[Rapdron]

I also have at least 2-3 1966 A/C dash pads that I could send as cores.
I need one black & one gold pad

[Ragtop Man]

I've got a black '66 AC pad taking up space that needs a re-do for my red 2+2

BOB

[66 Wagon]

Two weeks since my mail to RD Autoline. I'm sorry to say I haven't got any reply.
The guy might be very busy, I understand this is a small business with much work to do.

[MPKind]

Has anyone corresponded or bought from these guys or has the U.S. connection dried up?

[Heybuck]

I have had some communication with Deadhead about these as I believe I might have a viable option for you here in Oz.

I need to get to see my man but honestly, I have been so busy lately that I just keep pushing these to the back burner.

I'm going overseas on the 16th for a week (work & play in Bangkok) so if I can't get to see them beforehand, I will guarantee to get some answers as soon as I get back after the 26th.

So, just hold your breath and hopefully I will have some favourable answers on these.

Ian

[68 Firebird Brian]

Do you have any dashes in OZ right now? Got a friend there on vacation. I could get him to bring me back one.

I need a 65 Catalina /w A/C Turquoises

Brian

[70ra455]

I was about begin repairing the 2 cores I have ... but if there are repros ... I'm IN for a '66 with a/c Turquoise ...

[Heybuck]

No, I don't actually have any dashes to sell. But what I do have is a '65 dash top with A/C and a '65 dash top without A/C.

After following this thread for a while, and after it seemed the Swedish connection might be difficult, I thought I may be able to help you guys by getting your dash tops repaired and reskinned here in Melbourne. Have a look here:

http://dashboarddoctor.com.au//beforeafter.html

I had a Holden dash done by these people some years ago and it was fantastic. A good friend of mine had a badly cracked dash in his 1985 W123 Mercedes Coupe and they recovered it to new. And that's a complicated dash.

So, I will take my two dash tops out to these people and see what they say. I'll make sure I get them out of storage this weekend and take a look at them.

No promises on how this will turn out but hopefully it will work for you guys. It might mean getting a bunch of tops shipped over to me then I can get them done and return them.

Stay tuned......

Ian

[Rapdron]

Thanks for your help Ian
My 66 2+2 with ATC could sure use some help!
Ron

[Heybuck]

OK, Today I climbed up into my roof and dragged down these two dash pad tops. I took a lot of pictures so I'll have to post them into some successive replies. But you will see what I'm talking about.

They have been up in the roof since about 1997, when I dragged home my '65 Bonneville 4DRHP. I got quite a few "spares" with the car.

I really could not remember a lot about them so I was a bit shocked when I looked at the top without A/C. It has been very crudely recovered and its basically all coming apart. On top of that, its quite rusty and you can see they didn't even bother to fit the speaker panel into it. Plus, they seem to have made up some sort of grilles to accomodate the demister ducts. I think it would be fair to say that its just no good at all but it might still be saveable????

On the other hand, the A/C dash is all there. Sure, its got cracks and is very brittle but it is in my mind a very suitable core for recovering.

My old Bonneville is resting in a tightly locked up shed some 70 miles from my home, It does NOT have an A/C dash and I'm sure it is a much better core for recovering. However, I have NO IDEA when I could get down there to pull it out. Months probably.

So........ For the interim, can I find a volunteer who might want to send me a speaker grille for the NON A/C style dash top. If I had one of these, I think I could then give the really ratty NON A/C dash to our dash repair guys and see what they say. I'm reluctant to give it to them without the correct speaker grille. I'm sure you all understand why!!

For the dash WITH A/C, I will give it to them "as - is" and get a quote to cover it in RED as this will eventually go into my '65 Parisienne Convertible.

But first, what I need from you guys, is some sort of confirmation that what you are looking at are indeed out of 1965 Pontiac's?

Look forward to some responses please

Ian

Hmmmm, after downloading all these pics I can see they are pretty bad quality. I was rushing to get this done before all the family sat down to dinner. It's Mothers Day here today in Australia! I'll take some more pics tomorrow and see if I can improve on them. Sorry guys

[Heybuck]

Second set of pics

[Heybuck]

Third Set of pics

[Heybuck]

Fourth & final set of pics

[Deadhead]

If those are all the same/one pad - that is a '65 A/C pad. They have the vent embedded in the center of the pad.

I would like to know if they need the vents and other parts in order to re-cover. If so, I would send junky ones and remove & replace before I install to hedge my bet on the whole shebang getting lost or damaged in shipping. I do not have a '65 speaker grill but may have a '66, (which is most likely different) that is not in a car.

[70ra455]

those are 2 entirely different pads. The non-ac pad has had the speaker grill covered. If I were you I would cut CAREFULLY the vinyl around the speaker grill ... you may be surprised that the speaker grill may still be there?

[Heybuck]

Originally Posted by 70ra455

those are 2 entirely different pads. The non-ac pad has had the speaker grill covered. If I were you I would cut CAREFULLY the vinyl around the speaker grill ... you may be surprised that the speaker grill may still be there?

No, the speaker grille is most certainly not there. Which is why I asked for someone to see if they have one they can loan me. Once I hace a "complete" dash, I can then get some prices on restoration of a non A/C type pad.

Thanks, Ian

[Heybuck]

Originally Posted by Deadhead

If those are all the same/one pad - that is a '65 A/C pad. They have the vent embedded in the center of the pad.

I would like to know if they need the vents and other parts in order to re-cover. If so, I would send junky ones and remove & replace before I install to hedge my bet on the whole shebang getting lost or damaged in shipping. I do not have a '65 speaker grill but may have a '66, (which is most likely different) that is not in a car.

You are right in that the grilles are different. I compared my '66GP grille to the '65 type I have pictured and they are different.

As for whether they need the speaker grilles, I don't know till I show them my dash. At that time I will be asking of course.

One question for the '65 guys is: Are there grilles in the air vents?? I don't know? The really crummy non A/C top I pictured does have some grilles in there but they look like they might have been added later? I would have they should NOT be there but am I wrong??

My '65 top WITH A/C does not have any grilles and neither does the top in my '66GP.

Ian

[AROWHED]

My two 65 AC dash pads do NOT have grilles in the defroster vents.

[Heybuck]

Originally Posted by AROWHED

My two 65 AC dash pads do NOT have grilles in the defroster vents.

As I suspected this pad I have has certainly been messed about with by a real butcher.

Still hoping someone can supply a speaker grille for it. Needs to be from a pad WITHOUT A/C.

Going to the pad repair guy today........

[Rapdron]

Ian, thanks for all your help!

I still need 2 dash pads, both for a 66 full-size with AC
The 2+2 has ATC which also has a sensor built in it.

Ron

ps
Your NEW tach housing looks great with the NOS 66 tach I just picked up.
Wish I could have bought more.