Which dash replacement or refurbishment would you choose?

[Skunksmash]

Luckily i have a buddy who's dad owns the local repair shop and they fab drive shafts in there sometimes. I have seen him fab some smaller stuff in there before so hopefully he can make me some brackets.

[DnStClr]

I hope it goes well for you Skunkmash. I'm going to save the $ and get one of CaptKaos pads. All the work's done except the color. 

[Skunksmash]

I am kind of afraid of anything not pre colored so i am just going to avoid that. Just my personal opinion. I cant guarantee that i will stain it right and i dont think you can re do it.

[JRConnieK10]

Mounting newer model seats in pickup will require some serious fabrication because you are going to have to bring the seat section DOWN over the gas tank clearance.  Essentially the seat brackets will need to be flush the the seat bottom.

I hear ya I've got a set of seats from an 02' dually thats in pieces trying to figure out a way to make them  work. I really want to make them work I like the seat belts built in any ideas will be great.

[Captkaos]

If you don't paint it right the first time, you can paint over it again and again, but it is a simple process.  Just use quality vinyl paint ( I use SEM) and it will go on really easy.  It comes in a spray can, so it isn't hard at all.
Here is a write-up of painting panels with pictures:
http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/interior/vinyl_dye.htm

[Skunksmash]

You guys ever seen one of these? This would be perfect if only you couldn't tell where the cover met up with the real dash. I really dont know how they look, as i have never seen one.

http://www.coverlaymfg.com/

I am kinda scared to order anything accept a totally new dash pad, because i cant see it close up and i doubt you can send any of this stuff back. Even if you can send it back, i really dont wanna pay shipping both ways for nothing. So all in all this is really a tough one to figure out.

[JRConnieK10]

Yeah pretty common I believe you can get them from this site right here.

[Dragon]

Yeah pretty common I believe you can get them from this site right here.

Yes Coverlay is just one of Several Manufacturers/Vendors of replacement Dash Caps..... I don't know who's Chris' Supplier/Vendor/Manufacturer for his, but Personally I would go with Chris'(Good to Support a Site of a Fellow Enthusiast when you can, and he would be less likely to steer you in the wrong direction).....  I used to deal with Coverlay, and Accu-Form, both of them were a hassle to deal with directly as a Vendor/Manufacturer..... Accu-Form was alot more reliable with service and product, while Coverlay was a Pain to deal with the Idiot on the phone.....

[Captkaos]

The caps we sell are Coverlay.  I can take a picture of one this evening and send it to you if you want.
http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=7&Category_Code=DC

If you do them right, it is VERY hard to tell if it has been covered.

[Skunksmash]

All right then. I will probly pick one up from you when i have the money. But maybe you can tell me at this point how hard it is for installation of the new cover? I ask because my stock dash pad is all curled up around the back edges. I also just now noticed that the guy with the way cool black blazer said he covered up the defroster holes. Now he just has to go without a defroster? That must be kinda uncool sometimes.

[Captkaos]

Installation isn't that hard.  It is possible that you will have to trim the stock dash, but it is fairly straight forward to replace it.

[biodiesel84]

the only parts of the dash that you'll have to trim is the areas that protrude up around the cracks and the damaged speaker areas...also, you may have to trim the coverlay to get it to fit right...we got one in the shop that we had to make extensive trimming to get it even close, but at the end of the day, I didn't like the way it looked, so I ordered another one for the customer..and the new one came in and needed very slight trimming...usually they need alittle trimming, but that first one must have been a bad cast or something...

Chuck.