Dashboard Problem

[Steel2686]

I bought my car about three weeks ago. Everything on the car is perfect from the paint to the interior.... except the dashboard. The guy who owned the car before me thought it would look good to put that fake stainless steel overlay crap over the center part of the dash (where the three round air vents are - all the way down to the bottom of the a/c controls), and on a few other spots.

I used a hair dryer and was able to remove the overlay without much problem. The issue is, however, he used some kind of adhesive near the three air vents because it evidently wouldn't stick. It ended up eating away at the dash right near those vents.

I've already replaced all the other "mods" he did to the car's interior, like painting every vent and speaker grill with silver model paint by hand , and changed out the aftermarket radio he had (steering wheel controls didn't work) back to a factory Monsoon I bought on Ebay. I just didn't want to have to replace that part of the dash, but it looks like I may have to.

Any suggestions? Is that a huge job?

Thanks.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

That part of the dash is about $90 from GMparts direct. It's only held on by plastic velcrow and the 2 a piller covers. It's a 5 minute job to change it out.

[Steel2686]

Thanks a million, Jeff.

That's awesome news. I'll get right on ordering it. Everyone on this forum has been a huge help.

Thanks again.

[Steel2686]

Just got the part # from a local dealership. I think the dashboards are quite a bit different from '95 to 2002. GMpartsdirect.com wants $480 for it. Still, I may go for it anyway. If anyone has any other suggestions, please let me know. I'll post a pic of it when I get a chance. Thanks.

[TraceZ]

Just got the part # from a local dealership. I think the dashboards are quite a bit different from '95 to 2002. GMpartsdirect.com wants $480 for it. Still, I may go for it anyway. If anyone has any other suggestions, please let me know. I'll post a pic of it when I get a chance. Thanks.

Are you looking for the flimsy plastic dash cover that goes over the very top of the dash or are you looking for an actual component of the dash structure? Post a picture of what you need and we will be able to help better.

[Steel2686]

Not the dashboard trim on top with the rectangular vent. The actual dashpad below that. I think it goes from the guages all the way over to the other side. I found the price for it. Just wondering if anyone has ever tackled a job like this before.

I'll post a pic of the problem before i order anything. Maybe there is another solution. I just have to wait until I get home to do so.

Thanks.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Not the dashboard trim on top with the rectangular vent. The actual dashpad below that. I think it goes from the guages all the way over to the other side. I found the price for it. Just wondering if anyone has ever tackled a job like this before.

I'll post a pic of the problem before i order anything. Maybe there is another solution. I just have to wait until I get home to do so.

Thanks.

I think I misunderstood what you were looking for. Yea a picture is worth a thousand part numbers.

[Steel2686]

I think I misunderstood what you were looking for. Yea a picture is worth a thousand part numbers.

No problem.

I need to snap a few tonight. I'll have them up here either tonight or tomorrow. Thanks again for all the replies.

[Steel2686]

Well... the wife left my camera at her office. Couldn't take the pics last night. However, I did do extensive research and found the part # to be 10410486. It's pretty much the entire dashboard, minus the upper trim and radio and guage bezels. I can get it for $480. I guess my question now is, has anyone tackled a job like this? I did it once on my '84 Grand Prix, but every car is different. I know it wasn't much fun on that car.

If anyone has ever done a dash on a 4th gen, please let me know what I'm in for.

Thanks.

[raroZ28]

Damn, you shoulda bought Jay's car.

[MN6WS6]

That is the entire dash assembly. You would be much better off buying one from a junkyard, as you can probably pick one up for about $50 if you pull it yourself. It is a big, BIG job, and takes a lot of tools. You're pretty much disassembling the entire front interior of the car to do it, console, seats, steering column has to be dropped to the floor, lots of wiring harnesses unplugged, like I said BIG JOB. Also, that price may be for the dash, but I bet you shipping will be like $200 on top of that because that is heavy and huge.

If I were you, I'd go find a vinyl repair kit, or take it to a shop that can do vinyl repairs. It's not going to look 100% factory, but they can get really close for a lot less money and a lot less work.

And forget the dealer. You'd probably be looking at $1,000 or more with parts and labor to do that amount of work.

[94 formula]

I put a dash in my 94. I bought it off FireFinder whos a member here. It had one small crack above the middle vent that I got taken care of. I don't think its exactly the same but its very similar to an LS1 dash. I'd recommend trying to take it to a shop and seeing if they could fix where the dash was eaten away. I hate doing interior work but I honestly think I could put a set of headers and an opti on quicker than do a dash and I'd rather do that 10 times than do a dash once. There are so many wires, clips, screws, ect. If thats what you end up doing PM me I have some pictures and can give you some tips. Also give Sam Taylor a call www.samtaylor.com they have very similar prices to gmpartsdirect.com but have much quicker shipping and they won't rip you off on it either. Any problems and they have great customer service also.

[Steel2686]

Thanks for all the replies. My brother is the head of the parts department at a GMC dealer. He can get any GM part at cost, as long as he doesn't do it too often. Shipping would be free at least.

I wasn't so worried about the price of the dash so much. I talked the dealer down over $1,000 due to the dash problem. It was more the work involved. I'll either have someone do it or wait until winter and do it in my garage. I could also just put a better looking overlay where the old one was, but I really am a purist. I love the factory stock look.

Jay's car would have been a nice deal for both of us, but the timing was wrong. Oh well. I still love my T/A, and couldn't pass up 16,000 miles.

I'll let you know how it goes this weekend when I get a better look at it and a few pics snapped. Thanks again.