1976 Dash/vin questions
 

My 76 has a 80-81 dash in it (has the two speaker holes left and right) and pulse wipers (that actually work). My question is does the vin have to be monkeyed with in order to change the metal part of the dash? It makes me a little nervous. TIA

It depends, but not really on both accounts. For most years it is simply a plate held up in place by a bracket which is riveted onto the lip of the dash metal, under where the dashpad meets up. On 80-81 or so, they started using that rosette style rivet and it passed all the way through the dash metal to be seen through the window. You will know which type you have by that feature, or if the speakers have been grafted into the earlier dash metal. Also, the later style changed VIN number styles so the cutout is much longer and wouldn't even fit your original VIN plate properly.

Mine has been apart from an earlier restoration and repaint, perhaps others could tell if the undersides were regular rivets or rosette style too on the earlier years.

This is what I have. Thank you very much for the replyAttachment 565952

Interesting. I only have a few saved photos of this style. I was trying to work out if they'd extended the opening cut to cover the rivet holes but it seems nicely pressed with lip still.

I checked, it was 1981 for new opening and rivets through the top, so yours must be a 1980 dash top.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e007955d_b.jpg1981 Turbo TA Pace car exposed dash VIN rivets original by Aus78Formula, on Flickr


Here's the underside of my 78 with dash removed, a view you'll rarely see or find in a search. The black bracket supports the VIN plate. These are the rivets I asked about earlier as to what style the originals use here, mine has been apart.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...79bcb953_b.jpgFirebird dash metal VIN plate rust repair by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Looking at the grill openings in mine it appears they may have modified the original to accept the grills. It doesn't exactly look factory done

Just us here, I guess.

I'm pretty sure that the question is answered honestly. After looking closer at it obviously home modified, the steel part was never out of the car in this one.

Yes, it appears so in those larger photos. Was hoping someone could comment on the rivets also, many, many on this forum.

I apologize and was just looking at it from my point of view when your question is an interesting one. Maybe someone else will chime in

You made me look again - I agree with you.

Attachment 566469

This is my 76 Firebird.

My 77 and 79 are the same. I havent looked close at the earlier cars and was surprised when looking at this thread with the exposed rivets. I would have imagined they would have been riveted to a piece of metal then the metal dash went over top.

Was hoping someone could post a photo of their untouched, riveted VIN plate from below to show how they looked originally. Mine has been apart.

I don’t have a picture, but....

They were riveted using rosette rivets from the bottom. The order was rivet, support bracket, VIN plate, then dash.

The rosettes show from the bottom. From the top, With the dash pad removed it looks like the shank end of a normal rivet sticking up.

I added the stereo speaker grills to my dash. I also still have the center grill for my center channel.

My car is not quite original. Lol

Here is the rosette rivet from the underside of the dash on my '74

Thanks Rick