Dash Cap

There are a couple of cracked, mis shaped spots on the upper dash pad on the 68 Barracuda.
Reading the posts here on FABO concerning replacement dash pads and dash caps, it seems that installing a dash cap for 1/3 the price of a new dash pad is a viable option.

so a couple of questions
1) does it appear that a dash cap will fit properly on the slightly mis-shaped corner of my existing dash? The two areas with the cracks are good for holding the OE shape.

2) my interior is the dark green, I found the paint code for the metallic green metal parts.
Is there a paint code for the dash - vinyl parts? If not I will plan to use the horn button as a guide for the paint shop to match.

3) the lower dash pad is in great shape, but so the color matches on both, I will re spray the lower when I spray the upper cap. This is probably a paint shop question, but I wonder if I can use the same paint mix on the lower OE vinyl pad that I use on the new upper cap. I am guessing the new cap is some kind of plastic.

4) also, any current recommendation on who to buy the 68 Barracuda upper cap from?

my68barracuda said:

There are a couple of cracked, mis shaped spots on the upper dash pad on the 68 Barracuda.
Reading the posts here on FABO concerning replacement dash pads and dash caps, it seems that installing a dash cap for 1/3 the price of a new dash pad is a viable option.

so a couple of questions
1) does it appear that a dash cap will fit properly on the slightly mis-shaped corner of my existing dash? The two areas with the cracks are good for holding the OE shape.

2) my interior is the dark green, I found the paint code for the metallic green metal parts.
Is there a paint code for the dash - vinyl parts? If not I will plan to use the horn button as a guide for the paint shop to match.

3) the lower dash pad is in great shape, but so the color matches on both, I will re spray the lower when I spray the upper cap. This is probably a paint shop question, but I wonder if I can use the same paint mix on the lower OE vinyl pad that I use on the new upper cap. I am guessing the new cap is some kind of plastic.

4) also, any current recommendation on who to buy the 68 Barracuda upper cap from?

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1. if the cover is made correctly and thin enough then yep, and if you install it like it's supposed to be,using the correct install method and (clean,clean clean .look at it for a minute or 2 and then repeat the cycle a time or two again) remove any Armor-All by cleaning and trim any raised or curled sections off, the attaching glue (or silicone will fill in the lower spots and smooth the transition on that corner)

2. there is supposed to be a code for soft vinyl trim ,somewhere. but it rarely matches todays products.
I have not found a good vinyl paint code for almost every color I have tried to spray. I take a known good piece and get it color matched to the existing vinyl (which is NOT the color it originally was due to age and sunlight) or I get a hidden bit of vinyl that is a closer match to original and have that matched. that's how I color match vinyl on older seats. Dash pads and door trim that have been out in the sun for 50 years will have faded and the inner side that is closer to the frame of the dash will be a closer match to original, but is usually hard to find a good spot to compare. dealers choice on the pad color, but the horn sould like a good option visually since it's the main focus for the driver.
if going back exactly original I'd find a hidden spot of vinyl ,color match the unfaded part and paint everything to match, otherwise go with the horn button.

3. the dash pad cover is usually ABS or Styrene (abs is preferred and it's a more flexible plastic) the grain will not match the lower pad(it called hair-cell grain). since it has a similar type of content to vinyl I usually take 2 steps before painting Abs to match vinyl. 1.Clean,clean ahhhh you get it just like post reply #1 it's gotta be clean no armor-all silicone residue and no dirt. 2. get a good adhesion promoter(I use bulldog adhesion promoter) and spray a light coat, follow directions on your spray can. (I use 2 light coats) before spraying the flexible vinyl paint. in the below pic we are color matching a custom heel pad to the new carpet set we are making for a customer. (we had to redye the heelpad another time to get the correct "golden hue, this one was just a bit off on color and had to be stripped and redone)



no idea on where to buy the cap from. Others might know a good reliable source, I have just done ones the customers have brought to me. I seem to remember that a member on here recently put on a dash cap.

