Does anyone have a full dash cap that is curently on there car or was on there and has some pics i am interested in finding out how good they look compared to the stock dash pad if anyone wouldnt mind sendin some pics of there ride i would appriciate it greatly.Thanks

i've put a full dash cap on my 1980 el and i'll tell you it looks very good, i've dyed it grey and nobody even knows i'll try and get a picture and mail it to you

I put a dash cap on my 77 (I know it's not a 5th gen but maybe the concept may be similar) and it looks good enough for the casual observer. At least I'm happy with it. Mine would never pass for a concours restoration but I'm not that anal about it. :D
Around the AC openings and the defroster vents you can tell it's a cap since you can see the original dash. I test fit mine then painted the original dash in exposed places to match the new dash cap (I went from light blue to black) then adhered it per manufacturers instructions. It's not perfect, but it looks much better than the cracked original.
I'll try to get some pictures today to better illustrate what I'm trying to describe above.

That would be great to see some pics of the new dash. The websites that sell them are taking photos so far away that you can't really tell how it will really look. I'm always suspicious when they show pictures that don't really show you anything... it is like they are hiding something, they don't want you to see their product too closely.
I'll look forward to seeing pictures of your new dash. My 77 has one medium crack, and fine other than that.
Does anyone have any preferences of vinyl protectants such as Armor-All? I have heard some talk about baby oil etc.

I'm always suspicious when they show pictures that don't really show you anything...


Same here. I havn't seen a cap on an elky...but i've seen a few on vettes and wasn't really "impressed". BUT...lotta folks here have them and LIKE them! It would be great if someone would post a before-during-after series of pics.


Does anyone have any preferences of vinyl protectants such as Armor-All? I have heard some talk about baby oil etc.

I've been using a product called "UV20" for 10 years on the vettes. It's not "too shiny"...and most of all...it DOESN'T attract dust! I'm not sure about the availablility in your area...but i get it at my local NAPA.http://www.jeffpylenz.com/INCREDIMAIL%20VOL.2/EX.SMILIES/other71.gif

can't get camera to work right , will post pics as humanly possible sorry guys

I'll have to check into the UV20. My dash has one medium crack and one small one. I guess with me it is a weighing situation of which is best (or worse) the two cracks, or a cap that the experts will chuckle at. I have seen some repair kits (bondo for vinyl?) I'm just not sure I could do an attractive job, as I could see how it could make it look much worse. Some have told me that the upholstery shops can do really nice jobs if you find the right shop.. For now, I think I'll just wait and keep the dash I have in as good a shape as I can.

can't get camera to work right , will post pics as humanly possible sorry guys
And my camera and I were not on speaking terms this weekend. Actually, I was willing but the camera wasn't. I haven't forgotton and will get something soon.

78chvy,
I think you have mail... Anyway, I got some pics of my '77 dash with dash cap. I'll be happy to mail them to others if interested, or better yet, if you can tell me how / where to post the pics on this forum, I'll be happy to do so. :-D

Hello all,

Here are pictures from the world's worst web site... :oops: Anyway, these are various pictures of my dash. Please excuse the mess as my '77 is undergoing surgery. :-D
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/ponchovilla/DashPictures.html

Ken - I'd like to see your pictures too if your camera gets its act together.

Hello all,

Here are pictures from the world's worst web site... :oops: Anyway, these are various pictures of my dash. Please excuse the mess as my '77 is undergoing surgery. :-D
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/ponchovilla/DashPictures.html

Ken - I'd like to see your pictures too if your camera gets its act together.

Wow, that dash cap in the 77 looks like it will really help make that truck shine. I am in the process of redoing my 83 and plan on getting a dash cap too....years of Arizona sun has taken it's toll.

Anyone else have any pictures of a installed 5th gen dash cap. I am just courious how it covers and what I need to paint on the original.

I am very encouraged by Ken's comments about how good it looks...Hey Ken...any luck with that camera yet :-)

Anyway, any picts would really help make the decision....I was also thinking of having it reuphosltered in black vinyl...it's about the same costs...but I don't think would hold up as good as a cap.

