68 and up dash question

[JWP]

Has anyone ever stripped down a 68 and up dash. I'm curious what is underneath the black vinyl in the way of a frame. I assume some stamped sheet metal with foam and then vinyl bonded to that.
Thanks.

[bikesndbugs]

it ends up just metal mine was falling off so i decided to rip the rest off left some scratches because cut some of it off ill try to remember to take a picture tomorrow
There are some extra holes in it that would need to be welded up for a really clean look

[Marc]

The padded dash is an "afterthought" piece which mounts over the steel dash. Once it's removed, the defroster ducts stand up above the steel by over an inch. You can use a `66/`67 plastic defrost grille in the center but for the two between there and the window corners the only correct parts would have to come from Australia, where the `68s didn't get the dash pad. I'm still using the original ones there so that the defrost/freshair works as intended, you can see in the pic what I mean - it's not a finished look.
All of the knobs except for the glovebox are also too long and look ridiculous with the pad removed. Shorter versions of the knobs can be had from Buses and Type IIIs & IVs.
And, as bikesandbugs pointed out you'll need to fill the bolt holes (or at least seal them with duct tape from the trunk side so cold air doesn't blow in through them in the winter).

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/KaferCh ... 6.jpg.html

Repop replacement dash pads are available; often they try to cover too many years with a single part and you end up with unused holes on some cars, but for `68-`71 that's not an issue.
http://www.mamotorworks.com/VW/product/ ... tic-300252

[Slow 1200]

you can also get the parts needed to convert to metal dash from Europe, here the padded dash was an extra (which most costumers didn't bother with apparently, you see a lot more metal dashes than the padded ones)

[Marc]

Did not know that, I thought the bare dash was exclusive to the Australian knocked-down-kit cars. I'd like to get the correct vent ducts for mine, are they available as reproductions or must they be scrounged at the scrapyard?

[bikesndbugs]

I just pulled mine off and cut around the vents around the gauges and called it good the padding was already halfway off so anything is better

[Slow 1200]

Did not know that, I thought the bare dash was exclusive to the Australian knocked-down-kit cars. I'd like to get the correct vent ducts for mine, are they available as reproductions or must they be scrounged at the scrapyard?

Looks like they are easy to find, I'd be cautious about what they actually are, they are listed here as 113 819 719 (which parts book says it fits up to 1970 MY( http://www.justkampers.com/113-819-719- ... 68-on.html

[Marc]

Thanks, those look like what I need. Can't find anyone who carries them over here though. Mid America Motorworks lists the number, but the part they're selling as that is the 719A (the tall one for the padded dash).