Can a speakerless grill dash be retro fitted?

[caproader]

Guys,

I am doing a bare metal, glass out, paint job on my 73.5 Targa. Some time around 1987, the original dash top was replaced with a later year, 'no center speaker grill' type dash top (according to the invoice, $177.00 from the dealer!!!!). And yes, it fits perfectly.

Now that I have the smooth dash out, can a dash without a speaker grill be retrofitted with a speaker grill hole? I have a spare grill. Is there enough material to cut a hole to form a base for the speaker grill? Has anyone ever tried this? How did it work out? Do you have pictures?

Or should I just forget about it and go back to enjoying a perfectly good dash with out a speaker grill?

John
73 S with sporto, 73.5 Targa in rehab

[orange911]

I have the same one and have the same question. My concern was the vinyl shrinking after it was cut. I think the form of the speacker opening is visible in mine to be used as a template. Maybe Tony could do it at autobahn, he is doing dashes now. Keep us updated if you figure it out.

[caproader]

Olin,

I also sent a message to Tony asking his opinion. Will let you know

John

[caproader]

I spoke with Tony at Autobahn today. Hopefully I can accurately relay his answer.

He can take a later year 'grill-less' dash and cut in a hole for the speaker grill. However, the exterior vinyl of the dash is relatively thin and so the chances of success depend on how thin or thick the original vinyl is. If you provide the speaker grill, and if the vinyl is thick enough, the job will be less than $200.00. However, the speaker grill will be permanently attached to the dash. This means that the speaker grill can never be removed to replace/access the speaker. Make sure that you have a good speaker installed when you install the dash unless you enjoy taking your windshiled out to remove the dash to replace the speaker.

In the event that cutting a hole in the dash is not successful, then the entire dash will need to be recovered at a cost of $450.00. While the exterior vinyl will then be much more substantial, the dash will also have a stitch line from right to left where the rounded portion of the dash meets the flat panel that has the speaker grill. Tony recovered the dash on my 69 912 and it looks pretty good.

I think that I am going to give it a try but first I'm going to think things over a bit while I'm out in the garage stripping paint. Maybe an excess of stripper fumes on the brain will induce clarity.

John

[Chuck Miller]

Very interesting...

I have the same deal...

A good speaker grill from my original dash, and a perfect fitting 'new type' speakerless dash I put in the car in 1990....

Cheers

[caproader]

Sounds like I am not alone.

The PO cut holes in the doors for stereo speakers. I'd like to cover the door holes, install a period correct radio and then use my portable boom box for CD sounds. Or use an IPod.

As always, unlimited ideas, limited funds.

John

[pu911rsr]

Keep in mind the the factory replacement dashes did not have speaker grilles but only perforations for quite a few years. I don't know when the factory went back to dashes with grilles which are expensive and don't fit well.
Phil

[Chuck Miller]

Phil,

I think it went something like this:

Around 1990, when I did my car, there was still a couple of NOS speaker grill dashes locally to be had. I could have got one for about $1100 then. At the same time the factory (dealers, and parts suppliers) were offering 2 types of replacement dashes. One, like you mentioned, with perforations, and another just plane with no grill and no perforations... either for about $650 at the time. The plane one is what I put in my car in '90. What I can figure about a couple of years after the last NOS speaker grill dash was sold the factory decided to remanufacture the 'old' speaker grill dash again... about '92/'93.... probably because of our demand. The first production run was perfect... as well as I believe the second run. The dashes Stoddard has are at least the 3rd run, or maybe more, and have their issues...

There are probably one or two NOS early speaker grill dashes in factory boxes (occupying space in attics) around the country, bought by people who had the foresight to purchase them the first time around....

... and so it goes

[Eminence Gris]

Are the speakerless/perforation-less early dashes appropriate to '75/76 cars only? What did the race cars use? Surely they did not use dash pads with speaker grilles...

I happen to prefer this configuration and put one in my '72.

[Eminence Gris]

Bump.

Can anyone confirm which years/models the speakerless dashes are appropriate for?