[firstgenaddict]

I flattened the original dash pad using a 3 foot stick of 1" square tubing.
Clamping the dash pad sandwiched between the edge of the granite counter top and the stick of tubing.
Heating the dash pad structure using (3) 300 watt halogen lamps. I used heavy aluminum foil over the dash pad edge which rolls over the front to keep it from heating up too much and used the lamps pointed inside the dash pad upside down on the counter. It doesn't take too long to heat it up if they are 5" from lens face to surface which is about 7-8" from the actual bulb. -- if you have it clamped taught and are heating it you will feel the clamps noticeably looser.
Which you can then tighten a little at a time until it is flat across the front.

FWIW this works with a 69 dash pad as well... HOWEVER the 69 front lip is not anywhere close to as sturdy or thick as the second gen front lip and many times is already chipped cracked or missing pieces.



ANODIZING
HEAVY DUTY oven cleaner removes anodizing so you can polish aluminum trim if anyone did not know... otherwise it streaks when polishing and appears to have a residue on parts. if needs to looks really dull like the part shown on the left above when you start polishing or sanding scratches out or it will not be easy to polish evenly.