Dash Cap Woes!!!

[TBK1]

just got a Dash CRAP from blackdragon and went to fit AARRRGGGHHH!! everything went up well except for both the left and right side, the ball vents opening is like WAY off on both sides as is the dimmer swithch and trip reset openings (switch opening only 1/2 inch off) but vent MAJOR off. Guess I try the sun heat thing (if it every comes out again, or maybe my heat gun!!!

Sorry just venting, tryiing to put this zappp back together before the winshield guys get here in a week or so !

[jmark]

Don,

I have my old 280Z dash with a fitted dash cap I'll let go cheap. Only reason I am not still using it is I got an uncracked dash off ebay. No guages are included so you would have to swap out yours....

[Nissanman]

If the product is as you say, CRAP, have you talked to the supplier?

I don't understand how they can sell something that, from your comments, is not a good fit:angry:

I don't think you are going to "massage" the item to make up the shortfall and have it stay there!

[TomoHawk]

I got my dash cap(from Too-Instense. IIRC), and the dimmer & odo-reset holes were only slightly off, but everything else was fine. Too bad you can't make those so the speedo & tach will come out; I take mine off about once or twice a year to put in new bulbs.

Getting the dimmer & odo-reset knobs to stick on is the difficult thing.

[hls30.com]

DOn't force, cut, trim or alter anything...It sounds like you got the wrong cap.

When I bought one for my '73, I had almost the exact same issues, and as it turned out, My car had a '72 dash! I bought one of those and poof-everything ligned up, things fit the holes and contours, and because shipping it back was more than half the price of the cap, I still have one for a '73 dash new in the box!

Call up Victoria British, and get who ever answers the phone to have someone who is familiar with the covers call you back.

If you need one for a '73...

Will

[BD240Z]

Don,

I bought a full dash cap from VB/BD for the 280 and it fit really well. The dash had minor hair-line cracks.

I bought another cap from VB/BD for the 240 and it didn't fit at all. It was so far off that I thought it would never fit correctly no matter how much I trimmed it so I decided to repair my dash. The 240's dash had MAJOR cracks, (picture).

Since we're buying these caps to cover cracked dashes, it's likely the dash has moved (dimensionally). It's possible that some caps will never fit as well as we'd like it to.

VB, MSA, Too Intense and others may be getting their caps from the same dash cap manufacturer. It's also possible you got the wrong year dash cap.

Bruce

[76Datsun280z]

and the dimmer & odo-reset holes were only slightly off, but everything else was fine.

Same here, I can't seem to get odometer switch back on because it's slightly off, but everything else seems to look alright, but not concours.

[zeddit]

Will

I just bought a '73 with a cracked dash. How good are these caps? I assume yours is a full one.

I am contemplating finding a dash on eBay or elsewhere versus buying one of these caps. How original do these caps look?

How much do you want for the cap?

Regards,

Paul

[AndysPlit]

Hmmm....I had the same troubles from a full dashcap I purchased from Motorsport Auto. It was for my 78 280. Well, what I did was I took it back and exchanged it for a the half-cap cover. It may not look as authentic as the full-face version but it does a remarkable job in hiding those cracks and improving the look of your interior.

It's so much easier to install and costs about half as much. Just be sure that your unscrewing the panel right in front of the windshield so that you can tuck the lip of the dashcap under it. This will help secure the cover. Hope this was helpful.

[hls30.com]

Will

I just bought a '73 with a cracked dash. How good are these caps? I assume yours is a full one.

I am contemplating finding a dash on eBay or elsewhere versus buying one of these caps. How original do these caps look?

How much do you want for the cap?

Regards,

Paul

Paul,

The right Dash cap is a good thing, Get a full one-the half caps are too easily identifiable-properly installed, most people will not notice a full cap. Here is the one in my '73('72 dash)

http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14322&cat=500&ppuser=4106

MSA, VB, and most of the other vendors sell these:

http://www.dashtops.com/dashboard/caryear.cfm

The bad thing is the shipping for a cap if fairly steep, After straightening out my situation and getting the right cap, I actually sold the '73 cap on ebay for around $70-to a guy in Cali who lived around an hour from MSA. When I figured out shipping, I let him out of the purchase because he could get one cheeper from MSA than I could ship mine.

Will

[TBK1]

Well maybe I should recant here!!! Got another dash from Jmark here and that full cap fit right on no problems! except for my dum arse that glued (siliconed) it on before I looked and discover I put the tach in the speedo slot and vice versa, ARERRGGGGG. but you can very carefully swap the innards from the back side if you are careful hehehehehe

[1973Z]

Question - My 1973's dash has no cross shaped indent mark near the hazard switch (it is smooth) - is this correct? How can you visually tell the difference between the '72 and '73 dash? According to Zhome.com, my dash should have the indentation?