69 Factory Radio dash top speaker cover

[Bubbausa]

Anyone have a pic of one? Just the cover that goes on the dash top between the defroster vents. Where I can find one? Any help appreciated. Thanks n Merry Christmas all.

[basketcase]

The speaker grill is stamped into the top of the instrument panel stamping. It is not a separate piece. If someone has cut yours out you could source an aftermarket grill from an audio supply shop, Amazon maybe, that will fit. Here's my 69.

Tom

[Bubbausa]

Hi all. I asked because I have 2 69 C10’s. Both have clear stickers on the glovebox door as to what rpo was on the truck. The blue step side seems to be a bare bones work truck, no radio or frills, 3:73 chunk, 250Il6, 3 on the tree, no armrests, barebones gauges, and such. The green step side has arm rests, 250Il6, 3 on the tree, 3:08 chunk, has listed factory radio and air, tach, vacuum gauge, power steering, std brakes. Blue is early production vin, green is very late.

Blue has a dash exactly like the picture y’all sent. See attached pic of Green, way different. Green has no evidence top or bottom of any lap or butt weld or finishing & dash in entirety has no evidence of replacement or something done from collision damage.

Just trying to figure out the anomalies between the 2 trucks. So I’m wondering if a factory air truck has a different metal dash configuration to accommodate a factory radio and the air stuff? None of the aftermarket speaker covers, like we used to get at Western Auto or JC Whitney, match up to the 4 mounting holes. I see different "factory" repro speakers one in particular with a shorter speaker & a removable cover. Unable to get dimensions as seller sez buy it & return if not right. How about that for helpful service?

What say about the speakers/covers/dash? Appreciate your insights and any other pics. Thanks, George

[too much stuff]

I would say that is someone's custom work. Some blazers didn't have any holes up there for speakers, but that is the only variance i know of. Also, C10s didn't come with a vacuum gauge factory.

[Bubbausa]

Appreciate the input. Per the Chevrolet dealers ordering data: The vacuum gauge option was available on Chevy C10 trucks during the popular 1967-1972 generation, often as part of upgraded gauge packages or with tachometer installations in the instrument cluster for these classic pickups, though it was an optional feature rather than standard. Years: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972. Type: A direct-fit, factory part or cluster component. Integration: It often came with or was added to clusters that included tachometers, offering a complete performance gauge setup.

I agree it could be custom work, but it is finished perfectly on top n bottom of dash. No paint meter anomalies to show a butt weld or filler. Seems like a lot of hrs to finish, especially underneath dash, to perfection.

Nothing I could find in sales lit or assy manual about speaker cover or dash pics. Just radio descriptions.

Appreciate all inputs. Reckon I got too much time on my hands. Dont think I got something “special”, just another old truck: but this one stumps me so seeing what y’all may have for info. Thanks.

[Orange71shorty]

Definitely someone’s handiwork there

[too much stuff]

Do you have a pic of the glovebox sticker showing the vac gauge? Even air and power steering would be quite rare on a 6cyl.
Still think your dash top is custom...

['68OrangeSunshine]

My '68 C/10 Stepside w/292 L6 [RPO L25] has the louvered perforations in the dashtop, even though, as a Fleet order truck, it had Zero frills. No Radio. Manual Steering. Manual Brakes, Manual Transmission [SM465], Manual Choke. Idiot lights...
I have added Tach and Vacuum gauge. Tach is clamped on the steering column with a hose clamp. Mechanical Oil Pressure, Vacuum, and Mechanical Water Temperature gauges are mounted underdash in a chrome kneescraper bracket.
I had a long oval speaker mounted there, but in the late '70s, when I had an AM/FM Cassette deck installed in the dash and 5.5'' round speaker holes cut in the doors, I deleted that speaker. I have thought of mounting a biscuit computer fan under the dash, blowing up -- to augment the defrosters, but with ever milder winters since Global Warming, don't have the need for extensive underdash modification.

Those six holes look like they were made using a 1'' Greenlee hole punch. They were very precise. Used for making perfect holes in junction boxes and DIY electronics project boxes. A 1/4'' pilot hole is shot with a conventional drill. Then a compression bolt goes thru the hole. The 'Anvil' side is threaded for the compression bolt, and a dual angled 'Punch' side has the bolt spin free thru its hole with the other end in the anvil and the sheetmetal to be pierced in between. Several turns with a ratchet completes the compression and a perfect hole is made.
Some body shot six holes with that tool. I would have shot more -- for better sound -- but that may have compromised structural strength.
I had a 1-1/4'' Greenlee cutter for CB Antenna Mount holes. Have not seen it lately, but I bet it's somewhere out there.

[Bubbausa]

Thanks for the replies, appreciate it. Here are some pics & info to answer replies and what I found out while trying to figure the 6 holes out.

Trying to figure out the radio cover sent me down a rabbit hole of data that is not necessarily uniform and is not always found on all vin/rpo sites. Been researching various data places to include the giant 1969 data book & sales literature. I found rpo’s have come to mean different things over the decades. Not all rpo’s seem to be listed on each vehicle, but like today packages of things in 69 were offered to include multiple things listed as a merchandised package & sport handling which includes interior upgrade like arm rests, tach, & cig lighter and Bilstein shocks which the truck has. Yet it lists the AM radio as a separate rpo.

See pic of tag with power steering option rpo N40. While not a standalone RPO, seems the vacuum gauge was part of option groups like the Rallye Gauge Cluster (codes like N40/N41 for power steering/brakes often paired with gauges, or simply part of interior upgrade packages). Also from the data book is the multi gauge option rpo Z53 (voltmeter, oil pressure & temp) which accounts for the 4 gauges in the truck, besides tach, speedo, fuel gauge.

Fortunately I also have the original 69 Protectoplate for the truck which was sold new in Texas. While the sfid doesn’t list a/c, the Protectoplate has a number that matches the stock Harrison unit (which has been restored/rebuilt).

I’m sure I revealed nothing new to you folks that have been around for a long time, just this truck is new to me. I started noticing differences between my two 69 stepsides. So I am trying to figure this rpo stuff out. The blue one is a more of a bare bones work truck. The green one by far is equipped with many things that seem unusual for a 6 cyl.As I understand the VIN the CS indicates 2 WD, Inline 6. So when Mr Wenger ordered the truck and it was delivered 10/21/68 he had some specific things in mind he wanted. My understanding is back then you could order about anything you wanted, as sales had big books of options and packages to choose from. Tried to see if he was still with us, to try to find out more about the holes & the truck itself, but cant find a trace. Thanks.

[too much stuff]

Looks like a nice truck. Share more pics.
I would have to say the tach and vac were added along with the a/c at some point. I think by 69 arm rests were standard equipment also.
The radio was indeed a stand alone option like the tachometer.

[70STOVEBOLT]

Hard to tell, but it looks like someone smoothed the firewall on that green truck too, so it's most likely that they modified the top of the dash as well.

[basketcase]

No, 69 arm rests were not standard. Mine doesn't have them or any holes where they were.

[zicc1835]

interesting info here