[Steeveedee]

The dash is padded to save skulls in a crash. But if you're wearing a seat belt with a shoulder harness, you're unlikely to hit your head on the dash in a crash. Maybe you can find some wood grain vinyl to reupholster the dash? Also, to minimize cracking, I would only use quarter sawn wood, as it is the most dimensionally stable. Plus it almost always looks better, imo.