This dash would not be a good candidate, would it?

[Skunksmash]

Here are some pics of the dash in my '87. I was considering getting one of those nice coverlay dash pads. Im sure you have seen them. They are basically just a new skin for your old dash. They make it look like it was brand new. However, i was hoping someone here could tell me if my dash is just too damaged. If you look at the driver's side pics there, it is really bowed, warped and cracked. I dont think a new skin will be able to straighten that out. Or will it? I am afraid if i buy the new skin, the dash will still stick up in that one area. Plus i have multiple large cracks. And the speaker holes have big holes where the foam has become so deteriorated that dime and quarter sized holes have formed. So what's your take on this? Should i just bite the bullet and buy a brand new dash? Or is there some way that a new "skin" could work? The dash's are expensive, the skins are not. That is why i have raised the question.

[Captkaos]

You know I sell the coverlay skins right?

The drivers side doesn't look like it is seated properly in the truck it should be close to the glass.
Unless it is bowed up, the coverlay will work fine.  If you have areas with bowed up places, just crack them off.  The skin is made to cover the damage.

[Skunksmash]

Hmm, you could be right about not being seated properly. I tried to reseat it once, and it just made all the horrible cracking and flaking sounds, and threw old foam dust up into the air lol. Cough, Hack, spit. Anyway, my estimation is, that it is actually that warped. So i guess the answer is... buy a new dash. Oh well. I figured as much. Although i guess with enough epoxy, and a metal splint on the bottom, it could probly be bent back into shape enough to let the cover do it's job...

[Captkaos]

Unless the pics are showing up correctly I would put a cover on it if that is what you want to do...

[VileZambonie]

You can see the clips are not seated in the dash in your pix

[1980c10]

I put an overlay type of cover on my dash. I found it much easier to remove the dash to install it. the cracks are a minor obstacle. you will just need trim them down where they are higher than the rest of the dash. the overlay looks better than a beat up dash, but not great. The overlay warps a little in the sun and could have been a better fit. I wish I would have spent the money and bought the complete dash. I guess it just depends on what you are trying to do with your restoration. For me, the problem wasn't the condition of the old dash but rather the lack of quality and fitment of the new dash cover. Could have just been a bad luck, but I would buy a complete dash if I were to do it agoin. (note that I did not buy the cover from this site)

[Skunksmash]

That's another thing i am afraid of. That it will sort of sink into the pits and cracks over time, due to heat and such. I have heard of people filling in the cracks, but that seems like a lot of effort for something that might work out.

[Captkaos]

I haven't ever had problems with the Coverlay ones I sell, or you wouldn't see it for sale.  Not saying they are perfect, just saying I haven't had problems with them.  I do have a Palco cover on my 87 and it has more waves in it than the superbowl.

[exilous]

On my first truck I bought someone put 2 of those coverlay things on and both layers looked horrible I peeled the top layer off and the one underneath it looked just horrible all sunk into the cracks and such but I dont know who installed them or what brands, I never liked the coverlays I would go with the new dash.

[rustys82]

yeah, i would go with a new dash pad, not the cover. the cover that was on mine when i bought was cracked and faded. i got so disgusted with it that i ripped it off piece by piece i the paking lot of the gym. bought a new dash pad and put it in. it was a little pricy but well worth it. it was a 2 man job for me. the new dash pad can be a little flimsy and could easily break. good luck.

[Captkaos]

I have GM dash pads for 81-87's also...

[GoatBeard]

You should be able to look through that rectangular hole on the Driver's Side up close to the window and see the metal strip with the VIN number directly under it.  The metal from the VIN should be touching the bottom of the dash pad.  You'll need to do that before you put anything on it. 

The problem you might run into is when you try to get the old dash in properly, it might bend in half or to the point where it becomes unusable.  You have to be a little rough with them to get them in correctly.  I would try to get it in right before you order anything new -- unless it's a new dash. 

I got a new dash here and it was very reasonably priced and fit good.

[yellowk20]

While a New Dash pad is the preferred way.

I have had good luck with the coverlay

My dash pad was completely destroyed what I did was take an exacto knife and trimmed off the spots were the vinyl had "curled " up I then got a can of spray foam insulation to fill in the voids  and then sanded down the foam until the entire dash was smooth . I then installed the Coverlay with a liberal amount off 3M trim adhesive .  oh and I did it out side in the sun during a New Mexico summer so the coverlay was very soft and pliable. I also had the Dash removed form the truck when I did it . It took me about 10 hours of sanding, filling, and triming to get it to look good . but at the time I was a Airmen in the Airforce and my time was more abundant then money . (now I would just buy the pad and be done in 1/2 an hour)


I have buddies that think its a actual GM dash pad ...... lol and I'm not gonna tell them different
Oh and I did this 5 years ago and it still looks as good as when I did it .

[baddogg79]

Im my opinion, if you can afford it, get a new dash pad. It will save you the trouble of trying to make the covers fix, and at lease on my 73, mine was moldy from a rotted windshield channel.

[yellowk20]

I dunno I say try the cover .if done right it looks really good .

whatever route you choose get a nice dashmat to cover it it really helps alot and they look pretty cool to plus you can velcro stuff to them!!!