Dash pad from summit racing review and install

[Jaysonb]

There always seems to be threads and questions about aftermarket dash pads. I upholstered the dash pad in my 80 c10, it looks ok, but I didn't trim the cracks down far enough, and you can slightly see them, and I didn't use enough glue around the drivers side defrost vent. I'm short on free time, and I have this truck for sale, so I bought a new pad from summit. I'll fix the upholstered pad and save it for the next truck. Here is how I got it. It looks nice, it feels a little flimsy compared to the stock pad, and it looks like the ends need to be trimmed a little.

[Jaysonb]

I'm having trouble with loading pics, I will try loading them from the laptop when I'm done.

[Jaysonb]

Pics. I'm about 3/4 done installing the new pad. When you take the wood brace off the pad, be careful cuz it's pretty flimsy.

[Ski-me]

doesn't it have metal reinforcement in there? Similar to the OEM?

[Jaysonb]

It is metal like the stock one, but I would say the metal isn't even half as thick though. That was a piece of cake to install. The biggest pain in the butt was the u-clips for the upper corners of the bezel. You have to spread them out to fit over the new pad, and the new pad is flimsy in this area. It fits about as good as the old one did, it doesn't seem flimsy once it's clipped and screwed in, I don't plan on sitting on it, so I think it will be fine. Looks perfect, everything lined up perfect, screw holes, defrost vents..... sits nice and flat, no humpty dumps. I would buy one again without thinking twice. The price from summit was $226.97, and oversized shipping charge of $19. Well worth it in my opinion.

[Jaysonb]

Just to be clear, this pad is only for 79-80. I'm not sure if the other pads will fit as good as this one did.

[Danmcg]

Looks good, thanks for the review!

[68Timber]

I'd noticed a few other members purchased them from Summit recently but didn't know the price - that's a good deal.

[Matt Man]

I got a dashes direct dash in mine, the fit is really good.

[TrybalRage]

Looks pretty good - I don't see Dashes Direct as a vendor from Summit, are they sold under another brand?

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by TrybalRage

Looks pretty good - I don't see Dashes Direct as a vendor from Summit, are they sold under another brand?

The brand is OER.

[JWSmith]

I know this thread is a few months old, but didn't want to start a new thread and get blasted for "not searching"

To clarify, this is a replacement, correct? remove the old down to metal, and put this in it's place. This is NOT pad cover.

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by JWSmith

I know this thread is a few months old, but didn't want to start a new thread and get blasted for "not searching"

To clarify, this is a replacement, correct? remove the old down to metal, and put this in it's place. This is NOT pad cover.

This is a full replacement pad, not a cover.

[gmachinz]

I plan on giving the dashes from cheyenne truck parts a shot myself-I've heard on other truck forums the fit/finish is just as good as OEM and they make these dashes in house I'm told. On the Facebook forum they look good!

http://www.cheyennepickup.com/

[RodsGreen10]

Originally Posted by gmachinz

I plan on giving the dashes from cheyenne truck parts a shot myself-I've heard on other truck forums the fit/finish is just as good as OEM and they make these dashes in house I'm told. On the Facebook forum they look good!

http://www.cheyennepickup.com/

I had one from Cheyenne pickup. Fit was good just like the Dashes Direct Pad. My take from owning both brands of dash pad for our trucks is.... CP pad vinyl has more of a grain pattern than DD. DD uses metal like the original pad CP uses plastic. DD has reinforced metal in the corners that the bezel screw in at the top corners CP does not its just foam. Finding the speed clips that will work with DD is a ***** because they dont include them, but I finally found them so my bezel in the corners sit perfect. Plus it is how they had it orginally. Both pads fit no issue. The CP pad is flimsy compared to the DD pad. DD pad fits tighter in the corners vs the CP. CP foam is spongy feeling and DD is hard feeling. CP has clips installed with a metal screw screwed into plastic that holds the clips on DD uses the clips like factory. I after owning both personally like the DD pad better.

[gmachinz]

Ah....the metal re-inforcement has me sold them between the two, then.

[walkerb]

Is the texture/grain pattern the same as the GM pad?

[RodsGreen10]

Originally Posted by gmachinz

Ah....the metal re-inforcement has me sold them between the two, then.

I felt the same.

[RodsGreen10]

Originally Posted by walkerb

Is the texture/grain pattern the same as the GM pad?

Comparing the 2 between my orginally 76 dash pad. The CP had a little more texture and the DD had a little less. But i do say the DD is closer than the CP. The DD matches the repop door panels and trim better. IMO.