Dash overlays

by dhw3971 Mon Nov 08, 2010 12:28 pm

Does anyone have experience with installing one of those glue-on vinyl dash overlays? My recent OPGI catalog has one for my car but I'm wondering how good it looks once it's installed...the catalog claims it's a "perfect fit". This seems like a much easier option than removing the dash.

Also, since it's only available in black I would have to paint it. What's the right way to paint a part like that?

by 74MonteCarlo Mon Nov 08, 2010 12:33 pm

If it's done right, you cannot even tell. I did it on my 74 Chevelle.

by abajc3 Mon Nov 08, 2010 1:09 pm

i wanted to buy one of these myself, but then i decided to cover the dash with leather instead. it was severely cracked, so it had to be reinforced with some sort of synthetic fibers first, then covered with a thin sponge and leather.

it looks and feels really good, better than any of those plastic covers i have ever stumbled upon. it cost me around 250 - 300$ (reinforcing and dressing, including material), which is about the same as the cover would cost me, provided that it would have had to be shipped overseas.

i did have to remove the dash however, but it was totally worth it, since i also replaced all in-dash bulbs, fixed the ductwork and remove a sh*tload of wires and plugs that were there from the previous owner, a car stereo enthusiast i believe.

by 74Malibu383 Mon Nov 08, 2010 1:33 pm

Good call. I've only seen a couple of those plastic dash installs look good. The two I bought (and returned) fit like $%*T.

by Bill's 74 Mon Nov 08, 2010 1:39 pm

I have installed them in a bunch of Pintos, and for them they work great because of the size and the shape of the dash.

Bought one for my Chevelle hoping for similar results but no. Not bad for the money, but due to the shape and size of the dash it looks like a cover (in both my cars).

Bill

by The Dude Mon Nov 08, 2010 1:53 pm

I'll keep my cracked up ugly dash for now & maybe one day save up enough $$$ to have just dashes do it right. I've heard good & bad about the dash caps, but never seen one up close & don't feel like spending that kind of dough & time for a gamble.

by 74MonteCarlo Mon Nov 08, 2010 1:58 pm

Check out the pictures of my process on my old Chevelle for reference if you decide to do it. I got my cap from NPD.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2464904/1974-chevrolet-malibu-woodhaven-mi-us?p=2

The dash in my Monte Carlo is 100% mint, so I don't have to worry about this stuff anymore Jacking

Lol.

by abajc3 Mon Nov 08, 2010 3:00 pm

74MonteCarlo wrote:Check out the pictures of my process on my old Chevelle for reference if you decide to do it. I got my cap from NPD.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2464904/1974-chevrolet-malibu-woodhaven-mi-us?p=2

The dash in my Monte Carlo is 100% mint, so I don't have to worry about this stuff anymore

Lol.

how does this feel to the touch, is it soft like an original one or is it hard?

by 74MonteCarlo Mon Nov 08, 2010 3:10 pm

It was hard plastic. But grained to look like vinyl.

by dhw3971 Mon Nov 08, 2010 3:31 pm

I see you had your entire dash assembly removed...is that the best way to do the install?

by abajc3 Mon Nov 08, 2010 4:27 pm

here are some photos of what it looks like in leather:

Dash overlays Armaturka-4

if your budget allows you, i really suggest you to go with leather, because it looks and feels superior to hard plastic.

by 74Malibu383 Mon Nov 08, 2010 5:06 pm

Honestly, no one does it better than Just Dashes. As far as the leather vs. plastic overlay, I would go with the leather every time.

by abajc3 Mon Nov 08, 2010 5:10 pm

never heard of just dashes before, what do they do, make a new dash or rebuild the old one?

by 74Malibu383 Mon Nov 08, 2010 5:15 pm

They take yours, strip it down to the frame. Rebuild it by hand, installing new foam. They then install the new vinyl via vacuum for an original look. They're simply amazing.

http://www.justdashes.com/

by abajc3 Mon Nov 08, 2010 5:22 pm

thats great!

by 74MonteCarlo Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:32 pm

As 383 said, Just Dashes is the best way to go. They look great, and you would never know that it's remade.

But, if you're on a budget, the plastic cap can look good if its done right.

You don't HAVE to remove the dash, but I would suggest for best results, take it out. That way you can clamp & strap it down to ensure a good hold.

by orange Juiced Mon Nov 08, 2010 8:43 pm

I'm not going to need my dash cap anymore since i plan to fiberglass or wrap my dash.

anyways its up for grabs who ever wants it, its painted orange. LMK if anyone wants pics. pay for shipping and make me offer, or trade for a hood release cable with handle.

by laguna454/4spd Mon Nov 08, 2010 11:07 pm

74MonteCarlo wrote:Check out the pictures of my process on my old Chevelle for reference if you decide to do it. I got my cap from NPD.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2464904/1974-chevrolet-malibu-woodhaven-mi-us?p=2

The dash in my Monte Carlo is 100% mint, so I don't have to worry about this stuff anymore

Lol.

that turned out real nice

by 74MonteCarlo Mon Nov 08, 2010 11:20 pm

Thanks. Car got stolen about a month later.

by pila Tue Nov 09, 2010 1:34 am

I used the plastic cap on my '74 Malibu, and it looks decent. I had thought about using leather, but sold the extra dash I had, and went with the cap. Too many other things I would spend 800 bucks on before I would spend it on a dash I guess, like a roller cam set up in my 400 Smile

by OnTheBottle Mon Nov 15, 2010 12:15 am

I've heard some horror stories about just dashes. Like not using your core, and having the new dash not fit, or not stripping all the material off, and adding new vinyl over the old, and now your gauges don't fit because the openings are smaller. Seeing as they start at over $1000.00 per piece I can't afford that option.

by Laguna Budman Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:25 am

Good pics Laguna 454. I have a dash cap I'm thinkn about using but I recently discovered that believe it or not Rhino Lining can spray your dash with a different texture than your normal bedliner and it looks very good and way cheaper then dash caps or just dashes. I know it sounds nuts but it looks good. If you want a different color than black its more $$ cause they have to mix 5 gallons of color at a time.

by Limey SE Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:30 am

well I have a spare dash now for Limey Duece so maybe some Experimentation is in order to see how the leather turns out

@ AndreJ how much padding was used to give it that look ??

by Laguna Budman Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:35 am

Sorry 74monte that was your dash. Wasn't reading the whole deal. Turned out good.

by Limey SE Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:39 am

the leather one was AndreJ's that is what I was referring to

but yea Kyles was done right I remember that one ................

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