Coverlay dash cover trim issues

[Skunksmash]

Started piecing my truck back together finally and I need to get the dash back in. But unfortunately, there is no way that the factory dash trim piece is going to fit. As you can see from the pics. There is a quarter inch (or more in some places) all the way around the end that can not be filled. I spent a couple hours working with a dremel and even when I got it to where nothing was holding the trim piece back, I found out that the large gap exists between the trim and the dash.

So what do you think I should do here? I think that my only real option is to make my own trim piece out of something else. First I thought about wood, which would work out pretty well. So I asked my grandfather who owns a business where they do constant precision woodwork. You can see some cushions that are related to his business in one of the pics. He said that it could be done, but to get it right its going to take about 10 hours worth of work. Being related to him I can work with wood some but I'm far from being good enough to make that trim piece. So it looks like wood is a no go.

So that leaves metal. I think that I can do it myself with metal, with some help from my neighbor. However, those ridges and recessed lines that run the length of the trim piece are going to be a problem. Capt., you said before that you had one of these coverlays on a truck that you own. How did you overcome this problem? If you had it.

[VileZambonie]

Man, you mangled that thing! What exactly didn't fit before you did that? I have a dash with a cover and the trim fits fine.

[Skunksmash]

I guess mine is malformed or something. The trim didn't fit the dash after I installed the new coverlay dash cover. The coverlay sticks out too far or something... I'm not sure. But I know I got the coverlay on the dash as far as it would go when I installed it. I used like 40 of those little (and big) clamps you see in the pics. So I know its not my fault that the trim doesn't fit. Its not really mangled that is just my attempt to get it to fit. I have another one from another truck I used to have so I didn't care if I ruined one. But it really doesn't matter cause there ain't no way either one of them is ever going to fit. I think I'm going to get a piece of aluminum and make my own.

[bake74]

     Where did you buy the cover from so I can avoid them ?

[Skunksmash]

http://www.coverlaymfg.com/

There's no avoiding them. If you want to go this route, at least.

Followed these instructions to the letter:

https://www.coverlaymfg.com/store.php/content/how-to/


The only thing I didn't do in that vid was to use masking tape to hold the cover on while the silicon cured. Didn't work for me, The coverlay wouldn't stay on. So I had to use those tiny clamps that are in one of my pics. Used windex, applied the silicon in the manner suggested, even cut a couple parts with an exacto knife that didn't quite fit right. All just as the video said.

[Skunksmash]

At this point.. I don't know what to do guys. I'm kind of at a loss. Wood would cost me too much money... aluminum would cost me too much money. I guess all I can really do is just get a new dash and ship it off to be refurbished at one of those places that recovers them.

[jaredts]

Hate to tell you, but I was thinking of your post the other day when I was in my truck and noticed that my factory trim doesn't fit my factory dash much better than what you're showing.

[bake74]

At this point.. I don't know what to do guys. I'm kind of at a loss. Wood would cost me too much money... aluminum would cost me too much money. I guess all I can really do is just get a new dash and ship it off to be refurbished at one of those places that recovers them.

     Maybe design a better one and start selling them, since it seems that the factory could not get too good of a job either.

[VileZambonie]

Post some pics of how it fits without the other one you have.

[Skunksmash]

Hate to tell you, but I was thinking of your post the other day when I was in my truck and noticed that my factory trim doesn't fit my factory dash much better than what you're showing.

Mine used to fit just fine. Well, at least a lot better than this one does. It was acceptable to me at least. The pic really isn't big enough but you can still see that there isn't a quarter inch gap in there, like in the other pics I posted. You can see the silver outside edge fitting up against the dash like its supposed to. Maybe I'm just too much of a perfectionist.

[Skunksmash]

Wow justdashes is for rich people lol. Close to $1000 after taxes and shipping. Even though they can't legally charge you for tax unless your're in the same state, which is CA.

[nlauffer]

I just put a dash cover on my 83 GMC.  My trim piece fits under the dash cover.  It would not fit on top like you tried.  I don't know if you can take it apart and clean it up, but you might try that.  I will get a pic and post it in a little bit.

[Skunksmash]

Yeah I think I just got a crappy cover. I followed their instructions to the letter, cause I didn't want something like this to happen.

[Captkaos]

It looks like you trimmed the end off the cover?
None of the plastic trim pieces fit that great on these.