Jimmy

And here is the one I have in my 76. I also have one for the 80 but that portion of the project hasn't happened so its not installed. Matter of fact I have no dash in my 80 just yet.

http://www.angelfire.com/tx4/Warped/76_elky_files/76_images/1976_El_Camino_interior_10.jpg

Pete, That's a good looking interior. I like the red accents. 8-)

Yes....very sharp looking!!!! I know the feeling about not hacing a dash....I've had mine out for about 2 weeks now trying to figure out if I should upholster it, try to fill the crack, or just get a dash cap.

THe upholsters is the most expensive, running about 250 here...and I chould try to use epoxy and sand to get rid of the cracks.....

however, I still think that the cap will look the best and be the cheapest.

This guy here seems to put them up every few days....so, this is what I will probably get:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=33695&item=2458078161&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT

Jimmy

Don't know if you purchased a dash cap yet, but he has somemore to sell.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33695&item=2461164307

Don't know if you purchased a dash cap yet, but he has somemore to sell.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33695&item=2461164307

Yep...that's where I plan to buy....he puts new ones up every 4 days...

However, I still want to see what it looks like installed. I emailed the seller and they said they don't have any pictures of it installed.

I guess that's all I am waiting on.

Jimmy

There have been other posts concerning this in the past...be sure to read those also. Although not a cap, I have purchased some other items for my Elky from "coppers234" and was very satisfied with the items I purchased from him. My Elky does not need a cap. It seems the ones that I've seen, according to the pics available, they do not allow for installation or removal of the dash speakers once they are glued in place, so once installed if you blow a front speaker, your SOL and need to rip the cap off to replace the speaker. :cry:

I still use a velior dash mat which I like but I have been giving some thought to a cap.

There have been other posts concerning this in the past...be sure to read those also. Although not a cap, I have purchased some other items for my Elky from "coppers234" and was very satisfied with the items I purchased from him. My Elky does not need a cap. It seems the ones that I've seen, according to the pics available, they do not allow for installation or removal of the dash speakers once they are glued in place, so once installed if you blow a front speaker, your SOL and need to rip the cap off to replace the speaker. :cry:

Thanks for the tip on teh dash speaker.....that makes sense though....just one of those things that can be a deal kicker for some.

Anyway, I am gonna bypass the speakers in the dash altogether...so it shouldn't be a problem.

Also, thanks for the comments on coppers234....I read alot of his comments and it looks like quality stuff.

Well, I guess I will take the dive and get one...I will do some archive searching and see if I can find some picts. I saw this thread, and thought I will just revive it, as someone with a 5th gen said they were in the process of posting pics...

Thanks for all of the help,

Jimmy

wonder how these hold up in the arizona sun. the boss put one on his son's 77 and it lasted about 4 months and started warping. lifetime warrantee the supplier said. we'll see. :cool:

If you get a cap be sure to follow the instructions. In a hot location like Arizona or Texas the warping will happen if you put the glue in the center of the cap and not just around the edges like the instuctions say.

I put one on my 71 and i think it is great. Looks fantastic and super easy for a 3rd gen to install.

not sure how to add pictures on here but if you send me your e-mail address i'll send pics kmonroe1@earthlink.net

I bought one and it's going to take some adjusting with a dremel. It fits too close on the lower right side to the cluster bezel. I'll probably just pull the whole bezel and dremel it down to get a perfect fit. Also considering some out of sight screws in place of some of the silicone provided with the cap. I won't hurt my dash any more than it already has been hurt.

I was/am seriously contemplating grabbing a blue dash out of the junkyard. It's in real nice condition but still has two smaller cracks right behind the dash bezel. Small enough to possibly be fixed with epoxy before repainting brown.

If/when I do install my cap I promise to post step by step pics of installation.

ok guys heres the only way i could get pictures go to my site
www.msnusers.com/kenselcamino

just click on the link that says pictures

I too am in AZ and my 74 has a dash cap. It's better than my dash which really needs to go to Just Dashes someday. The cap makes it livable but...

1. The vinyl covering on the original dash is flaking off like one of those flaky dinner bicuits

2. The foam is turning to dust, literally

So it's just a stopgap measure. Oh and after 4 years my Coverking dash cap is developing a crack near the radio opening but then there is no support because there is no longer a dash under the place it cracked.

Sometimes I wonder why I bother......sigh...