) that runs that lovely dash? The evening I got my Monte home after purchase (26 hours straight driving minus 45 minutes sleep) it shorted out. I looked in the Haynes manual and am still driving in the dark, so to speak. Maybe after daylight saving time goes off, I'll be forced to replace the ^*&$#%*! thing.

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Dale P.
65 El Camino
72 Monte Carlo
"..you did you take the washer off, right?"

Well,,,,, that clinches it, it had the woodgrain dash plate at one time,, So i guess it makes it a monte carlo dash.
As long as all the mechanics are the same, i have no need to worry. I did something like Havoc suggested a few months back,,,only i painted mine the same color as the Bed. looks pretty good. thanks for everyones help on this topic. Dan

before everyone starts grabbing monte dashes thinking they can just pop off the woodgrain and have a SS dash, one word of warning. This can only be done with the 72 dash (recognized by the seatbelt warning light).The 70-71 woodgrain is held on by clips which go through holed drilled in the dash. Pull the woodgrain and you get a swiss cheese SS dash. 72 woodgrain is held on by dabs of glue, and there are no holes in the dash. As stated, clusters and wiring are the same as chevelled regardless of year. Montes are good cars to grab for parts, all have SS dashes and disk brakes.

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70 chevelle ss396 conv
66 chevelle ss396 hdp/conv
55 chevy prostreet

I don't think all montes came with woodgrain, any comments?

As far as I know, all Monte dashes have the woodgrain from the factory. Not all Monte's have disc brakes!

Also, if the woodgrain is removed on a '70-71 Monte, it will reveal a chevelle SS dash that is full of holes. these holes can be repaired with a little time. the only hole that might be a problem is the hole through the word "Wiper Washer". this hole can also be repaired with a donor SS dash. It might be easier to turn a '72 Monte dash into a '70 or '71 SS dash. The '72 Monte dashes reveal no holes once the woodgrain is removed, but it has the seat belt warning light. This area can be filled in and the grain can be carefully etched into the surface. I have done it a few times with very good results. I use a semi rigid plastic repair compound. I then prime it and seal it and then re-dye the entire dash. There are other steps, like chroming, etc... to be done. I etch the grain in by hand.

#@&#@#@&*#@!!!!!! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif
looks like i outsmarted myself - my father and I had a 72 Monte dash that we just popped the woodgain off of and it looked great, except for the seatbelt warning light. We picked up two 70-71 dashes at a swap meet this weekend, thinking we could do the same thing. I guess not.

Anyone wanna buy two clusterless monte dashes in good condition for $100 each? http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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Ian McDermott
1970 Chevelle SS 396
Gold Member #101
E-mail: havoc@chevelles.com
Web page: chevelle.dhs.org (http://chevelle.dhs.org)
ICQ UIN: 3923441

OOUUUCCCHHH!

Who would want parts for a Monte Carlo anyway?

DOH!!

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Dale P.
65 El Camino
72 Monte Carlo
"..you did you take the washer off, right?"

I have a 72 chevelle convertable and it used to have a standard dash in it and it DID have a sealtbelt warning light. My friend has a 72 hard top and it also has a warning light so before you go filling that hole in if yours is a 72 then leave it alone. I put a ss dash in mine from a 72 monte pulled wood grain off has sealt belt warning light and cant even tell it was a monte dash before.

The Monte Carlo is part of the Chevelle Line 13857 and 13867. Many interchangeable parts!