just noticed that we seem to be missing something from the dash trim. Would this have been the chrome trim or is there another strip that goes there? There are no screw holes or anything to indicate that it went down the sides of the dash like the chrome trims did.

There is a chrome piece that fits there.

That is strange that it is missing. Someone must have installed a new dash pad and maybe broke the tabs off the backside of the trim piece. Repop trim is available, just make sure you get all three pieces (two "L" shapped pieces & one small "connector" piece that connects the two large "L" shapped pieces right in the center of the dash...

Dash pad is original. no idea why the trim would have been removed. only guess I have is it was damaged at some point in the past, perhaps the original owner's purse (older lady) caught on the bottom of one and bent it out..

Odd little mystery of the car. I didn't realize it was 3 pieces, I will make sure to get them all. I found a repro at year one, but I know other vendors are better. Do any others carry a decent quality one?

How do the side strips attach?

The two larger pieces have tabs/tangs sticking off the backside. They get pushed through the dash pad and bent over to secure the trim to the pad. Often the tabs break off when the dash pad is removed/replaced. I would have to think that maybe that dash pad has been replaced once before somewhere along the line...

I am searched over the Ames catalog several times and can't find the dash trim. Am I just missing it? do they or someone else carry it?

My original 68 pad has the trim but my junk repo OER did not. I didn't even know you could remove it.

Does not come with the repro pads. I have never seen the repro trim available...I had to get it off ebay, then when I could not find the missing coupler piece, Joe was kind enough to supply me with the three trim pieces from his bird that he parted out.

Too bad because I just sold the two pieces just a few months ago, could have drove em over to ya!

Do cars that don't have the chrome dash trim have another piece that goes only along the top, under the dash pad?

My dash does not have holes down the sides where tabs on the chrome trim would go through. There are only holes along under the top of the dash pad. There was very obviously something there before that has been removed.

picture

This is what my 'new' coupe's dash looks like with the three piece trim.

http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249...nt=GEDC1993.jpg

I've been searching Google all morning for firebird or camaro pics, but can't find any showing dash without the chrome trim.

Can anyone post a pic for comparison showing their dash without the chrome trim.

thanks much.

My '68 'vert does not have it. I was beginning to wonder if the standard interiors had it, and the deluxe did not, but I've seen it both ways. Then I thought it might be a build date thing, but David's and my 'verts were built only a week apart, and his has the trim, and mine does not. But I have never seen a dash with the three holes like your's has.

Go figure.

Here's a pict of my '68 'vert without the trim.

http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/68tpls400/?action=view&current=DCP_2003.jpg

And mine got the trim but not the glovebox bird that yours has.

I found this pic without the chrome trim, but it's not very clear. I can see a couple screws, but I can't tell if there is a trim piece or not.



Can anyone show me a picture similar to the one in my first post? Is there any kind of trim where the dash pad meets the metal dash, or are there just screws along there? or nothing, and I have some weird thing happening.

My 68 with std trim has one.
The 67 w/std trim doesnt(i think-havent seen it since i tore it apart in 93), but has bird on glv box dr. Saw it the other night...really need to get started on it...again...

Jarett, I finally had a moment to look at the dash of my 'vert a little closer. It looks just like yours. The three holes above the glove box have three round headed phillips screws in the holes. (to hold the dash pad to the metal dash). There are two additional screws on the driver's side, one above the ignition, and one above the wiper switch. The screw heads are black, about 1/4" across. The dash guage pod laps over the dash pad providing support all acrross the top as well. Are the driver's side screws also missing on yours? Sorry I am going out of town tomorrow morning and my camera is packed. But your's obviously came without the trim wrap-around. I think with a couple of screws added, you are good to go. Mystery solved.

Craig

perfect! that sounds like what I've got. I'd have to go look again, but I think I'm missing all the screws. A pic of what they are like would be great when you return from vacation.

I just checked the GM Restoration parts catalogue, they state the trim will fit on the Vinyl wrapped foam core dash but will not fit the urethane dash. I have no trim on mine, I think it was replaced. With my luck its urethane.

How do you tell the difference?

I don't know yet, I don't want to buy the trim to find out. There are no other Firebirds in my area to compare to. There are a couple about 50 miles away but it's two ferry boat rides and nine hours to get to.