![]() ![]() The 1st step was to check the fit of the cap to my dash and trimming any problem spots. I gave myself a long weekend to complete the project, although I ended up splitting it up between two weekends. Like I said, I went with the factory set and they cost around $50 with shipping. I bought a set from They have many levels of speakers that will bolt in so you might need to call them to decide which brand to buy. I decided to replace the 20 year old speakers with new factory units. The Dash Cap has holes drilled in it over the speaker grates but once the cap is in place the speakers are sealed in forever. One last thing to consider buying is a set of replacement speakers. The strips will be folded down to make the wedges that you will use at the base of the windshield. You will also a large corrugated cardboard box to cut into (1” x 6”) strips. I also recommend the use of a caulking gun to dispense the Silicone Sealant you’ll use to adhere the Dash cap in place (more on this later). You can always return those you don't use. Trust me if you think you'll only need a dozen of each, better think again. What I needed a large supply of bungee cords and spring clamps to hold down the edges of the cap. A good set of hand tools is a must and I knew from the Dash Cap instructions that I was going to need some stuff I don't normally keep in my toolbox. The last step of the procurement process is to make sure you have the proper tools you’ll need to complete the installation. You can not tell that the wheel was painted, it looks perfect. The results were amazing, not only did it match the factory color but after 6 months, it shows NO WEAR at all. I followed the manufacturer instructions and painted over the Tan Steering Wheel with the new blue color. I bought a factory sport steering wheel off EBay for the test. Note: I was a little skeptical of the SEM Plastic Paint’s ability to hold up over the long haul, so I decided to do a test project first. I purchased the paint supplies from for $10.99 a can plus $6.95 shipping, total cost $61.45. Perfect match! I bought 3 cans of paint and 1 can each of vinyl and plastic prep (the extra paint will be used on the other interior parts, more on this later). ![]() I chose a color that was a great match to my factory interior, Blue Mist #15213. Lucky for me there were many suppliers happy to comply and a week later I had the actual paint samples in hand. What I did was to ask for a color sample brochure of all of the SEM color choices. Many of the vendors had digital color pallets available over the web to help with your color choice but they aren't really much help. ![]() Now that I knew which brand of paint to use, I still needed to pick a color. I checked all the chat rooms and found that the most highly recommended paint was hands down, "SEM Color Coat” spray paint. The next step is to find the proper paint and color for your installation. So other than price there isn't really anything to separate one web vendor from another. The cover itself is made by ACC and they seem to be the manufacturer of choice for most suppliers. I searched the Internet High & Low for the best price and finally found the cover at. ![]() Part one of the installation consists of finding the Dash Cap as well as the supplies necessary to complete the installation. The Dash Cap adheres over the factory dash pad and the idea is that it will look as close to stock as possible when you finish the installation. What follows is my story of the installation of said "Dash Cap".Ī Dash Cap is a thin shell of ABS plastic that is molded in the exact shape of the existing (and probably pretty trashed) factory dash pad. After my search for an "NOS Replacement Dash Pad" struck out, I decided to try one of the Dash Caps that are available all over the Internet. Many things are easy to repair and the parts are readily available at the local auto parts store or via the Internet. Like any "Decades Old Vehicle" my El Camino has started to show it's age. Here is an article that I had that should help you a bit and give you an idea of what has to be done.Ĩ4 El Camino Rebuild and Simular Stuff: Dash pad cover installation ![]()
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