Dash Pad
 

Is the dash pad with AC and speaker the same on a 65 & 66? I found a 65 that would be a good core to have redone and thought I might pick it up. Any comment on value also would be appreciated.

No. the shape is a little different. AFAIK the speaker grill is the same, and the mount for the speaker (isn't attached to the pad on A/C cars) is the same.

The ac controls and radio are the same correct?

AFAIK the a/c controls are the same ( too far into a bourbon bottle to look it up ATM)

Radios look the same, but the rear chassis mount on the right side is in a different location on the 65 and 66. Don't remember if there is an internal electrical difference between the 2 on the AM radios, but the 13 transistor 66 am/fm is a much better design than the 11 transistor 65 unit. But the 66 am/fm units are more prone to blowing the AM RF amp transistor than the poorer performing 65 units.

Same in appearance on radio etc. Dashpads are different. I bleive they can be interchanged, but do not look the same. Would expect that the plastic plenum going to the center AC vent would be different too.

65 will have a port on the vacuum switch for the STV valve, 66 may not have the port as they were all POA's. When they did the changeover in 65 they just pluged the port, you would need to do the same.


ETA: M&H list an a/c harness for 65 but not for 66. So I'm not sure if there is a difference in the electrical connections at the panel or not.

I noticed when I was looking under the dash yesterday there were two vacuum lines plugged up with screws. Lines we all bundled pretty neatly. Did not look like someone had been messing with them.

Not only is the shape of the pad different on the front edges (rounded vs. flat bevel) also the a/c vents are way different ... the '65 has a much flatter hump and a much narrower vent whereas the '66 has a larger hump and a much wider vent.

Also the courtesy light is in a different place between the 2 years, which will require a slight modification.

Resurrecting thread
 

Will a 66 Bonneville AC dash pad fit the Cat? I thought they were the same. If I am going to send it in to refurb, the core would be the same wouldn't it?

Also is the steering wheel the same other than the wood grain in the horn bar?

66 Bonnie ac dash same as 66 Cat.

Clear steering wheels the same other than wood insert.

What color dash are you looking for?

i have 2+2 with blue interior. Mine is not cracked but the area around the ac is swollen pretty good. I thought I might get a good core and have it done. That way I dont have my car tore apart waiting on it.

Let me know if you're interested in getting it done ... I can hook you up. Just got mine done in Turquoise with NOS material. I'm sure I can get it done in NOS blue.

Thanks. Need to get a good core first. I plan on stripping it to metal and epoxy coat it. Then have it done. You have someone other than Just Dashes in CA to do it?

Actually we're doing them together. I have cores as well if you need. NOS material is more expensive but even with that I can save you 100's from Just Dashes.

70RA455, could you PM me about possibly restoring a 62 Catalina full dash pad no AC. I have a decent core and vinyl material yardage. Thank you.

Please email me a pic of the core to [email protected]. ... the more details I have the better idea I'll have. Thanks

I too would like to discuss a 64 gp dash with you. I will take a pic tonight and send. Shipping alone would be considerable cheaper as it may be easier to drop it off than ship lol

I'll wait for the pic. Thanks

I sent an e-mail and 10 pics. Did you get them?