I would use a lower pad ( after cleaning ) for color sample, and yes the same paint designed for vinyl and plastic would be used on OEM pads and the aftermarket cap. One issue is the base color. Aftermarket caps are black. The one I bought 20+ years ago was a oily odd formula plastic almost like the unbreakable combs. It will need a very good prep wipe to ensure paint bonding. Now I don't know how the green pigment compares to my metallic red but... black might not change to dark green easily. How to make it all cover match proper regardless? Light neutral base. Invest in off the shelf spray bomb of light neutral base color, ( like that piece shown above is what I use, sand beige ) or very light gray works, for basecoat on all pieces.

my68barracuda said:

There are a couple of cracked, mis shaped spots on the upper dash pad on the 68 Barracuda.
Reading the posts here on FABO concerning replacement dash pads and dash caps, it seems that installing a dash cap for 1/3 the price of a new dash pad is a viable option.

so a couple of questions
1) does it appear that a dash cap will fit properly on the slightly mis-shaped corner of my existing dash? The two areas with the cracks are good for holding the OE shape.

2) my interior is the dark green, I found the paint code for the metallic green metal parts.
Is there a paint code for the dash - vinyl parts? If not I will plan to use the horn button as a guide for the paint shop to match.

3) the lower dash pad is in great shape, but so the color matches on both, I will re spray the lower when I spray the upper cap. This is probably a paint shop question, but I wonder if I can use the same paint mix on the lower OE vinyl pad that I use on the new upper cap. I am guessing the new cap is some kind of plastic.

4) also, any current recommendation on who to buy the 68 Barracuda upper cap from?

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M dash was really really bad, I bought a new black cap off ebay, it had a small crack in it . The seller sent me a new one, it had the same crack , but smaller, and was undetectable. I sold the other one cheap. All u have to do is make sure there are no raised places in ur dash at all , and it has to be clean . Mine is not noticeable , looks factory -- Would do the lower too , but my lower isn`t that bad. jfyi

Thanks for the info,
I did look on e bay,, found this Dash Pad for 220 shipped, the pad can come with a 30.00 refund and a prepaid return shipping on my core,
that would bring the price to 190 for a new pad.
1968 MOPAR A BODY DASH PAD - VALIANT - BARRACUDA - DART ABS CORE | eBay

however it has an ABS core,, I did a quick search on ABS vs steel dash pad cores in the few posts that I found ABS cores were said to warp,, so would not an ABS cap also warp ?
anyone want to weigh in on this?

I'm following this thread I have also been considering the buying just the cap but I'm concerned because mine is really really bad it's not just cracked its bowed and warped and twisted. I was wondering how the cap works how thick it is ? I will probably end up having to remove the whole cap and replace it eventually I dont think a cap will cover it and look right.

The cap is just a thin skin, cosmetic cover. You definitely don't have enough OEM pad shape to put a cap onto.

I used to use the caps with good success. Now that repro pads are available for $300 I wouldnt go back to a cap. Yeah they work but its quite a bit of labor prepping and installing.

I found a place on Ebay that has the entire dash pad for 220 and they will buy my core for 30 so 190 for a brand new pad. Not a cap. That Is a good deal I will go that route

I purchased mine using the same company listed on eBay, I emailed them directly. They sent me a color chart from Herb's to choose my color. Also went with the steel core, heard pretty much the same..... about warping and I would think the studs would be stronger welded on to the steel core. Overall OK, I would get the black and played more with color matching paints.....

Yea that is the same place I just looked. How did you get the steel core? I dont see that option.

Dicer said:

I purchased mine using the same company listed on eBay, I emailed them directly. They sent me a color chart from Herb's to choose my color. Also went with the steel core, heard pretty much the same..... about warping and I would think the studs would be stronger welded on to the steel core. Overall OK, I would get the black and played more with color matching paints.....

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Is the one is the left the new one I'm assuming? That looks good! The old one dont look too bad other than the crack.

