I just got my Covan's Classic Gauge Pod in the mail. I also ordered a new dash pad from NPD and a complete SS Dash Assembly from Year One. I am curious as to how the Covan's Classic piece fits into the SS dash. I have not gotten the dash assembly from Year One yet and I have no reference since I am switching from a Malibu dash. Looking at the pictures, the gauges in the Covan's Classic piece are not ligned up in the same spot as the holes on the dash face. If the covans classic piece replaces that whole front piece, what happens to my glove box etc... Here is the address to look at a picture of the Covan's Classic piece... http://www.covansclassic.com/parts/description.php?II=363&UID=2004091702495968.229.1.233

Mikey,

From what I see of the Covan panel pictured, you would use the old sweep dash for the Covan conversion. Notice how all the gauges are lined up in the upper part of the panel where the sweep speedo would be. I certainly don't know for sure, but that's what it looks like to me.

I assume the instructions with the Covan piece tell you what parts of the old dash you have to cut out.

I talked to John Covan (owner) before I bought the piece and he said that the SS dash is the only one that it works with and it just fits right in. I am confused. The rest of the SS dash came in today and it just doesn't match up. I will have to contact him again. Thanks Wayne.

At the bottom of the page you linked to, it said to state wether you were replacing a sweep or ss style dash. I would assume from this that you should be able to order one for either dash.

Well the owner of the company asked me the same question and I told him sweep. He said that it would not work because they only fit on the SS. So I said ok I was planning on replacing the whole thing anyway so I will switch it to SS. So I think that they have the question there so they can tell you that if you try to order a sweep. I have contacted the company and hopefully they can give me an answer.

Let me know how it works out, I was planning on buying one of those too, but I was going to use my old sweep dash housing.

I will. I don't see how it could possibly work without cutting up the dash though so I will probably send it back. I also just noticed that it doesn't even have a hole for the headlight switch, nor does it have the room to put one. I don't know. For $900 I am convinced that this is a huge rip off. It doesn't even look that great in person. It is made from thin plastic.

Mikey,
I thought about getting a Covan dash, but was told that it would require cutting and I wasn't really sure I would like the look when finished. I went instead with my own mod which involved cutting and building a fiberglass back panel to the gauge area. I kept the a/c vents and heater controls. I was also able to fit the headlight switch, blinkers, and squeese in 2 more gauges the the Covan setup. Yes, it did take maybe two months of weekends and nights to do it, (not sure I'd do it again!) but it's what I wanted to look at every time I drove the car. I'm now installing it back in the car now and so far, so good.
Good luck!
Bill http://www.audiovisionps.com/ElCamino/DSC00198crop.jpg http://www.audiovisionps.com/ElCamino/DSC00206crop.jpg

docaudio- looks good. I have already recieved the SS dash though and I would rather keep the SS dash than the sweep. I will figure something out. Thanks.

All of the aftermarket kits require you to hack and cut up the dash to install them. You could buy a used SS gauge cluster and interior wiring harness.

Mikey the Kid;

If you want to, give us a call and you can drop by and see our prototype '70-72 Bezel Insert.

Richard/Judy/MAXX2

898-6396/528-0655

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LVMAXX - That sounds cool. Is it for sweep style or SS? Do you go to any of the shows or cruise nights for Las Vegas Cruisin' Association?

Originally posted by LVMAXX:


If you want to, give us a call and you can drop by and see our prototype '70-72 Bezel Insert.
Any way you could send me a pic of this? I am shopping around for ideas for my dash.

Here's the finished prototype. We are also working on the sweep dash prototype, however, it takes time, and we are trying to finish the '69 in time for the October Bonneville meet.


http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/LVMAXX/prtyp8.JPG

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Looks really nice. Good job!

If you like that race look, then "Racedash" works for others.


http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/LVMAXX/racedash4.JPG


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I like the half race half stock look. I think I am going to just stick with the Covan's Classic.

That prototyple pic looks great. Any guess on the price, and how hard would that be to install? I have another idea I'm going to try out but if that fails or doesn't look right I am interested.

Originally posted by webfoot:
That prototyple pic looks great. Any guess on the price, and how hard would that be to install? I have another idea I'm going to try out but if that fails or doesn't look right I am interested. They aren't difficult to install, it just takes patience in cutting out the area(s), and then fitting the trim.

There have been at least a dozen or more different ideas on dash layouts by Team Members on this site over the past year or so, and all have been great examples.

We offer aluminum products, including various dash bezels, firewalls, fenderwells, radiator surrounds, bed tonneau covers/beds, and stainless steel windshield wiper cover plates.

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I have been thinking about the covan dash for my 70
would like to see a pic of one installed in a car.
Any body out there care to help.
thank You.

If you sticking with the SS and column shift let me know.I changed mine from sweep to SS then to SS console shift. I still have the SS column shift cluster settin around here.

Richard,do you have a photo of one of your aluminum bed covers?

Originally posted by Clint44:
Richard,do you have a photo of one of your aluminum bed covers? CLINT;

The pics aren't really that good, as the '69 is on jack stands for the Fire Suppression System installation, and the lighting in the garage leaves something to be desired.

The tonneau cover is "Purpose Built" for our Elke. Note how we have gone to great lengths to stay within the SCTA/BNI/USFRA rules, in that the tonneau cover cannot be higher than the bed trim itself. What appears to be a slight wing effect is what we call a “Brace“, and the wing effect runs from 3/4" to 2 1/4" (Bending of the rules?????).

By removing the rear section, we can add 2 other sections that have different styles of actual rear wings (Rear Wings/Spoilers are not allowed in production classes, but can be used in different classes or timed runs only).

The basic tonneau cover has 2 braces on the underside, and the rear portion can be seperated from the main section to fill the fuel cell. Note the design of the hinges, as they lock into the grove in the tonneau support bed rails, that way, the tonneau cover won’t come loose by itself.

We used the Gaylord type supports, but you could use any cylinder you desired.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/LVMAXX/atc1.JPG

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/LVMAXX/atc2.JPG

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/LVMAXX/atc3.JPG

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/LVMAXX/atc4.JPG

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/LVMAXX/atc5.JPG

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/LVMAXX/atc6.JPG

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/LVMAXX/atc7.JPG

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/LVMAXX/atc8.JPG

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Ok I decided to go ahead and keep the Covan's Classic piece and cut up the brand new SS Dash I just bought. I looked deep into it and the cutting is minor and pretty easy to do. I don't have time to start this project until probably December, but I will post pics when I do start.

I've been looking into this dash too but I've got a 69 Malibu with the column shift. Will it work??? I know that they don't offer wone with the shift window but could I just tear that part out??? I really don't want to put a lot of $$ into it by going with buckets and a console!