Hello,

I've been lurking for sometime and have found much useful information while my Dad and I have been restoring our '68 coupe. I had intended on installing much of the interior today but work came to a screeching halt thanks to what I consider to be an ill-fitting dash pad.

I ordered it from one of the reputable mail order places (I won't give the name...yet) and upon inspection it looked fine. However, when I put it in place today I immediately noticed two problems. First, there is no cutout for the VIN number on the right side of the pad. Second, the defroster outlets refuse to line up with the defroster ducts...the ducts are almost completely hidden under the rear portion of the pad and no amount of force seems to make them line up.

I've looked at photos of the dash pads the other vendors have and none of them have the VIN cutout either, which leads me to believe that I will either have to live with the VIN tag being hidden, or do the cutout myself (do-able, but if I screw it up, I've eaten $130). The bigger issue is the defroster outlets IMO. Has anyone out there had this issue with reproduction dash pads on '67s or '68s? Thanks in advance.

Patrick Campbell
Lexington, AL

 

Patrick,
I just finished installing the dash pad on my 68 coupe and I had problems with fit on mine too. As for the VIN tag, you can simply bend it upwards and fold it back down over top of the pad after it's installed. I used an exacto knife to notch the pad a bit so it would cut around the tag where it bends up, then just push the tag down on top.
as for the fit at the defroster vents, does the pad go back too far or not far enough? If it doesn't go back far enough you might be able to trim it some where it meets the windshield pinch weld so it slides back further.

 

It doesn't go back far enough. However, it doesn't appear that the material next to the windshield is keeping it from going back, it's the material around the location of the instument panel and trim pieces. I'll keep trying, but I'm glad I'm not the only one having problems with fitting these pads. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Does the material go back far enough to screw into the dash at the pinchweld?

 

There's plenty of material there, but it doesn't lay down against the pinchweld (if I remember correctly). Do you think it will stretch enough to align the defroster outlets once I put the retaining strips on it and screw them down?

 

Actually on mine I trimmed the material away from the screw holes for the trim, I thought it would be too difficult to find the screw holes through the material and that's how my factory pad was. There are 4 screws that go through the pad material and screw into the metal and that's what holds the pad in place. You might try pushing it as far forward as possible to try to line up the vent holes with the vents before you screw it into place.

 

Thanks Doug. I'm planning to try again tonight. If I'm sucessful, I'll let you know. I'll also try to send some pics along. Thanks again!

Patrick

 

It worked, Doug.The extra material at the edge of the windshield was keeping it from aligning correctly. The left outlet still isn't quite where I'd like it, but it will do. The VIN also aligned with the window I cut, though it's a little large. Since I'm not concours correct, I may dream up some kind of frame to put around it to make it look a little nicer. I also got the top right trim piece in. I'll try to send some pics in another post when I make some more progress (hopefully, this weekend). Thanks again, Doug!

Patrick