I purchased a restored dash on eBay and then installed a Dakota Digital VF3 Dash in my '71 Elky. I cannot personally recommend the DD dash as mine has been a lot of trouble. I have replaced the control box three times and am currently waiting on a replacement display unit. They are great at honoring their lifetime warranty, but pulling the dash to replace parts can get old very quickly. I believe Covan makes a gauge carrier that allows you to install pretty much any aftermarket gauges. Of course the reproduction gauges are available as well.
The restored dash was from a Monte Carlo and the holes had been filled with epoxy. Grain was duplicated and it looks great. I have since experimented with replicating the grain and it's pretty easy to do with a toothpick or an awl while the epoxy is still soft. I bought another MC dash that had not been restored a couple of years ago. It's in my warehouse and I don't really recall the condition. I will take a look at it and try to price it fairly if you think you might be interested. If I remember correctly, all of the bracing is there. As far as the swap, it's not very difficult. You do have to be careful to support the dash while installing it, as it is kind of flimsy until properly braced. Ron Griffith Texarkana, TX 75501 http://elcaminocentral.com/gallery-album_rgriffs-71-SS-Clone.html ----- Original Message ----- From: Daniel Solomon To: The Chevelle Mailing List Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 11:02 AM Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] Dash Question John, It is something I have wanted to do as well but it is a pricey conversion and that has held me back. You will need the dash carrier, gauge cluster, under dash wiring harness and vent balls. Also think there are one or two small steel brackets that are unique to the SS dash but not sure. Its my understanding that the aftermarket carrier has a fit issue at the glove box. Stay away from Monte Carlo dashes as they have holes drilled through the face that are used to attach the wood grain. 70 gauge clusters are one year only if you want the correct green backlight. If it doesn't matter, 71's and 72's will also work. 70 and 71 carriers are the same. In 72 they added a seat belt light next to the cigarette lighter. I will send you some jpg's off list of an article that explains the teardown and reinstall. Godspeed, Dan Solomon "It is a mistake to allow any mechanical object to realize you are in a hurry." http://www.freewebs.com/chevelles1970/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 11:27:42 -0400 Subject: [Chevelle-list] Dash Question Folks, How difficult would it be adapting an SS dash to a plain old 70 Malibu. I have a line on a beautiful 'grandma' Malibu that looks like it is going to be the baseline for the 70 Clone that I have been dreaming of building. The interior is an almost perfect white with a bench. The only thing that I would like todo to the interior is to adapt an M21 for the power glide and to replace the dash with an SS dash. Is the dash just a plain drop in dash that will connect to the stock wiring except for maybe the tach? Or will I need a whole new wiring harness. The motor would either be a 'turn key' ZZ4, or a crate 502. BUt I am leaning towards the ZZ4 as I can still get the AC to work with the pump on the ZZ4. Thanks in advanced for any advice, John from CT.