@dartfreak75, Yes, only crack there, it would make a nice candidate for a cap I suppose... keeping it just in case I need for another project.

https://dashpadpros.com/

Dicer said:

@dartfreak75, Yes, only crack there, it would make a nice candidate for a cap I suppose... keeping it just in case I need for another project.

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Yes I would too. If mine looked that good I'd glue the crack and use it! Hahs mine is trash 15 years of setting will do that. Believe it or not my dash was nearly perfect when I use to drive this car.

Dicer said:

I purchased mine using the same company listed on eBay, I emailed them directly. They sent me a color chart from Herb's to choose my color. Also went with the steel core, heard pretty much the same..... about warping and I would think the studs would be stronger welded on to the steel core. Overall OK, I would get the black and played more with color matching paints.....

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if they used the same thickness for the core as I think they did .093 (similar to the Cap thickness) and then shaped it to match the original core shape, Then yep it's gonna warp. They needed to go up one size to .125 abs not plastic. and add stiffening ribs over the core in at least 3 places lengthwise to stop the tips from warping and the bolts from deforming the center as far as welding the studs to the core. I've seen 68 pads that have the steel core and they are not welded just pushed through a smaller hole so they don't turn and they have a small knurl at the top below the head(unless they induction weld the studs in the core since I was not going to tear a new pad apart to double check) . I have a basic core setup on my machine that I'm testing for the earlier A's 63-66 and discovered that I needed to do that in order to make it not warp if left out in the Florida sun on the mockup dash. (and no the dash pads and cores are not ready yet, I'm still working on a complete glove box for the 63-66's , plus I'm
sloooooooooow)

1968 MOPAR A BODY DASH PAD - VALIANT - BARRACUDA - DART STEEL CORE | eBay

that is the e bay site for a steel core 68 Barracuda dash pad, this same company also has a version with an ABS core.
so they want 270 for the steel core and 220 with a 30 dollar refund for your steel core or 190 for the ABS version.

I posted a question to the seller asking about warpage and durability of the ABS cored units, but the more I think about it, I am back to shopping for a
dash cap,, my pad OE pad is cracked, but straight enough to put a cap over and I will still have my OE steel core under it.

Just ordered a dash cap from Dante's Mopar
109.99 for the part
14.99 shipping
124.98 total

I'll post how it goes

my68barracuda said:

Just ordered a dash cap from Dante's Mopar
109.99 for the part
14.99 shipping
124.98 total

I'll post how it goes

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I wouldn`t even think about going to the trouble of pulling the dash pad to replace it. I gave $60ish for my cap if I remember right, it fit like a glove, and is just dam near undetectable, you would really have to know its a cap and get close and look for it. !!

I seen a dash cap on a duster probably about 5 years ago and I looked in the car and thought wow what a nice dash pad. Then when I talked to the owner he said oh it's just a cap and pulled it back a little bit. It totally fooled me...

Think I am going to order the whole new dash pad from Dante's- do you have to remove the windshield to get this thing on there? I remember taking out the windshield, unbolting the dash to put one of these in on my race car many moons ago.

Cruisingram said:

Think I am going to order the whole new dash pad from Dante's- do you have to remove the windshield to get this thing on there? I remember taking out the windshield, unbolting the dash to put one of these in on my race car many moons ago.

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This thread is old but thought I’d reply maybe it will be helpful to someone . I just did this job this weekend so it’s still fresh in my mind lol.

No need to remove the windshield. Just your seat , radio , gauge cluster and heater vent hoses ..that makes it way easier! I suggest a 1/4” drive socket and wrench. The main 5 bolts are 3/8 and the 2 on either side of the dash pad are 5/16” sheet metal screws .

related to dashes and dash pads. Anyone know why the factory went from a solid steel dash(excluding the bolt holes for the dash pad)to a dash with cutouts from 73+. What is the purpose of the cutouts? Cost saving on materials? Faster productivity on the assembly line?(easier access for mounting on accessories)

Bump