Write-Up: BD Trims and Sherwood Dash Kit Installation

I got the real wood Sherwood Dash kit for one reason mainly because I wanted the one piece across the dash, to me it just looks better as one piece than two large pieces with three little strips joining them together! The fit is almost perfect, the quality was perfect, no flaws when I received it and still none after eight years! When they shipped it it was in a sturdy cardboard container with a foam egg crate material separating the pieces, it came without a mark on any of the pieces!
Keep in mind, to install the one piece across the whole dash is a pain! I removed it so I could do it with the dash panel on a bench, which made it a good bit easier than trying to install it with it in the car!
Both of the first two kits you show are Sherwood kits and they both would be purchased through that AutoMyWay, they are just the distributor for Sherwood.
Good luck on your choice, I prefer the Sherwood kit that’s for sure!

I plan on wrapping mine in suede.....[/img]

Kustom Kreationz wrote:

I plan on wrapping mine in suede.....[/img]

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/interior-f20/suede-dash-t290.htm?highlight=suede

great minds think alike GO FOR IT........ i will edventually do mine probably!

Wrote BD Trims asking if they had pattern for Riv with Memory Seats and passenger side Heated Seats because the were not in the diagram. Reply was in bad English and had the same diagram that I was referring to. That experience and some other posts here have me dropping them from consideration.

I have a blue interior and was thinking of Zebra Wood or maybe a dark Burl. Besides Sherwood, is there anybody else?

Not that I know of. I was going to get the Black Cherry or Brushed aluminum to go with my dark blue interior, but Sherwood never sent me samples in the mail, so I didn't bother. DO NOT BUY FROM BDTRIMS. You will be highly disappointed.

Hello All!

Here's my install of a Sherwood kit, just so you all know.

Cherry Burl on the red interior of a '96.

I cleaned all vinal with mineral spirits to remove any "Armor All" and oily dirt and wax.





Installation tip: When doing the doors, install the top piece before the armrest piece. It will allow a better alignment of the two pieces.



The Riviera nomenclature on the dash removed easily with an X-Acto knive. be careful, gentle and lift slowly. It released easily.



I then placed the rest of the parts. There is some forgiveness. If you don't press too hard, you can adjust the position of the parts without too much tugging to remove them. Go slow and don't be in a hurry. Have a beer or mixed drink and consider each piece a thing of beauty ; - )



Here's the dash and I like the results!



For the nameplate, double sided tape from Home Depot (1" width), an X-Acto knife and a slow cutting of the excess tape gave an excellent result. I used a black "Sharpie" pen to color the edges of the white tape and a pair of electronic "nippers" to remove the plastic studs.



So... here's my '96 with less than 9000 miles. Dark Cherry paint with Red interior. I'm lov'in it!

Excellent color match! It goes suprisingly well with the red interior, even though it's a red wood.

holy crap look at them miles, was that turned back? JK it looks great to bad i hate my red interior

Nice work.
That must be the car that was on ebay recently.
I am sure you are enjoying your NEW Riviera.

Bert

ToledoRIv wrote:

Look at that buttery 750 RPM idle...

Don't you dare open that hood, take stuff apart, or touch anything other than what you have to to make that car move! That is a NEW car! No mods allowed!

Did you remove the factory woodgrain piece that surrounds the radio?

Looks good.
Nice Job

Thanks all!

In response to comments:

Yes, this is the low mile Riv that was on eBay recently. I know I paid a premium but after looking for 1 1/2 years for a good copy, I pulled together my savings and bit the bullit to buy it. I'm happier with this than I would be with any current new car offering.

Oh... just over 26 MPG on a recent 500 mile trip.

I did not remove any of the existing wood trim before install and don't notice it under the new trim pieces on the radio surround or console. But, then... I have a color vision deficiency so that may be why.

i vote build that sucker and kill some stangs

damn normally i dont like the red interiors but with that red wood trim that looks great together. where did you find the kit?

have any of you guys ever seen a stock wood dash? i found one the other day but i dont know if i should get it or not?

No such thing, it's aftermarket.

Oh but there is a dealer installed kit i believe. I think Mr. Riviera's dash kit was dealer installed IIRC.

yes, the dealer can do stuff to cars when they get them, like install dash kits, or gold trim, or chrome wheels. but none of that was "factory" ie direct from gm/buick.

Jack the R wrote:

No such thing, it's aftermarket.

TonySmooth89 wrote:

Oh but there is a dealer installed kit i believe. I think Mr. Riviera's dash kit was dealer installed IIRC.

DIS--

Mr.Riviera wrote:

yes, the dealer can do stuff to cars when they get them, like install dash kits, or gold trim, or chrome wheels. but none of that was "factory" ie direct from gm/buick.

The trim around the console is held on with 2 sided tape and the trim around the HVAC/radio is held on with screws from the back of the dash panel.

So if you take off the dash panel you can unscrew the trim around radio/climate control?

I don't think so, and if you could, the piece you get to put over the stock piece would be too small to cover the place where it goes. The edges of the kit piece are inset about 1/8" from the stock piece.

Thanks. Definitely something to check.

sburch23 wrote:

So if you take off the dash panel you can unscrew the trim around radio/climate control?

Yes ...
But like Jack says, it depends on wheather or not the new/replacement piece will cover the holes or not?