Finally after all these years after OPGI anounced they were going to offer Chevy A/G dashes for '78-'80 & '81-'88 I broke down & bought one for my '81 Monte. I went with a black one as they only offer carmine red or burgundy, not the dark maple. It does include some instructions how how to prep & clean for recoloring. The vinyl exterior is a slightly different grain or looks as if since the grain has more texture than the originals. The feel is also softer. Most needed holes are there but some cutting & drilling will be needed. I'll cover that as I work my way through the pics. All metal parts will need to be transfered from an original. The new dash comes with a wood brace for shipping/storage until a original brace is installed.
So here is the first group with the new one in the middle & the redwood '82 Malibu diesel dash I used to replace the original & a gray '86 MCSS dash that came with the frame I picked up years back.
Exterior
Interior
Here is where some of the differences will be noticed like the vinyl cover not removed from spots the OE had it done when new. Certain needed holes not opened or drilled. Mount bosses that will need to be finished just to be drilled. The first thing I did noticed was the radio/heater contol section. The opening for the ashtray light is not cut out & the ashtray mounting holes are not drilled. There is spot that looks like the opening should be there but filled in. Also you can see what is drilled & not for the metal brackets for this location.
Now this is where I'll say these are not for '86-'88 cars as the radio opening are not trimmed for the 1.5 DIN radios. The inner molded ribs are like what the '81-'85 dashes wound have. There are no holes dilled for the two opper screws for the trim plate. I trimed the one side of the '82 dash to allow me to use a Delco 1.5 DIN radio.
Radio trim plates don't fit the best. The '78-'85 trim plate wouldn't go in & I wasn't going to try to force it & cause damage. The '86-'88 does fit but it's tight & had to be carefully pressed in. I plan to use a Delco 1.5 DIN CD radio so there will be trimming.
So here is the first group with the new one in the middle & the redwood '82 Malibu diesel dash I used to replace the original & a gray '86 MCSS dash that came with the frame I picked up years back.
Exterior
![DSCN4507.JPG DSCN4507.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225942-a32126a533af2850f962bcf242d2d00d.jpg)
![DSCN4508.JPG DSCN4508.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225943-3c2b3f159993991ab1761ec62502d524.jpg)
![DSCN4509.JPG DSCN4509.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225944-d1f7ccf93a1f83c5b5bce93f1ce4c757.jpg)
![DSCN4510.JPG DSCN4510.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225945-bf40dbf08a36dc3f765b86f96feb3570.jpg)
Interior
![DSCN4511.JPG DSCN4511.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225946-9637f10abbc087b04604b039bb2ea1e0.jpg)
![DSCN4512.JPG DSCN4512.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225947-15ff235306a81cab1d3c02b874f1144c.jpg)
![DSCN4513.JPG DSCN4513.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225948-564d12d780ba0765e7fc867316033adf.jpg)
![DSCN4514.JPG DSCN4514.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225949-9c0ba9953eeb102e30d2cb03862d7fab.jpg)
Here is where some of the differences will be noticed like the vinyl cover not removed from spots the OE had it done when new. Certain needed holes not opened or drilled. Mount bosses that will need to be finished just to be drilled. The first thing I did noticed was the radio/heater contol section. The opening for the ashtray light is not cut out & the ashtray mounting holes are not drilled. There is spot that looks like the opening should be there but filled in. Also you can see what is drilled & not for the metal brackets for this location.
![DSCN4522.JPG DSCN4522.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225950-bf829f64aeef0f4a120f3c33fceb4071.jpg)
![DSCN4523.JPG DSCN4523.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225951-bfc15c37860218287542c2f68ea7176a.jpg)
![DSCN4524.JPG DSCN4524.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225952-32a010a6d7f2219dfcdd5b15fc70bb86.jpg)
![DSCN4525.JPG DSCN4525.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225953-e2e55a166af869d62cedd4bcd13ef587.jpg)
Now this is where I'll say these are not for '86-'88 cars as the radio opening are not trimmed for the 1.5 DIN radios. The inner molded ribs are like what the '81-'85 dashes wound have. There are no holes dilled for the two opper screws for the trim plate. I trimed the one side of the '82 dash to allow me to use a Delco 1.5 DIN radio.
![DSCN4529.JPG DSCN4529.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225954-73e726b5f20da55afde5b0a919f866a7.jpg)
![DSCN4530.JPG DSCN4530.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225955-3540ba711c260138d935c9a1319c1954.jpg)
![DSCN4531.JPG DSCN4531.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225956-8424e610f3bf90c435c47b136d7de193.jpg)
Radio trim plates don't fit the best. The '78-'85 trim plate wouldn't go in & I wasn't going to try to force it & cause damage. The '86-'88 does fit but it's tight & had to be carefully pressed in. I plan to use a Delco 1.5 DIN CD radio so there will be trimming.
![DSCN4540.JPG DSCN4540.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225957-41fd21c10b6e68caa5c0b25aed34d29d.jpg)
![DSCN4541.JPG DSCN4541.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225958-a47d5b618c47a4921dac636f0552fb95.jpg)
![DSCN4542.JPG DSCN4542.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225959-e1beda438ee8a8e52c43f96d1f65d894.jpg)
![DSCN4543.JPG DSCN4543.JPG](https://cdn-0.gbodyforum.com/data/attachments/225/225960-009f748c7f5fad5311a2896487d32310.jpg)