Does anyone Know were to get the piece that goes behind the front arm rest bases between the door panels and the arm rest base on a 68 chevelle hope you know what the hell im talking about

i have a 68 elky and i have no idea what you are talking about. if there is a piece supposed to be there i would also like to know.

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Derek Ohlgren

68 El Camino w/ 307
Hugger Orange, beautiful color.

68chevhell, I DO know what you're talking about, but unfortunately haven't seen them for sale anywhere. Are yours missing or is the chrome just gone? I just painted mine with DupliColor "chrome" paint. No, it doesn't look like chrome, but it's a Hell of a lot better than they were.

elkyD68, I can't swear to this, but I think this might have been a Malibu/SS trim option. E-mail me if you want me to send you a pic.


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SWAMP

"If at first you don't succeed, then maybe skydiving is not for you."

'68 El Camino
'68 El Camino SS project
'90 Harley FXRP
My El Camino (http://angelfire.lycos.com/my/ElCamino)

[This message has been edited by Swamp68Elky327 (edited 09-17-2001).]

The chrome plastic armrest backing plates you refer to are 1968 unique. To the best of my knowledge, they were used on all 68 Chevelle models inckuding the El Camino. They are similar to those used on other cars, other years... specifically first gen Monte Carlos and some Cutlass models. The 68 Chevelle version is fairly long (sorry, I don't have the exact dimension with me) and fits behind the entire armrest base and forward to just in front of the door release handle. The forward one-third or so has a ridged, brushed aluminum plate applied over the chrome plating. These armrest backing plates are not currently reproduced as far as I know. At least not for the 68 Chevelle. Your best alternative to finding NOS is to replate the ones you have, or those you are able to find as salvage. Be advised however, that it will be necessary for you to carefully remove the aluminum plate prior to shipping to the vacuum metalizing facility, since their cleaning/stripping process will also destroy the aluminum plate.
I recently got a quote from the good folks at American Plastic Chrome in Michigan, to replate mine for $26.00 each

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Patrick, aka Merlin
1968 SS 396/325 4-Speed, White with black vinyl top & black interior.
TC#1017

I haven't put a 68 chevelle piece next to one to compare so I won't guarantee they are the same. I have seen what I think is the same backing plate on 68 only, 4 door Impalas, Buick Electras and Olds 98 Delmonts. Pontiac likely had a full size 4 door with them also. They are the wider plates not the narrow that are found on Montes

I've had several done at American Plastic Chrome. I let them strip the whole thing. After Chroming I bought a good spray paint at auto paint store. Also bought a none stick type of masking tape so that the chrome finish wouldn't be damaged. They look great. In the last year, I have bought two off e-bay. If anyone wants a picture of what they look like, I have on file. Just e-mail me.

Today while at a wrecking yard I checked the armrest backing plate on 68 GM full size 4 door cars.I picked one up from the back door of a 68 Impala compaired it to one I have from a 68 Chevelle. They are the same piece.

Does anyone have a pic of this part? Mine is a Custom edition, so its not a base model, and yet i don't have one and don't even know what part it is. A better explaination for the rest of us would be benificial, cause i'd like to have this part if it was for '68's.

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<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI> '68 El Camino w/327 Turbo 350, PB, PS, PW, cruise control, A/C, gauges.
<LI> Team Chevelle Member #1289
[/list]

Hear's a pic of the backing plates. The right is out of a 68 Chevelle the left is out of a 68 Impala.

http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/bin/imageserver.x/00000000/azss/bkplt.jpg

I took a look at my 1968 el camino sales brochure, and it doesn't show the backing plates in the interior. Not saying that a brochure can't lie(we know they can) but it seems odd to me that we wouldn't have heard of such a part more commonly.

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<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI> '68 El Camino w/327 Turbo 350, PB, PS, PW, cruise control, A/C, gauges.
<LI> Team Chevelle Member #1289
[/list]