73 Challenger

[Jim AAR]

  from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

You have found your E-Body home, the best E-Body site in the world...

My condolences in the passing of your dad, I know how it feels as I lost my dad when I was 14 and bought my AAR the next year and still own it. You will make him proud in finishing the car in his honor. Good luck ......

[blown motor]

Welcome to the site and good luck with the restoration.

[Street_Challenged73]

Welcome aboard! I was in your shoes coming up on two years on the 21st, so you have my condolences.


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[wingcarenvy]

Welcome Ryan, sorry about your loss. Sounds like you and your dad were close. In the pic of your Dad and his favorite Challenger it looks like a 426 Hemi emblem on the hood!

[jimynick]

Welcome to the site from Ontario,    Ryan and good luck with your restoration of your Dad's car! 

[Ryanscotty]

As I start my restoration I'm finding that the dash is in really bad shape. The dash pad is cracked and needs restored. One of the previous owners installed auto meter gages and then glued ostrich skin on everything. The glove box is fine but that's about it

What's my best approach to restore the dash without spending $5K?

Thanks

[Brads70]

New Dash pads are not cheap, no way around that. Unless you go for one of those overlay  type plastic caps?  The gauge parts.... e-bay will be your friend. Ralley gauge set up will be much more expensive than the standard gauge set up. Not sure what you want or what the car came with.
Check this post out....
https://forum.e-bodies.org/parts-wanted/25/-i-will-help-find-your-parts/3842/msg60319#msg60319
@Roadman  is pretty good and helpful finding parts!

[734406PK]

Sorry to hear about your Dad! I think this is your guage panel less the ostrich skin. If your Autometer gauges work, you can re use them.  hope this helps!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AutoMeter-2139-Mounting-Solutions-Gauge-Mount-Fits-70-74-Barracuda-Challenger/263030829343?fits=Year%3A1973%7CModel%3AChallenger&epid=1629623207&hash=item3d3ddbf11f:g:L70AAOSwbF1aKFiW&vxp=mtr

[nsmall]

You got a great start.  As for the dash ask @MoparDave as I heard he may be stocking some dash pads.  If its a car you plan to keep like you said, its probably worth a new dash vs a cover.  They are around $800 and your core will need to be shipped in order to get a decent deal.

Maybe try a swap meet for the gauges and there is a different wire harness for ralley gauges vs non ralley. Hiring someone to fully restore gauges is another $1000 so maybe consider dakota gauges as they are around $1000 and then you are done....

(http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=1027/category_id=679/mode=prod/prd1027.htm )

I have heard good things from others about them.  Even the guy who owns Redline Gauges recommended them to me but I already had a decent set of ralley gauges so I had them restored.

[MoparDave]

We do have dash pads in stock, just need to know what version your wanting.

As for the Dakota Digital clusters they are slick and look great. they 925.00 + the ride to you

[nsmall]

If someone hasn't already mentioned it consider using MoparDave for some of your purchases as the guy is really smart and offers members discounts.