Best Dash Pad / Cover / Face?

supercharged · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:57 pm Post subject: Best Dash Pad / Cover / Face?

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? Question

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.
_________________
Supercharged Texan
"Texan by birth and the grace of God"
"Texan Until I Die"

Ghiaddict · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 6:14 am Post subject:

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.
_________________
****************************

Karmann Ghia & Beetle parts available.
Convertible tops installed.

MDKG · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:34 am Post subject:

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

NOVA Airhead · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:48 am Post subject:

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.
_________________
Ghia Owner Emeritus

supercharged · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:15 am Post subject:

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. Confused

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! Laughing

lol!)

_________________
Supercharged Texan
"Texan by birth and the grace of God"
"Texan Until I Die"

Chinorlz · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 11:30 am Post subject:

NOVA Airhead · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 1:31 pm Post subject:

I ordered the Show Quality replacement.
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Ghia Owner Emeritus

Chinorlz · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 3:45 pm Post subject:

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

Plantman · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 4:18 pm Post subject:

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
_________________
Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day,
No matter where you go, there you are.
'69 bug & '71 Ghia

Chinorlz · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:28 pm Post subject:

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.

NOVA Airhead · Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 5:30 am Post subject:

Chinortz wrote:

mgcordato · Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:44 pm Post subject:

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

sleeklines · Samba Member Joined: April 12, 2005 Posts: 29

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?

Ghia Nut · Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:17 pm Post subject:

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 Smile

_________________
'59 typ1 rajay turbo
'72 Ghia rajay 1641 dual 36DRLAs, 1 3/8" SS merged header and fat boy
78" GL Vert with ej22t swap
This will likely change tomorrow to something else.

cool karmann collected · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 1:54 pm Post subject:

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...

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

New face...

As it is today, minus the EMPI GT Crying or Very sad

kimbill · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:11 pm Post subject: Best Dash?

A "search brought me here ........ Our recently acquired Ghia came with an uninstalled faux wood dash face, and a tube of silicone glue... Sad

. 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

kimbill · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:29 pm Post subject: Best Dash??

Ignore my previous post (above), I found the answer ..... Very Happy

Grandpa Bill

slafa · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 5:45 am Post subject:

beicholz · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 7:57 am Post subject:

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.

Ghiaddict · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:31 am Post subject:

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.
_________________
****************************

Karmann Ghia & Beetle parts available.
Convertible tops installed.


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