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1968 dash pad reproduction

retroman99

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 15, 2003
Messages
190
Location
Redondo Beach, CA
well i have just finished the deconstruction of the beast nothing left but sheet metal and the dash pad. i was thinking it was in good shape until i started looking close and lightly pressed a spot that looked sun damaged and it cracked very brittle. so looks like i will need to remove and replace. anybody have a recomendation on who sells the better fit and quality replacements. Scott Drake? NPD? CJ Pony others
 

dalorzo_f

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2006
Messages
1,886
Location
Brisbane Australia
Find a good used one and clean and re-dye. I traded a new crap-ola Dashes Direct (fits Ok, but the texture, look and feel are way off, a nice option for those that just want someting that fits) for a OEM and spent a day cleaning and dying... and could not be happier.... looks new.
 

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,032
Find a good used one and clean and re-dye. I traded a new crap-ola Dashes Direct (fits Ok, but the texture, look and feel are way off, a nice option for those that just want someting that fits) for a OEM and spent a day cleaning and dying... and could not be happier.... looks new.

+ 1 Marty
 
OP
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retroman99

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 15, 2003
Messages
190
Location
Redondo Beach, CA
+ 1 Marty

what strikes me as funny is this car has spent the last 20 years in a garage and prior to that it was in oregon where the sun doesnt shine but 6 months out of the year if your lucky. so this dash pad has had a pretty easy life. i will keep looking for a good used one as you suggest. iv have sometime before i start putting the beast back together need to find a good body and paint guy in So cal.
 

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,032
Every reproduction I have seen I would deduct -1 for texture. The problems you have may be that yours was cleaned regularly wit Armorall. It makes the vinyl hard.
I would search in the northern rust belt states, they part a lot of cars that did not see a lot of sun. What color are you looking for?
 
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retroman99

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 15, 2003
Messages
190
Location
Redondo Beach, CA
Every reproduction I have seen I would deduct -1 for texture. The problems you have may be that yours was cleaned regularly wit Armorall. It makes the vinyl hard.
I would search in the northern rust belt states, they part a lot of cars that did not see a lot of sun. What color are you looking for?

looking for the dark blue color
 

BroadwayBlue

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 26, 2005
Messages
2,900
Location
Hudson Valley Area, NY
I have a repro dash pad in my CS. I agree the texture is different.
It doesn't look too bad in my opinion but an original would be nice.
My original was cracked pretty bad so I replaced it with a repro.
 

dalorzo_f

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2006
Messages
1,886
Location
Brisbane Australia
You can buy pretty much any color and vinyl dye it. Light to dark is easiest, but you can go the other way too...

I'd just look for a nice condition one and take it.

NPD sells the dye I used to go blue to black and it looks pretty much idenitical to the OEM black in my convertible. I'm sure many others sell high quality and correct color dye. Pretty easy to apply, clean well, and do a few light coats.
 
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