dash question???

[dman1982]

alright im working on my dash....its cracked up really bad...dont have the money right now to buy a new dash...so is what im doing is bondoing the dash, i was wondering if fiberglass would work better? or is there another way to fix up my dash without spending a bunch of money? i know its kinda getto but my interior looks alright minus the dash...just wanting it to not look so getto..bondo is working but just trying to get some opinions before i get too deep into this project...im driving around without a dash right now...so it is kinda getto. lol

[irishman999]

Lmc has a dash cap for 100 bucks, you just sand down your existing dash pad until everything is flat and the cap fits the pad nicely and you epoxy the cap onto the pad.

[dman1982]

ya i know..but not working with a hundred bucks right now...my dash is that bad tho

[CaliDude76]

Dash cover perhaps??? 40 bucks, at your local parts store and BAM!!.. instant fix... no?

[CaliDude76]

Here's a pic.. just an idea for ya

[nbpro]

done with Fiberglass
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415628

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=320658&page=2

[bigwheel15]

Fiberglass would be a much better idea, id be afraid of cracking with just bondo as the dash expands and contracts.

[dman1982]

ya i think fiberglass may be the way to go for my temp fix

[bigwheel15]

Originally Posted by dman1982

ya i think fiberglass may be the way to go for my temp fix

If its temp, why not just get a dash mat like calidude suggested? Easier and cheaper plus doesnt look too bad imo.

[nbpro]

If you do it right it's not a temporary fix. There is quite a bit of work involved. $40 is what I had in that one. Only reason I'm not using it, is we put some cheap paint on it, and it cracked. Got tired of sanding and just bought the cover for $100.

[barry h.]

i tkink you may have a bigger problem using fiberglass when you get the funds to replace it.and alot of dust.

[nbpro]

Originally Posted by barry h.

i tkink you may have a bigger problem using fiberglass when you get the funds to replace it.and alot of dust.

You take the dash out before you do this. And you use fiberglass mesh and resin. It comes in and out just like the old one. Yeah, there's some dust, but no more than traveling down a dusty road. If you use a light coat, it sands out easily. Plus, it's built, not bought.

[mooseknuckles]

go ahead and fiberglass it, cheap, easy, and looks custom. here's mine..

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by mooseknuckles

go ahead and fiberglass it, cheap, easy, and looks custom. here's mine..

Moose, how did you get yours to look so good? I tried a little glass mat and it was not working too good. So I gave up and bought a used one. It was better but still has cracks.

[mooseknuckles]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Moose, how did you get yours to look so good? I tried a little glass mat and it was not working too good. So I gave up and bought a used one. It was better but still has cracks.

yep...its impossible with the mat, it keeps clumping up into hairballs. I used a woven fiberglass cloth (I think its used for boat repairs) soaked it with resin. its thin enough that you can add another layer and it follows the contours of the dash perfectly. and bondo'd the **** out of it, block sanding between coats, and sprayed it with primer sealer. thats the way it sits now.....

[mooseknuckles]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Moose, how did you get yours to look so good? I tried a little glass mat and it was not working too good. So I gave up and bought a used one. It was better but still has cracks.

When I first started it I used the mat. I bought it by mistake. it was terrible, my buddys were laughing at me...there not laughing now

[dman1982]

very true nbpro....you can do it how you want to with fiberglass or bondo....i filled in the big holes with bondo.....think im going to do the smaller stuff with fiber glass...maybe try and get some designs in there...since its already out

[nbpro]

ya mooseknuckles i added a link to yours but pics are better . BTW what year steering wheel is that you have?

[mooseknuckles]

Originally Posted by nbpro

ya mooseknuckles i added a link to yours but pics are better . BTW what year steering wheel is that you have?

I stole it out of a 90 gmc parts truck I bought, got the shift lever and tilt lever too, I was going to take the turn signal lever too but it had cruise...even puy my old cracked one back on the gmc.

[dman1982]

ya i think im going to do mine like that....maybe fiberglass a big ol bowtie into it

[dman1982]

man..im gonna have to mess with mine tomarrow....tired of not having a dash in it...but i will soon...after seeing yours moose...ill try and make mine nice as yours....is that a desigin in the corner or just shadows? i think the only difference ill make is leaving my vents in as im going to be running a/c sometime.

[mooseknuckles]

Originally Posted by dman1982

man..im gonna have to mess with mine tomarrow....tired of not having a dash in it...but i will soon...after seeing yours moose...ill try and make mine nice as yours....is that a desigin in the corner or just shadows? i think the only difference ill make is leaving my vents in as im going to be running a/c sometime.

nope...just shadows..I was going to leave them in and buy that billet piece that goes there but it doesn't always fit great. so I filled it in with the intention of using these for my a/c...

[tucsonjwt]

Sand down and bondo fill the big cracks. Glue some thin foam backed vinyl (with 3M adhesive?) to the dash - cut out around the openings, add some extra glue there - done - maybe $30, mostly for the adhesive. I put on a $100 accuform dash cap and it is not very good - cracks around openings, puffs up at the ends. I would glue vinyl to it if I did it again, maybe with the help of a local upholstery shop. If it goes bad in future years, just rip off the vinyl and add a new layer - ghetto proof. Invest another $12 for a can of SEM paint if you need to color match the vinyl to your interior.

[nbpro]

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

Sand down and bondo fill the big cracks. Glue some thin foam backed vinyl (with 3M adhesive?) to the dash - cut out around the openings, add some extra glue there - done - maybe $30, mostly for the adhesive. I put on a $100 accuform dash cap and it is not very good - cracks around openings, puffs up at the ends. I would glue vinyl to it if I did it again, maybe with the help of a local upholstery shop. If it goes bad in future years, just rip off the vinyl and add a new layer - ghetto proof. Invest another $12 for a can of SEM paint if you need to color match the vinyl to your interior.

If I was going that route, I would use silicone on the cracks because it expands, then cover it with your vinyl.

[nbpro]

I used fiberglass cloth and didn't have any problem out of it, just gotta keep it wet and don't add as much hardener.