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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Dash Cap Experiences?
Posted by: kenshapiro2002 Dec 14 2009, 07:58 AM
Pretty sure Zach said he had one. Zach? Anyway, looking to have a better looking dash without spending huge bucks. American Dash Caps always advertises one on eBay for $77. Anybody use one? Are they noticeably different from a rebuilt one like Camp 914 sells? Ever see one that eliminates the ash tray ? Pretty sure I've seen that option on "real" dash replacements but nor sure if anybody offers it in a cap.
Posted by: rfuerst911sc Dec 14 2009, 08:21 AM
I purchased and installed a Coverlay brand dash cap in May of this year. I thought the fit was perfect the only thing I ended up " fixing " was I had to shim the ash tray mount to move the ash tray down to clear the cover. I don't have any good pictures but between the new dash vinyl/foam and the Coverlay the dash looks great. No it won't get past the concours crowd but I'm not interested in that.
Posted by: Vacca Rabite Dec 14 2009, 08:30 AM
Yep, I have one. Come see it first hand, Ken. I am about to hit my Christmas Break (one of the many benefits of working for a university) and intent to spend a lot of quality time in my garage knocking out my winter project list. It does have the ashtray cut out, and I am not sure what I am going to do about that, given that I don't have an ash tray in my car. I am going to have to find something to put there.
Anyway. I got mine from Ebay a few years ago. Until you touch it, you can not tell that it is a cap. But, it does not pass the touch test. it is hard and plastic. I never glued it in, so one day it might rattle or squeak. but given the my entire car rattles and squeaks, I probably would not notice. maybe it is doing so now. Which would be impressive, given as how the car is at home and I am at work. But perhaps the dash cap has a mind of its own, and rattles and squeaks when it thinks no one is looking, much like a pre-teen discovering masturbation.
Happy monday!
Zach
Posted by: kenshapiro2002 Dec 14 2009, 08:32 AM
I feel the same way...no need to get past 914 concours guys, but does it look "right" to...I dunno...some harsh critics at an "all car" show that don't know a 914 from a '65 Chevelle?
I purchased and installed a Coverlay brand dash cap in May of this year. I thought the fit was perfect the only thing I ended up " fixing " was I had to shim the ash tray mount to move the ash tray down to clear the cover. I don't have any good pictures but between the new dash vinyl/foam and the Coverlay the dash looks great. No it won't get past the concours crowd but I'm not interested in that.
Posted by: rfuerst911sc Dec 14 2009, 08:38 AM
I feel the same way...no need to get past 914 concours guys, but does it look "right" to...I dunno...some harsh critics at an "all car" show that don't know a 914 from a '65 Chevelle?
I purchased and installed a Coverlay brand dash cap in May of this year. I thought the fit was perfect the only thing I ended up " fixing " was I had to shim the ash tray mount to move the ash tray down to clear the cover. I don't have any good pictures but between the new dash vinyl/foam and the Coverlay the dash looks great. No it won't get past the concours crowd but I'm not interested in that.
In my opinion it does look right but of course that is subjective. There's no doubt it is one of the cheapest ways to correct a cracked dash. I agree that it " feels " like plastic because it is but visually it looks great. Because of brutal Florida sun I may add a carpet topper to protect the new vinyl and the Coverlay.
Posted by: kenshapiro2002 Dec 14 2009, 08:45 AM
Thanks guys!
Posted by: jsayre914 Dec 14 2009, 11:17 AM
i got one too, but i glued mine, too much fast driving with the top off kinda scared me with the light weight cap waiting to attack. I love it, it also has the ashtray cutout, i have never opend the ashtray yet.
Posted by: xperu Dec 14 2009, 11:38 AM
I installed one on my car until I found an un-cracked one. The only problem I had with it was the upper pad area over the gages was warped downward a little "Kind of common" I had a difficult time making glue stick to the proper contour; I couldn’t tell you if there is more the one manufacture, but there is some price differences between them, mine seemed to be good quality for around $85 + shipping. The cove really it looked pretty good and unless you knew it was a cover you could not tell by looking. It is defiantly a cheaper way to go. Mike
Posted by: zymurgist Dec 14 2009, 11:49 AM
It does have the ashtray cut out, and I am not sure what I am going to do about that, given that I don't have an ash tray in my car. I am going to have to find something to put there.
Gauges, perhaps? Some people put gauges in the ash tray slot... it keeps one from having to install a console for extra gauges (I'm in the "no console" camp).
Posted by: StratPlayer Dec 14 2009, 11:50 AM
I got one from porsche palace when they were selling them on ebay. Best dash cap out there, no glue is required. Its held in place buy the A pillars. Had it installed in my car now for 4 yrs still looks a good as new, better fit than the others.
Posted by: SirAndy Dec 14 2009, 12:10 PM
I got mine from Ebay a few years ago. Until you touch it, you can not tell that it is a cap. But, it does not pass the touch test. it is hard and plastic. I never glued it in, so one day it might rattle or squeak. but given the my entire car rattles and squeaks, I probably would not notice. maybe it is doing so now. Which would be impressive, given as how the car is at home and I am at work. But perhaps the dash cap has a mind of its own, and rattles and squeaks when it thinks no one is looking, much like a pre-teen discovering masturbation.
You need to lay off the coffee ...
Posted by: Spoke Dec 14 2009, 03:08 PM
Same here. When I picked the car up at the PO's house, he brought the cap out the garage and we just placed it on the dash for the ride home. About a year later I remembered that I never glued it in place. 6 years later and it's still not glued in place and looks ok.
Posted by: kenshapiro2002 Dec 14 2009, 03:38 PM
How about an ashtray?
Yep, I have one. Come see it first hand, Ken. I am about to hit my Christmas Break (one of the many benefits of working for a university) and intent to spend a lot of quality time in my garage knocking out my winter project list. It does have the ashtray cut out, and I am not sure what I am going to do about that, given that I don't have an ash tray in my car. I am going to have to find something to put there.
Anyway. I got mine from Ebay a few years ago. Until you touch it, you can not tell that it is a cap. But, it does not pass the touch test. it is hard and plastic. I never glued it in, so one day it might rattle or squeak. but given the my entire car rattles and squeaks, I probably would not notice. maybe it is doing so now. Which would be impressive, given as how the car is at home and I am at work. But perhaps the dash cap has a mind of its own, and rattles and squeaks when it thinks no one is looking, much like a pre-teen discovering masturbation.
Happy monday!
Zach
Posted by: tod914 Dec 14 2009, 04:38 PM
The few that I seen looked nice. Unless you really looked hard, you wouldn't notice. Dash cover is another option.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/coverking/dash_cover_start.htm
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