Author Topic: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain  (Read 14089 times)

Offline got2haul

  • Frequent Member
  • **
  • Posts: 289
Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
« 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?
1980 Custom Deluxe Stepside
        Stepside thread: http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=7505.0
1980 Silverado Short Bed Fleetside
1976 GMC Sierra Grande C15

Offline Captkaos

  • OWNER and Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18460
    • http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com
Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
« Reply #1 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.

Offline got2haul

  • Frequent Member
  • **
  • Posts: 289
Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2008, 12:41:49 pm »
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?
1980 Custom Deluxe Stepside
        Stepside thread: http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=7505.0
1980 Silverado Short Bed Fleetside
1976 GMC Sierra Grande C15

Offline ccz145a

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1393
Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
« Reply #3 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.
1975 C10 Silverado LWB, 454CID, TH400, 10bolt 3.42
11MPG Downhill w/tailwind (but there ain't no hills here)

Offline Captkaos

  • OWNER and Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18460
    • http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com
Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
« Reply #4 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.

Offline got2haul

  • Frequent Member
  • **
  • Posts: 289
Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2008, 05:39:55 pm »
Ok -- good to know.  I won't try it.  Thanks.
1980 Custom Deluxe Stepside
        Stepside thread: http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=7505.0
1980 Silverado Short Bed Fleetside
1976 GMC Sierra Grande C15

Offline DnStClr

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1806
Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2008, 11:47:09 pm »
They got serious about wanting the woodgrain to stay on didn't they?
Don
87 Chevy Silverado

Offline bake315

  • Frequent Member
  • **
  • Posts: 397
Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
« Reply #7 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. 
• '73 Cheyenne Super C20 454/400 http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=7672.0
• ’79 Scottsdale K10 350/NP208/SM465 “Oscar” http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=37885.0
• ’87 Custom Deluxe R30 350/400 “Felix”

Offline VileZambonie

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19175
Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
« Reply #8 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.
,                           ___ 
                         /  _ _ _\_
              ⌠¯¯¯¯¯'   [☼===☼]
              `()_);-;()_)--o--)_)

74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline got2haul

  • Frequent Member
  • **
  • Posts: 289
Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
« Reply #9 on: August 06, 2008, 08:15:03 am »
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 has only 81-87 kits listed online.
1980 Custom Deluxe Stepside
        Stepside thread: http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=7505.0
1980 Silverado Short Bed Fleetside
1976 GMC Sierra Grande C15

Offline lawdog49

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 59
Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
« Reply #10 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?!!!
1991 GMC Suburban 1500   -   5.7/AT/4x4/TBI

Offline comp

  • Registered Users
  • *
  • Posts: 125
  • 76-77-78
Re: Dash bezels, 1973-1977 woodgrain
« Reply #11 on: August 19, 2008, 02:17:38 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?!!!

 add pics of your work for us