964 dash pad in a SC?

[pantera]

My dash pad from my 1982 SC is in sad shape. Is it possible to install a later dash pad such as a 964?

Thanks, Dan

[KNS]

There may be other differences but the first thing I can think of is that the center dash vent is larger on the newer cars (86 on).

[pantera]

Thanks Kurt, perhaps I can live with that. My pad is a little beyond restoration and really don't like the look of the plastic pad replacements.

Dan

[JTL]

The windscreen defrost opening are different. A c2 dash top has a one piece insert where as sc and c1 up to -85 has two plastic snap-on pieces.

I haphazardly looked into doing this on my -84 when the glass was out but decided against it. It looked like trimming and/or refabbing the vent plumbing was necessary. The larger center vent piece doesn't present a problem but the glass needs to come out to swap the pad.

Has anyone with a <86 successfully updated their dash pad? I would love to hear how exactly it is done.

jt
-84 targa

[pantera]

JT, I suppose all the vents are in different places and would take just too much modifications to make work. I really appreciate everyone's input before I did my own hap hazard jump into this. There aren't many "good" alternatives to having a nice clean dash pad without extreme costs.

Dan

[e-speedster]

I replaced mine with a 964 in a 78 sc chassis -we had to cut in the current vents to lower them - other than that - using the middle vent plastic insert from the 964 - it fits perfect. Since I have a speedster windshield - I also had to cut into the dash so the screws would fit

[Wil Ferch]

Careful .....even the torsion bar series dash pad were in ( at least) two versions with different number of mounting posts underneath...

Wil

[pantera]

Eivind, thanks for the post. I really was hoping a 964 would be somewhat of a screw in. Cutting the pad for a fit means I still have to have the pad recovered. I suppose the only recourse for me presently is to have someone like Just Dashes do a restoration to my existing SC pad.

I also thought perhaps to have the dash covered in Alcantara. Anyone's opinion of this would be greatly appreciated?

Dan

[Jeff Alton]

Do search here, there are lots of people who have fitted later dash pads. I remember one fellow who put one in his SC that was from a 993. I also think TRE has done this for customers....

Cheers

[pantera]

Thanks WiL and Jeff. I used the search thread. Alot about repairing few in swapping. Perhaps the 993 is a better candidate for the swap.

Dan

[Jeff Alton]

I think the 993 and 964 dashes are pretty similar if not the same. There was a thread here recently (I wish I remember who it was) but the guy has and SC with a complete 993 interior. It also has a 3.6 with mods, can't remember who he is though......

Jack Olsen has a later dash in his 72 , but I am not sure what year his is from, but it does have the larger center vent, so it is 86 or later.

Cheers

[Jeff Alton]

This is the guy I was talking about......

993 Interior into '82 SC 99% complete!

Here is another
Late dash pad in early car?


And one more
993 dash in a '75 911?

Hope this helps..

Cheers

[IceBlueSC]

Here's another one....me! TRE installed a 993 dash in my 81 SC just last year. They did some fab work with the sheet metal around the vents. All it all it looks great, plus the dash was a lot cheaper than the "correct" one for the car.

I haven't had the chance to find out whether I still need to remove the windshield to replace the dash as of yet.

Here's the thread:
Thanks TRE!!


Cheers,

[Jeff Alton]

Mike, I remember ready your thread and it slipped my mind! And so close to home................

See you on the 7th.

Cheers

[pantera]

Mike, now thats what I'm looking for. A nice clean job of updating, with fresh air to boot. I'll get a hold of TRE and see if this is something they offer to the east coast.

Thanks again, Dan

[JP911]

Dan-
I looked into using a 964 or 993 dash when I replaced mine, and found that to make it work you had to trim the vents in the sheet metal on the car (not trim the dash pad). I ended up finding a NOS dash pad for my year at a good price so I never had to do any cutting. By the way, the windshield does need to come out to remove and install the dash pad.

[Kmatts]

Dan, I've taken the lower dash from my 993 off (lightweight project from hell). The part numbers are indeed 964, so i'm not positive, but i believe the dash pad itself on a 993 & 964 are indeed identical.
i'm not 100% positive, but pretty sure.
K.

[pantera]

JP911, thanks for clarifying that its the steel portion of the dash that needs to be cut. I misunderstood and thought it was the pad itself. I did see the small if not tiny screws right at the base of the pad. Damn windshield does indeed need to come out to gain access to removing the original pad.

K, thanks for confirming the strong possibility of the two models sharing the same pad. Should make it a little easier to obtain a good pad.

Updating my SC's pad definitely fits into the realm of the slippery slope. The results sure do look promising though. After everyones input I'll first see if I can restore the original pad first from the SC. There has to be another source equally if not better than "Just Dashes". It's utterly absurd we need to wait anywhere from 2 months to 6 just to get a pad restored?

Dan

[scottb]

Are you sure yours is beyond repair?

I've heard that Just Dashes does great work.

Dashboard Restorations apparently does the same thing. I don't know how good they are. They're quoting much shorter turn-around times than Just Dashes.

Good luck!

[pantera]

Scott, thanks for the lead. I just dropped Dash Restorations a email to their sales dept. It seems when restoring they request the steel base which we know is impossible. Just Dashes according to the threads does great work but the horror stories of waiting months for it are a little inconceivable.

I suppose I'll wait for an expert to tell me if I should give up the ghost of my original pad which in that case I'll be on my way of the 993/964 pad.

Thanks again, Dan