TheSamba.com :: View topic - Metal dash on late model Ghia- info

Wed Sep 03, 2008 6:11 am

This is my 74 coupe after I pulled the vinyl off the dash face. I had read about a few people doing it and felt motivated. Here is what I did....
After prep, I sprayed it textured black. There were three circular holes that needed to be filled- above the two main gauge pods (I used a warning light) and two switch mounts to the right of the steering wheel (two rotary switches were put into holes already there to plug them). Along the bottom, there were some holes that I did bodywork to fill. Other mods are nose emblem for a horn button and stain to match shift knob. I really disliked the plastic look and this gave it an 'early' appearance.

Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:05 am

Looks great! I did something similar to the dash on my 69, i.e., peeled off the fake woodgrain vinyl, filled the holes, etc. Seems to be a fairly common mod on the 67-71 fake woodgrain dashes, but I don't see it done as often on 72-74 dashes.

Wed Sep 03, 2008 1:03 pm

sactojesse wrote: ... Seems to be a fairly common mod on the 67-71 fake woodgrain dashes... X2^
I did the same on my '71; seems like there's a bigger gap around the glove box cover without the woodgrain plastic face, but I'm getting used to it.
Were the earlier glove box covers slightly larger?
Charley

Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:17 pm

Thanks for the prop.

Not only does the gap around the glove door increase, so does the hole size for the gauges and defrost switch. The vinyl is thin but you will still have a little wiggle room to fix when its gone.

Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:20 pm

Hey...uh....dumb question: What years had plastic covered dash FACES? My '69 has a metal face, and I had just asssuuuuuumed it came that way. Are y'all saying that 66+ years all had plastic faces?

Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:36 pm

I believe that the plastic face started with the '71 model and continued right through to the end.

Thu Sep 04, 2008 4:52 am

Plastic woodgrain dash face began in 1967
and continued through 1971.
For 1972-1974 models, plastic face was
changed to black pebble grain.

Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:22 am

Ghiaddict wrote: Plastic woodgrain dash face began in 1967
and continued through 1971.
For 1972-1974 models, plastic face was
changed to black pebble grain.

Was the woodgrain an option or was it standard equipment?

Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:26 am

Were the pre-'67 glove box doors slightly larger, or was the gap around them the same?

Charley

Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:36 am

boleador wrote: Ghiaddict wrote: Plastic woodgrain dash face began in 1967
and continued through 1971.
For 1972-1974 models, plastic face was
changed to black pebble grain.

Was the woodgrain an option or was it standard equipment?

Standard equipment, OG, starting in 1967.

Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:39 am

Ghiaddict wrote: boleador wrote: Ghiaddict wrote: Plastic woodgrain dash face began in 1967
and continued through 1971.
For 1972-1974 models, plastic face was
changed to black pebble grain.

Was the woodgrain an option or was it standard equipment?

Standard equipment, OG, starting in 1967.

Thanks for the info Ghiaddict! Man, I never realized the 60's were so tacky! :wink:

Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:01 am

R/e the glove doors... I bought an old style one with the intention of using it b.c it is (a very small amount) wider than the later model one. After lining it up, I noted that the hinges would have to be swapped and their mounts as well as the catch on the body for the door latch (or convert to a new style latch and drill out the glove door)... regardless, it was going to take a lot and I didnt really have a problem with the appearance of how it was. I left it. It can be done though.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:28 am

oc92 wrote: R/e the glove doors... Thanks oc92! That's good info and just what I was looknig for. I agree; the gap doesn't stand out unless my glove box is stuffed full.
Charley

Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:37 am

Here is my 73. I hated the plastic. I used an older glove box door and button. It was a pain.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:24 am

BONES-
How did you modify it to fit? Hinges and latch, right?

ps nice interior... leather, 914 gauges, tasteful

Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:32 am

The 73 hinges work but the latch took a lot of fabrication to fit. The early button is different from the 73 version

Fri Oct 03, 2008 6:01 pm

Bones,

i really love your interior, and i have a question about the 914 gauges, what do you have to do to make the the speedometer work? or is it a direct swap?
Thanks,

Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:04 pm

oc92 wrote: I really disliked the plastic look and this gave it an 'early' appearance.
x2

Black gauges and black controls in a black plastic-covered dash... Ick! I also took the matching black pebble grain plastic off the door tops, and the black vinyl off the inside of the cabrio's A-pillars. MUCH nicer looking with it all refinished body color, IMO.

Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:44 pm

boleador wrote:

Thanks for the info Ghiaddict! Man, I never realized the 60's were so tacky! :wink:

Only the late 60s. The early sixties were awesome! (Ghia wise at least. don't know about everything else :-))

Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:07 pm

Did the same thing on my 1969 1/2. It was easier and cheaper than installing a plastic face would have been. Plus it's fairly permanent.

The holes along the top had to be patched from the back with fiberglass.