fiberglass over dashpad started...

[slb1985]

So as with every other squarebody I have seen my dash pad has seen better days and I am to cheap to spend the money on a new one and I don't think the covers look good to me. Well I took a leap of faith and dove into covering mine after reading a couplre post on here and much more on other sites. I have never attempted to do anything with this stuff but I did it today and I think the rough product looks good I did take pictures and will post what I have done tomorrow after I try and get some filler in it. Was a little chilly today so just around 60 by the great lakes, wanted to make sure it was fully cured before I did anything else.

If anyone has some tips on dos or don'ts from the fill stage to paint feel free to let me know .
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[Moostifer]

as with anything being painted... It's all in the prep work.

when you think your done with the prep, walk away from it for a few hours then come back and give it another "feel". Or have a couple of buddies check it over also.

what are your plans for the speaker holes?

[slb1985]

i built a center console to go between to go between the seat and the dashboard. that thing is gonna hold 2 6.5s the head unit and has holes for 2 cups. if i can make the dash look good as a final product it to will get fiberglassed and painted to match.

[slb1985]

so here are is the progress so far... this is what i started with took it out to see what was wrong with my defroster and snowballed to its own project

[slb1985]

i tried to use duct tape for the backing to hold in some great stuff spray foam to fill the voids from the spreaker holes and the cracks after knocking down the high spots and loose spots

[slb1985]

i sprayed in the foam in an attemp to fill in the holes but once it cured and it didnt do anything for the cracks and to get it flush with the dash i had to use a hot wire strung between 2 dowel rodes to cut it off. it didnt turn out the way i had invisioned but it did do the job i needed. i am sure there are better products to what i really wanted but im impatient and did this on a whim.

[slb1985]

still wet in these pictures i went ahead and covered all of the holes with plans to cut out the vents and then vin there are a few air bubbles in it but i was going for cosmetics not strength so i hope that it dosent affect it. the hardest part i found on this stage was gettingit to sit flush around the gauges and stay flat at out side curve in middle.

[john_p]

just pulled my dash today, 73, and it has that same look so i will be watching your progress.. i've bought padding and some vinyl and am going to try that route.. if it turns out i will post a picture.. do keep us posted..

[rocking chevy]

looks good so far.

[Da88burban]

Lookin good.You should add some Kind of custom touch to it while your at it. I am in the process of fiberglassing a Junkyard dash for my Safari and am planning to shave it clean and add a 7" Monitor. But anyway I was wondering what are you going to do for the defrosting vents?

[slb1985]

I am just gonna cut out the holes for them and the vin plate and put the factory grill back in it if I can
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[dv8customs]

Looks like a good start. Chopped matt would have worked better for you around the gauges. It would have laid down better.

[broey]

lookin good...

I left the defrost vents smooth on mine, came out a lot cleaner

[bucannon]

ive been thinking about doing something like this but i have never done any fiberglass work before... i hope this turns out well because i might have to try it.


if not ill do what broey did and use cloth over bondo, but i like having defrost haha

[SeanPaintsFlames]

I made a dash from a junkyard the same way speaker enclosures are made- with fleece stretched and stapled around the perimeter, then glass resin brushed into the fleece. It makes that instrument cluster area super easy. Once I finished it I realized it didn't fit well, so I sold it...

[slb1985]

That smooth dash without the vents does look real nice but I need to have the defrost i went last year without it and if I can avoid it I won't this year
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[slb1985]

well the time of year has came again that its warm enough for me to try and finish this thing rode around all fall and winter with no pad looked horrible but anyway back on topic i forgot to take pics before i trimmed the glass but i got a craftsman multi tool for cristmas and that was the easiest way i found not having a dremmel tool. As for the gauge area not laying down very well after i trimmed it and test fit before adding filler it dosent seem like its going to be a problem. might want to add this is also my first time using any kind of body filler so its been a process. i ran out of bondo before i could get to the front but will be getting some more soon and will update once its finished enough i can move on to the next step. here it is so far

[slb1985]

oh yeah, i changed my mind on the defrost vents i found some mesh stuff at work im going to kind inbed in the bondo if i can instead of the stock ones i think it will clean it up a little then i can carry that mesh to the floor console too kinda tie it in...

[slb1985]

Couole questions about the sanding part for bondo how do I keep it flat and not wavy how will i know when its level enough to finish and lastly how much should I be sanding off just the high spots or most of the laid filler and leave it in the low spots...
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[dv8customs]

First tip is to not by Bondo Brand filler. That stuff dries hard as a rock. I recommend Rage Gold.

For sanding get yourself a big paint stick and wrap the sand paper around it. That will keep everything flat.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

You will prob end up sanding 80% off. Use a longer block sander on the flats and a smaller one on the small areas
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[RandyP]

Spray a guide coat of black on before blocking. It will show you low spots and scratches you might miss otherwise. Do not use enamel for guide coat, it will gum up the sand paper.

[rs72z]

Do your self a favor, when you are wiping the filler try and wipe it as smooth as possible. It will save you a lot of sanding time. It's not so critical on the the first wipe but after you get it close any additional filler needs to be pretty smooth.

[monte0185]

Did you ever finish this? Would love to see what it looks like.

[slb1985]

Yeah I kind of finished it ... It didn't turn out as nice as I seen in my head . It looks fine no more cracks but the are some spots I need to touch up . It's in the truck working as the dash I'll try ans get pics when i can. It will probably look better in the pictures ... Forewarning