The parts place has an upper cowl repair panel part no. BP5542T (for 68-72 cutlass/442). It states that it replaces the lower window channel. I've seen a post, either here or somewhere else, that seemed to imply it also replaced the black metal part of the dash.

Has anyone used this panel? If so, how much did it cover and did it fit correctly?

I am restoring a 69 442.

Thanks in advance.

 

68tom was doing a repair on his '68 cowl a while ago...check his writings

 

There are some pics in this thread of a cowl repair panel thanks to oldsconv.


https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...air-panel.html

 

It's not correct. It's basically a strip that sits in the window channel, and I believe a little bit of the lower dash, although since it didn't fit properly, I'm not really sure.

We ended up using a cowl piece from a '68 Chevelle. It matched up almost perfectly.

You're better off searching the dry states for a cowl piece and upper dash (if yours is bad). That or you can get a really good body man to fab the pieces for you and weld them in.

And don't forget your VIN tag if you replace your dash!!

 

Thanks for the information guys. The pictures really helped. That panel is going to be hit or miss for me because the previous guy cut the lower channel out about 1/4" onto the metal dash.

He gave me a cowl panel from a 72 skylark cut out from weld to weld (including the cowl tag), that will probably work. However, I'll still have to fit a small piece to make up the gap.

I'll keep an eye out for a donar cutlass with a good cowl while I work on other areas. Maybe I'll get lucky, but I have not been too lucky finding good parts here in Pittsburgh PA.