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Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:57 pm

I am starting the search for parts and I am hoping to get advice...
Are there any sources of dash cover and dash face that are better than the others? :?:

I noticed that some look like thin plastic that is glued over the existing dash and others look thicker and are clipped in place!

I used the thin type for my daughter's Galaxie and the fit was very poor, but it has help up for four years of the Texas sun.

Thu Mar 05, 2009 6:14 am

Unless you can find a NOS original, I don't
think you can beat the "show quality" dash pads
sold by KGP&R.
All the thin plastic dash "caps" that overlay the
old pad leave a lot to be desired, from what I've seen.

AFAIK the dash face replacements
are all the same quality.

Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:34 am

If you are talking about the cover with the fake wood grain I had very good experiences instaling the one from KGPR. Great fit and easy to cut with a precision knife.

Still quite a pain to remove everything around the dash before instalation though!

I have not come across good looking repro dash pads.

Good luck!

Marcel

Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:48 am

I have the upper and lower pads from KGP&R. The quality is good however fit is something else. The studs on the new pad did not all line up with the holes in the underlying metal. You have to remove the stud or enlarge/make a new hole.

Its my understanding this is a common problem.

The lower pad fit with no problem.

My car still had the original pads. The replacements were very close in terms of quality of materials and look.

Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:15 am

I am glad you guys let me know about the repro dash pad. The thin plastic "slip cover" style pads always look bad. For my daughter's Galaxie there was no other choice and after several days of prep before and patching after installation, the dash looks good from five feet but up close you can see where I had to "iron" out wrinkles and gaps. :?

But on the positive side it was inexpensive and it has held up to almost five years of harsh Texas summers (and remember our summers are 11 months long! :lol: lol!) :wink:

Thu Mar 05, 2009 11:30 am

NOVA Airhead wrote: I have the upper and lower pads from KGP&R. The quality is good however fit is something else. The studs on the new pad did not all line up with the holes in the underlying metal. You have to remove the stud or enlarge/make a new hole.

Its my understanding this is a common problem.

The lower pad fit with no problem.

My car still had the original pads. The replacements were very close in terms of quality of materials and look.

Nova, which upper pad did you order from KGPR? The standard black or the show quality one?

I'm soon going to be redoing my entire front dash so issues that come up such as holes not lining up are "make or break" sorts of deals with so many options out there.

Thu Mar 05, 2009 1:31 pm

I ordered the Show Quality replacement.

Thu Mar 05, 2009 3:45 pm

thanks Nova, I'll keep that in mind when ordering

Thu Mar 05, 2009 4:18 pm

I used the Show Quality from KGPR also and hand no problem wit the fit or alignment of the plastic studs. I did mine about 1 1/2 years ago. The windshield, all the gauges and glove box were out. That did make the install easier as there are studs in the corners.
Good luck,
David

Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:28 pm

really novice question, but do I need to purchase any screws/studs/nuts along with the new dash pad from KGPR to install? The current pad on my ghia looks to be pretty ah, "not original" shall we say.

Fri Mar 06, 2009 5:30 am

Chinortz wrote:

Quote: do I need to purchase any screws/studs/nuts along with the new dash pad from KGPR to install?

Everything you need for the new install will be with the KGP&R show quality replacement.

However, if your present pad is held in with the original nylon nuts, I would hold on to them.

Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:44 pm

im thinking of just re-wraping my current dash. any suggestions on what type of material would be best??

Mon Jun 22, 2009 1:21 pm

I have a 63 Ghia Coupe and it seems to be a hard year to find a good replacement. WCM seems to be the closest I have found (in research not application) to a good replacement for that year. Does anyone have any experience with West Coast Metric dash pads and know if they are good?

Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:17 pm

I got my dash from KGPR, my only complaint is the covering for the glove box cracked... will be replace by carbon fiber soon though :)

Thu Jun 25, 2009 1:54 pm

I've got the KGPR one too, the dash top pad was replaced before I got the car, but judging from the comments above about hole alignment, I'd say it is from KGPR too.

Before...

New face...

As it is today, minus the EMPI GT :cry:

Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:11 pm

A "search brought me here ........ Our recently acquired Ghia came with an uninstalled faux wood dash face, and a tube of silicone glue... :( . Geeeez, is that the means of attaqching a new face? What are the slots for in the dash face? ..... The PO bought it from Rocky Mountain Motorsport.

Grandpa Bill
'71 Ghia, AS

Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:29 pm

Ignore my previous post (above), I found the answer ..... :D

Grandpa Bill

Sun Feb 28, 2010 5:45 am

sleeklines wrote: I have a 63 Ghia Coupe and it seems to be a hard year to find a good replacement. WCM seems to be the closest I have found (in research not application) to a good replacement for that year. Does anyone have any experience with West Coast Metric dash pads and know if they are good?

Ever get a replacement dash for your '63?

Wed Mar 17, 2010 7:57 am

I have concluded from the thread above that I should buy a "show quality" dash from KGP&R. But here's my question:

If I bite the bullet and spend this much, will I have a crack again in a few years? Or is this part made of a material that's more resistent to the sun's heavy toll?

Thank you.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:31 am

Their written catalog states "new parts are covered as long as
you own your Ghia."
But I would ask them directly about the dash pad guarantee.