I found a couple of small holes in my dash which I believe to be the original dash in my 72SS. The car is Canadian and GM verified as an SS but finding these holes is making me wonder if the dash was replaced. Does anyone know where the holes would be if it was in fact a Monte dash stripped to look like an SS dash.

I think they're more like slots (around the perimeter) that accepted the woodgrain insert. The dead giveaway would be the texture of the face of the dash. If it has a smooth surface it's a Monte dash. If it has a kind of leather texture molded into the face it's a Chevelle dash.

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Mark
1970 SS454 LS6 (nom)
TH400/4.10 posi
Formerly Cranberry Red now War Bonnet Yellow
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"Fight Apathy - the disease no one cares about."

Unless it's had the woodgrain insert removed. Then it looks just like the textured Chevelle dash, but without any silver paint on the lettering around the light switch, wipers, and lighter.
I just completed a Monte dash resto in which I removed the woodgrain insert, stripped the woodgrain decal, and then painted the insert black and reinstalled it back on the face of instrument panel. The giveaway is the slots around the A/C vent openings where the tabs for the insert are installed.

This what it looks like:

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/tempdsh10.jpg

Hi Guys,

thanks for your replies. It's definately textured and there is some silver starting to show through under the textured black section. So I'm guessinh it's authentic.

Thanks again. I can't beleive what an invaluable resource this site has been for me.

Thought the Monte dash also had that little seatbelt indicator light by the ashtray as well? No?

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'70 SS 396
4spd, 4.10's and a smile
TC# 1341
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Beaux
The SS (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/btmyss.JPG)
The Rat (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/btmill.JPG)- Plans for a 496 in the works.
Interior (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/midint.JPG)

Life is a gateway drug that leads to Chevelle addiction.

The monte and SS dash is the same piece. For the monte in 70-71 there are holes drilled all over the dash face to hold the woodgrain insert; the worst one to fix is right through the middle of the words "wiper washer". In 72 the insert is held on with a butyl like stickem with no holes drilled. As far as the slots by the heater controls I have found them on both monte and SS dashes so I dont know if that is a true giveaway. Also the seatbelt warning light was a 1972 item, SS or monte.

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Dave
70 chevelle ss396 conv
66 chevelle ss396 hdp/conv
68/72 chevelles
55/57/61 chevies
TC member #493
Never forget Earnhardt!

[This message has been edited by drptop70ss (edited 09-06-2002).]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Midnight Marauder:
Thought the Monte dash also had that little seatbelt indicator light by the ashtray as well? No?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Only in 1972. I had to buy an insert for a 70 - 71 dash to get rid of the seat belt warning lamp cutout.