Looking for new dash pad
Looking for new dash pad I'm looking for a dash pad for my 01 Camaro. It started to crack this past month and it looks like ****! Does anyone make an aftermarket one or do I need to find an old one? I have seen some posts on this but can't seem to find them. Any info would be great.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,647
Likes: 2,574
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I think the OP was referring to the top panel, in which case I don't think there is any difference between Camaro and Firebird.
Interesting. Do you know if they have re-issued both colors (14I Dark Gray as well as 19I Ebony)? I wonder if the quality is the same as the assembly line originals. Over the last decade, GM has outsourced some other replacement parts for these cars to much lesser quality suppliers (but of course, with no reduction in price). A good example would be the Depo-produced replacement headlight modules that GM now sells for Camaro - they are no better quality than the other poor fitting Depo pieces available on the aftermarket, but they are 2-3 times the price when purchased from GM.
I think the OP was referring to the top panel, in which case I don't think there is any difference between Camaro and Firebird.
Interesting. Do you know if they have re-issued both colors (14I Dark Gray as well as 19I Ebony)? I wonder if the quality is the same as the assembly line originals. Over the last decade, GM has outsourced some other replacement parts for these cars to much lesser quality suppliers (but of course, with no reduction in price). A good example would be the Depo-produced replacement headlight modules that GM now sells for Camaro - they are no better quality than the other poor fitting Depo pieces available on the aftermarket, but they are 2-3 times the price when purchased from GM.
Interesting. Do you know if they have re-issued both colors (14I Dark Gray as well as 19I Ebony)? I wonder if the quality is the same as the assembly line originals. Over the last decade, GM has outsourced some other replacement parts for these cars to much lesser quality suppliers (but of course, with no reduction in price). A good example would be the Depo-produced replacement headlight modules that GM now sells for Camaro - they are no better quality than the other poor fitting Depo pieces available on the aftermarket, but they are 2-3 times the price when purchased from GM.
Yup they're the same, took my pristine dash panel out of my non running Camaro and put it in my Firehawk to replace the panel that got cracked.
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Interesting. Do you know if they have re-issued both colors (14I Dark Gray as well as 19I Ebony)? I wonder if the quality is the same as the assembly line originals. Over the last decade, GM has outsourced some other replacement parts for these cars to much lesser quality suppliers (but of course, with no reduction in price). A good example would be the Depo-produced replacement headlight modules that GM now sells for Camaro - they are no better quality than the other poor fitting Depo pieces available on the aftermarket, but they are 2-3 times the price when purchased from GM.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,647
Likes: 2,574
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Now this is interesting to me as I wasn't aware GM ever stopped making them. I don't have a need one for one, but every time I've looked over the years, I've always been able to find new GM dash pads offered for sale, at least in ebony. When was this development? Either of you have any idea if GM may start re-making any other discontinued parts? I expect nothing and even seeing them supposedly re-continuing any item period is strange, but one can always hold out hope.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
Likes: 236
From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
I also thought they were generally unavailable new anymore until a saw a post on here within the past year or so that they were once again available. I probably shouldn't have stated that "GM is making them again." My guess is that an outside vendor is supplying them for GM, enabling GM to have a handsome mark-up on the part.
Ah I gotcha. To be honest, I was hoping that maybe I was misunderstanding something and that GM had for sure discontinued them at some point just for the simple fact that it would somewhat indicate there was attention and interest in making some new parts for these older cars again. The thing that sucks for us is the aftermarket reproduction companies seem to focus heavily on all generations of F-bodies except for 4th gens. Hawks Motorsports has a few reproduction parts, which is nice, but definitely not extensive. It's insane to me that we're going into 2021 and still don't have new replacement seat foam for 4th gens. I actually just emailed OER the other day asking if there were any plans or consideration in making some in the near-term, awaiting their response, though I don't expect much. Hawks recently told me they plan to make a new reproduction automatic shifter upper console at some point, but for larger things like dash, door panels, and other interior panels, we're probably SOL. The cost of the injection molding tooling for parts that size is enormous, and it seems we're in the phase right now where the cheap people predominantly own these cars and would never pay the prices needed for a company to get their ROI. Everyone with the money needed moved on to 6th gens, C7s and the like. Real shame.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
Likes: 236
From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
The thing that sucks for us is the aftermarket reproduction companies seem to focus heavily on all generations of F-bodies except for 4th gens. Hawks Motorsports has a few reproduction parts, which is nice, but definitely not extensive. It's insane to me that we're going into 2021 and still don't have new replacement seat foam for 4th gens. I actually just emailed OER the other day asking if there were any plans or consideration in making some in the near-term, awaiting their response, though I don't expect much. Hawks recently told me they plan to make a new reproduction automatic shifter upper console at some point, but for larger things like dash, door panels, and other interior panels, we're probably SOL. The cost of the injection molding tooling for parts that size is enormous, and it seems we're in the phase right now where the cheap people predominantly own these cars and would never pay the prices needed for a company to get their ROI. Everyone with the money needed moved on to 6th gens, C7s and the like. Real shame.
I saw that happen to GTO's in the 80's. But then they represented something that was no longer available on the market - musclecars in the age of lo-po medicore products - except for the 5.0 Mustang. But current models on the market today exceed the performance of the 4th gens, so there's not a huge nostalgic yearning for what they represented.
All that being said, if stuff is being reproduced for the 3rd Gens, there's hope for the 4th gens, as they were superior in every way. It just may take more time.
Mine didnt crack but i purchased the ebay nylon fabric dash pad or cover i believe they have abs new ones now back in 2009 and it looked pretty nice. Not sure if this is a direct replacement for the factory one but is abs plastic.
These seem to fit over cracked existing dash.
1998 Chevrolet Camaro ABS Thermoplastic Dash Cover - Black 249-15013 by Dashtop® (carparts.com)
Black Fit For 1997 1998-2002 Firebird Camaro Molded Dash Cover Cap Overlay | eBay
These seem to fit over cracked existing dash.
1998 Chevrolet Camaro ABS Thermoplastic Dash Cover - Black 249-15013 by Dashtop® (carparts.com)
Black Fit For 1997 1998-2002 Firebird Camaro Molded Dash Cover Cap Overlay | eBay