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Best Dash Pad Options

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Paul_S

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So what have most seen for best quality (nearest original) 1973-1977/80 Dash Pad?

I see USA1 Interiors which has a metal core and seems to be nearest original.

Dash Pads

Ready to replace your dash pad???Choose a brand new OE vinyl style dash pad from USA1 Interiors! Why choose USA1 when there are cheaper options??? Yes, there are cheaper options, we used to sell those cheaper options but found that most of our customers were looking for a quality product over...
www.usa1interiors.com www.usa1interiors.com

Also there is Just Dashes to recover/restore an original pad.

Think those are the best two options.
But which has the best final product? Both also offer original colors.
 
USA1 just sells a dashes direct brand pad. They do however paint them the correct colors which is nice.
The dashes direct pad is the closes to oem available.
 
I did my 89 with Dashes Direct. Lotsa trimming with a single edged razor blade to make it lay right as the material is thicker than oe. Prepped and painted m09 blue.

I had a dash cover on my 79 that worked pretty well for a less expensive option.
 
May be worth calling to find out the back order time?

www.cheyennepickup.com

73-78 Dash Pad

Our dash pads are vinyl over foam like original. These will fit all 1973-1978 Chevy and GMC pickup trucks, Blazer, Jimmy, Suburban, and Crew Cab. These do not have the VIN id hole cut, but there is an indention like the later GM dash pads had. $399.95 Find the passenger side plates here Please...
www.cheyennepickup.com
 
I vouch for usa1. I tried dash pads from other companies and had problems.

If you order USA1, I recommend getting a can or two of the paint/dye as well.
 
The closest thing to original is to rebuild your original dash pad. This place near me can do it, maybe a shop near you can as well. Or you can ship yours to this shop.

Facebook

www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
 
kennyw said:
The closest thing to original is to rebuild your original dash pad. This place near me can do it, maybe a shop near you can as well. Or you can ship yours to this shop.

Facebook

www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
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Looks like they do great work. Saw somewhere they are almost 1yr out though!
 
3-6 months last i heard and I know Jake has been expanding and hiring where he can. But if you want good quality, it is worth a wait.
 
I ordered a USA1 dash in Slate Blue a three weeks ago. They were quoting 4-16 weeks. I see that Dash Direct has 10 in stock so hopefully it is on the 4 week side. I’ll report back on quality once I get it. I also ordered visors, seat covers, door panels, arm rests; all in Slate Blue from them. My only complaint is they take the money upfront and can’t tell me when they expect parts to ship. It was worth the risk/wait though as they are the only place I’ve found that offers original colors.
 
If your worried about time, just buy a dashes direct pad and then the correct paint from usa1. It is seymour brand and it lays down great.
 
USA1 doesn't have the paint in stock right now either. At least it hasn't shipped as part of my order made back on June 27th.
 
texarback said:
I ordered a USA1 dash in Slate Blue a three weeks ago. They were quoting 4-16 weeks. I see that Dash Direct has 10 in stock so hopefully it is on the 4 week side.
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It's worth the wait. I got two dash pads from dashes direct, both showed up with large ripples and bumps on the passenger side. It would have been acceptable for a quick flip but wasn't anywhere near restoration quality. They said they had a problem with the mold and couldn't do any better for me

The dashes differ by year so your results May Vary

The USA one cost more and took longer but it was worth the wait
 
fordsucks! said:
It's worth the wait. I got two dash pads from dashes direct, both showed up with large ripples and bumps on the passenger side. It would have been acceptable for a quick flip but wasn't anywhere near restoration quality. They said they had a problem with the mold and couldn't do any better for me

The dashes differ by year so your results May Vary

The USA one cost more and took longer but it was worth the wait
Click to expand...
Thanks for the vote of confidence. I've not done this before and it is really hard figuring out who offers the more superior product. In this case I was curious to know how close to Slate Blue they would get. I received the carpet today and it was spot on. I realize that it came from a different vendor but I'm hopeful the colors all match.
 
I have read about getting local bodyshops to wrap cracked dashes in vinyl or whatever. Seen photos that look great. Vinyl with stitching. I would look into that, esp. because nearly everything I have ordered from LMC has been poor quality. Did not fit, color did not match, etc, and worst of all, none if it is cheap. I have not tried their dashes, but I did order interior door panels that sucked (LMC). It is all made in China and I have had enough of paying $$ for crappy quality.
 
TJ1978 said:
Throw one of these covers on. They fit better than the China repos dash pads.
View attachment 419126
Click to expand...

I'm on board with the fabric covers. they used to market them as protecting your dash- My Grandma bought a 1990 suburban when it was just a few years old- replaced a ratty old dodge van that she used to loan out to the family when they needed to move things. it had the fabric cover on sine day one. i watched the dashes deteriorate in my suburban, and my already cracked k5 dash pad basically disintegrate... the fabric cover faded a little, but did its job.

Now i figure it this way - if im going to put the fabric cover on anyway, why bother paying the $$ and time to replace the cracked mess underneath? IM not doing restorations though, but on a truck that gets used? -My dash in the k5 even has holes cut into it for easy access to speakers, and radio antennae stuff. just flop the fabric cover back down and line up the Velcro - FIXED
 
I did the skin years back( J.C. Whitney) didn't fit and I ended up stripping the vinyl off the foam, to get the shin to lay down.

Have seen NOS OEM online / eBay for about a grand. This would be best quality.

Used to use Dupont Vinyl Lacquer to get perfect color results on plastic.

Upholstery shop offered to skin one of my dashes in Leather to match custom seats. Leather used to be the choice for interior parts... Costs gave way to synthetics. Still can find leather on hi end cars

Considering costs + difficulty getting hi quality parts, I'm opting to cover dashes in leather.
 
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