I am in the process of changing my dash. one thing i was not counting on was replacing the dash pad. it looked fine until i started to take it of. the prior owner of the car had used marine silicone to hold the dash pad in place. Needles to say the pad is now cracked. Is there a good aftermarket replacemnt dash or place to send my pad of to get repaired? also any advice on speakers & stereo units. any help would be greatly appreciated.

I know OPG sells new dash pads, but never bought one. Would think Ground Up would have them as well. Radios fitting into original dashes are another story. I bought a AM/FM Cassette, that was suppose to fit "like a glove" in my 72 Chevelle. I must have had the OJ glove radio, because I still had to alter the back of my dash to get the radio to fit.

Before you spend your hard earned money on a repro dash pad, do a search.
There's been a number of threads written and the general consensus is that the reproductions just don't look and fit right. I just saw two original '70-'72 dash pads at a swap meet for about $100 each. You might want to post a WTB ad here on Team Chevelle and see if you get lucky.

Here are some links from my dash swap and stereo install that may help:

http://home.comcast.net/~dcabral99/Dash_Swap.htm
http://home.comcast.net/~dcabral99/stereo.htm

Dave

I've got one from OPG. It looks fine, texture and color.

BUT the edges don't cover the same area as the original. And within a year, the cut-and-tuck (that make the air vents) went weird - one side curled up and looks terrible. I can probably fix it, but I'm wondering if they'll make good and exchange it.... All in all - FAR better than an old cracked one.

As people say originals ARE better. If you can find one for a decent price ($300 or less) in nice shape - grab it!

I wanted everything brand new on my car. Even though my dash pad was in extemely good shape, only one very small 1/4" slit in the speaker hole section (hardly noticable) I bought new replacment.

The Fit was horrible, and the dash pad itself was built differently, more of a rubber material than vinyl stretched over a shell. And un unfinished look when looking down into the vent cut-outs. (Very noticable)

I decided to use my original (even with the small slit)

Don't buy the re-pop dash pad.

As people say originals ARE better. If you can find one for a decent price ($300 or less) in nice shape - grab it!

Ahh, for the days when I pulled them from newly-junked Montes for $15 each....

I remember seeing a place that restored original dash pads ...... do some research I'm sure the info is around here somewhere :D

I ended up buying a new dash pad it looks goo i just haven't gotten around to installing it yet other issues keep coming up with this car. Thanks for the information>

I remember seeing a place that restored original dash pads ...... do some research I'm sure the info is around here somewhere :D

Just Dashes. Not cheap, but highly recommended from those who have used their service.

Scott

just got around to installing the new dash pad. what a dilemma, does not fit at all. Fits great on drivers side but leaves a gap on the passengers side that through the windshield you can see the speaker. The people I bought from say they have never heard of this and are willing to replace it. I almost wished I had repaired the original.

If you'd read the advice (which you originally asked for) you'd see exactly what everyone warned. The new ones don't fit right. They might "go on" but it's not the same. Just Dashes (mentioned above) will redo an original RIGHT, but it costs tons.

As suggested, the best thing is to find one in good shape and use it. It CAN look new; keep in mind you can dye one any color. and it should look great. NOT that expensive.

I've heard and saw that several vendors sell what they call a 'dash cap', which covers over the original dash. I do not know how they fit. Perhaps someone will comment here on that. The rub comes in if you have any color other than black. Then they have to be painted. That's not a real good option to me, I'd just do what Big White says above, with the addition of checking the ads on this site as well as eBay Motors. I've had good luck on eBay, and here. mysylark is a good one here.
I bought my stereo dash pad at a flea market 3-4 years ago for $35.
As far as a stereo- I just bought a Kenwood KDC X591 head unit, a pair of 6 x 9, and 4" Infinity Reference speakers form Crutchfield. I used recommendations from guys here and freinds to come to these purchases. My dash is a Covan's, so its smooth where an original radio goes, but if need be I'm modifying it for the Kenwood. it's 4 x 25 watts with amp addition capability, a remote and Ipod and MP3 capability. Can't wait to hook it all up!!

Dash caps look kinda cheesy = but they are the cheapest way to make it look better. It would be the kinda thing to try if you wanted to sell the car quick, and it needed help!

Ebay has some nice caps this week, not mint, but clean and under $100!