EL CAMINO REMOVING a ~15 year old dash cap (1986 el camino)

[HK_Camino]

Hey guys, I'm completely redoing the interior in my el camino. I'm also changing everything to black.

Does anyone have experience removing a dash cap? There's plenty of info installing them. I'm concerned it's going to be so bonded to the dash underneath that i damage something removing it. I'm imagining using a heat gun and some kind of pry bar.

Any advice appreciated!!

-HK

 

[mikester]

Im thinking thats going to be a decent amount of work depending how much adhesive was used putting ot on. I would probably start in a hard area first. This way if it gets screwed up at least its in the beginning not after you get the whole thing stripped. Be a waste of time at that point. Either way Im sure the original days is going to be banged up taking it off.
Can you find another dash to recover instead ?

 

[HK_Camino]

Im thinking thats going to be a decent amount of work depending how much adhesive was used putting ot on. I would probably start in a hard area first. This way if it gets screwed up at least its in the beginning not after you get the whole thing stripped. Be a waste of time at that point. Either way Im sure the original days is going to be banged up taking it off.
Can you find another dash to recover instead ?

Hmm. If I went that route, how difficult is it to remove the covered dash currently installed?

 

[mikester]

Hmm. If I went that route, how difficult is it to remove the covered dash currently installed?

Are you trying to use that dash cap again ? Not sure if thats going to work

 

[86LK]

dash caps are normally installed because the underlying dash is junk. what were you planning on doing with the original dash pad?

 

[57 Handyman]

HK, may be worth your time and effort to just get a dash replacement from OPGI.

 

[HK_Camino]

For anyone wondering, the old dash cap came out really easily. I ordered a new one that hopefully will last another decade. In my opinion they look good when installed correctly.

 

[57 Handyman]

Lucky guy! For various reasons, I never wanted to go the dash cap route. Before I ended up buying a whole replacement dash, I considered patching/repairing the original dash in my 87 EC. In the end, I bit the bullet and bought a dash replacement from OPGI when they first became available. I justified it to myself that the dash, like the hood, are the two areas that we'll continually be looking at and visible as we drive our classics. I haven't installed it yet but getting really close.