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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Topic started by: got2haul on July 30, 2008, 09:29:48 am

Title: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
Post by: got2haul on July 30, 2008, 09:29:48 am

If I remember correctly, the woodgrain finish for bezels of these years is a molded-on cover for a standard black bezel.  Has anyone tried to remove the woodgrain cover to refinish theirs?  I was wondering how much trouble it would be to get the cover off without damaging it so it could be refinished and reinstalled?

Title: Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
Post by: Captkaos on July 30, 2008, 10:12:03 am

They were skinned on.  If you try to get it off, it is going to damage it.

Title: Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
Post by: got2haul on July 30, 2008, 12:41:49 pm

Quote from: Captkaos on July 30, 2008, 10:12:03 am

They were skinned on.  If you try to get it off, it is going to damage it.

Thanks -- sorry for being ignorant, but what does "skinned on" mean?

Title: Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
Post by: ccz145a on July 30, 2008, 03:10:26 pm

From what I could tell, they were very very thin plastic membranes glued on. I had considered the same thing, though. The plastic is prone to rips and I think the glue is stronger than the plastic.

Title: Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
Post by: Captkaos on July 30, 2008, 04:01:20 pm

There is a plastic sheet that is stretched over it, glue is applied to the bezel and the sheet is heated and then layed/skinned over the piece.

Title: Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
Post by: got2haul on July 30, 2008, 05:39:55 pm

Ok -- good to know.  I won't try it.  Thanks.

Title: Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
Post by: DnStClr on July 30, 2008, 11:47:09 pm

They got serious about wanting the woodgrain to stay on didn't they?

Title: Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
Post by: bake315 on August 05, 2008, 09:20:09 pm

The plastic almost looks like it was vacu-formed in a mold.  I imagine that if you were handy with that process (lots of vacu-formed scale model kits out there) and created a mold, you could make replacement bezel covers out of the plastic sheeting - maybe even find different styles, colors and textures.  Seem like there'd be a market for it. 

I just saw a complete used bezel on eBay for $150 with the woodgrain finish. 

Title: Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
Post by: VileZambonie on August 05, 2008, 10:26:05 pm

I forget the name of the company I used to use but he made excellent wood grain pieces for our trucks.

Title: Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
Post by: got2haul on August 06, 2008, 08:15:03 am

Quote from: VileZambonie on August 05, 2008, 10:26:05 pm

I forget the name of the company I used to use but he made excellent wood grain pieces for our trucks.

I've been looking around the web but haven't found anything that fits 73-80.  The source mentioned in another post http://www.wabbitsww.com/Pages/Chevy81-87.html (http://www.wabbitsww.com/Pages/Chevy81-87.html) has only 81-87 kits listed online.

Title: Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
Post by: lawdog49 on August 12, 2008, 01:25:09 pm

just picked up a dash bezel from the junkyard for $5- no cracks/broken corners!  It's gonna be my base for an aluminum overlay, maybe I should look for another one to sell on ebay?!!!

Title: Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
Post by: comp on August 19, 2008, 02:17:38 pm

Quote from: lawdog49 on August 12, 2008, 01:25:09 pm

just picked up a dash bezel from the junkyard for $5- no cracks/broken corners!  It's gonna be my base for an aluminum overlay, maybe I should look for another one to sell on ebay?!!!

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