Accurate 1969 dash panel replacement?

[little_hoss]

Wondering who makes an accurate dash replacement panel for 1969 with the correct area cut out for the VIN tag. The couple that I have seen are really squared off and don't look good at all to me. My 69 dash is pretty gone and will need replacement but am hesitant to do so until I find a good replacement for it. Thanks for any input!

[william]

No one.

What we used years before the lousy repro was a new '69-78 Nova dash from GM. Just use the top-the rest of it is different. The later versions of it had an oval-shaped speaker grille so you have to add some louvers.

A good shop could splice the area with the VIN into the repro. Or look around for an NOS Nova dash.

[ko-lek-tor]

I personally have not seen one, but a couple of buddies, doing a 69, got an AMD dash and swear it is dead on in detail, plus it installed easily. I even asked about that VIN hole and they said it was correct. This is a whole dash panel and not just a top patch panel.

[william]

One of the repros only has rounded corners. Originals had rounded corners and a rolled edge.

[little_hoss]

Thanks for the input guys. I've looked at a few of the repros now and have only seen what William was talking about. Looked up AMD and didn't realize I live so close, less than 15 miles! Going to have to see what they have. Was really hoping I wouldn't have to go the cut and splice route, but it's looking like my best option as of now. The nova dash sounds like a good idea also. I'll have to look into that as well. Charlotte is also coming up! Maybe find an original cut out one there! 

[william]

Have also seen a few NOS '69 Camaro dash structures in my time. They look a bit odd because they are stamped with a brace across the instrument cluster opening. Needed for support; cut off after installation.

Good luck!

[z28z11]

No one.

What we used years before the lousy repro was a new '69-78 Nova dash from GM. Just use the top-the rest of it is different. The later versions of it had an oval-shaped speaker grille so you have to add some louvers.

A good shop could splice the area with the VIN into the repro. Or look around for an NOS Nova dash.

[z28z11]

No one.

What we used years before the lousy repro was a new '69-78 Nova dash from GM. Just use the top-the rest of it is different. The later versions of it had an oval-shaped speaker grille so you have to add some louvers.

A good shop could splice the area with the VIN into the repro. Or look around for an NOS Nova dash.

Quite correct. I sold the one NOS '69 dash panel I had a couple of years back - the difference between the Nova and Camaro dash was apparent (the Camaro has two indentations on the right side of the pod area to accept the gauge carrier). Mine was a late production part - the speaker grille was kind of oval, nearly football shaped; you'd have to add louvers to make it square as the production panels were.

The AMD panels are really close in my estimation - I've accepted AMD as a pretty darn good supplier for a lot of the unobtanium parts -

Regards,
Steve