hey guys im new here this is my first post. just bought a beautiful 86 el camino from california (i live in pa) just a few minor problems with it but the main is just the dashboard is shot, how hard/expensive is it to replace one. i found one but they wanted 1000 bucks for it. is that right?
heres some pictures
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s41/chris_thePIRATE/PICT3990.jpg
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s41/chris_thePIRATE/PICT3995.jpg
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s41/chris_thePIRATE/PICT4014.jpg

Hi Chris,welcome.:waving:What part of Pa.? $1000 sounds a little steep.

Hi Chris,welcome.:waving:What part of Pa.? $1000 sounds a little steep.
right outside of philly in havertown

$1000 is steep unless it is a brand new dash.
Any dash from 81-88 Monte Carlo, El Camino, or Malibu will fit, same dash just different colors.
78-80 will also fit but they have the two small center dash vents, all your trim won't fit that dash.

Cracking is very comon on these cars. My dash looks aboute the same as yours(78 Malibu) An alternitive to replacing the dash is to get an ABS cover / skin for it. They run around $100 and look nice when done, plus you don't have to pull the dash out.

PUlling the whole dash out of a G body is very labor intensive. I removed one from an 86 Cutlass I junked to have a spare for mine. I think $1000 is a little steep for one regardless if it's NOS or pefrect used. There are alot of those cars out there. Maybe check Craiglist for someone parting one out.

The neat interesting thing about PA is there are U-Pull-It junkyards.

There is a huge one in New Ringgold called Joe's.

Happy's has 3 junkyards now. One in Hazleton, one in Allentown, and a new one in Pennsburg.

A dash pad in any of these junkyards is around $20-$25. Doesnt matter the year or model. Most of the U-Pull-It's have 1 price sheet for all cars. Engines are around $100. Trans around $50. Not sure of the exact prices since I havent been in the US for awhile but I am getting the junkyard bug again...

email/pm me and I can give you more info...perhaps even meet you there and show you around...gee, maybe we could have a Team Chevelle junkyard day...not much in way of old iron though but if you need something for your wife's car 70's-80's-90's you might have a chance...


CHEAP

Hi Chris, yes new dashes for that car are crazy high! But good luck trying to find a good used one. Try this http://www.malibuthunder.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7660
I have a 78 Malibu that I put a newer Monte SS dash in and it was cracked so I installed one of those covers on it. Turned out really good IMHO!
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/durwoods78/DSC01259.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/durwoods78/DSC01263.jpg
PS I didn't think it was too hard to change the dash
Darren

I just reread my post...

Its not Happy's its Harry's... sorry for the confusion...

I can have a whole dash out of a G-body in less then a half of day. I have done it one too many times in my old 81 monte. only problem all the scrap yards have done away with all the g-bodys.

Have you been to the U-Pull-Its?

That sure looks like a Grand National dashboard.

RMX



http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/durwoods78/DSC01263.jpg
PS I didn't think it was too hard to change the dash
Darren

That sure looks like a Grand National dashboard.

RMX
Nope:noway:, Monte SS dash with white face decals on gauges...:yes: