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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Topic started by: 86silverado on November 26, 2010, 04:30:14 pm

Title: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: 86silverado on November 26, 2010, 04:30:14 pm
Im lookin for ways to fix my dash, im not worried about it looking original, i've had some friends that have rhino lined theirs ,  is there anything else that can be done to them?
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: beastie_3 on November 26, 2010, 04:35:31 pm
They just repaired a dash on the muscle car tv show on powerblock. i believe you can watch it online.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: fitz on November 26, 2010, 05:14:50 pm
I've often wondered how it would look if you sanded down the cracks so there were no rough edges then used bondo to fill the void. You could then top it off with some SEM Chipgard to give it a textured look then a quick coat of paint to match your interior.
I wouldn't expect Barret-Jackson results but it could be a quick $20 improvement to a work truck. Someday if I get time I might try it on 1 of my parts truck just to test my theory.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: bobcooter on November 26, 2010, 06:51:54 pm
I found this. It looks fairly simple and straight forward. I think I am going to try it on one of my parts trucks just to see how it goes.
http://gtam.silvahalo.com/dashrepair/index_original.html
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: 86silverado on November 26, 2010, 07:10:41 pm
what about the holes for the speakers?  Mine are almost all gone. I guess they could be filled and holes drilled out
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: hotrod24 on November 26, 2010, 09:43:17 pm
Try here  http://www.justdashes.com/ you have to send it off but you will have a new dash....
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: VileZambonie on November 26, 2010, 10:15:33 pm
I have one I'll be doing for an expiriment. I'll let ya'll know how it comes out.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: 1980c10 on November 26, 2010, 10:38:15 pm
I used an automotive type of carpet and glued it over the top of one that was trashed-worked and looked pretty good.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: Dr_Snooz on November 26, 2010, 11:44:18 pm
I found this. It looks fairly simple and straight forward. I think I am going to try it on one of my parts trucks just to see how it goes.
http://gtam.silvahalo.com/dashrepair/index_original.html

Great link. Thanks!
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: bobcooter on November 27, 2010, 06:32:56 am
They just repaired a dash on the muscle car tv show on powerblock. i believe you can watch it online.
I found an episode about a project called Blue Collar Buick but I couldn't get it to open.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: Captkaos on November 29, 2010, 05:40:33 pm
You have to clean out the voids/cracks and put on plastic repair.  As for the speaker holes the only way to fix them (and they usually mess up at this area) is to drill new ones or cover them up.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: captain carnage on December 07, 2010, 11:57:38 pm
I've seen people take speaker grills of the appropriate size and put them over the speaker holes in the dash. It looked pretty good if your not after a factory look.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: 84nickle350 on December 25, 2010, 05:51:49 pm
Blue Collar Buick is the one he is talking about im going to do the same thing to my dash and paint it black alont with thte rest of the interior lol
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: Skunksmash on December 26, 2010, 08:58:32 pm
Coverlay makes new dash skins, that make your dash look brand new. Or, since the dash was actually covered with vinyl from the factory, I personally don't think that it would look half bad if it were recovered properly. I've been thinking of experimenting with other stuff than vinyl to recover it with. Perhaps suede would look good? Or some kind of leather.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: Captkaos on January 01, 2011, 02:24:01 pm
If you cover one with material, you have to make sure the base is sound/solid.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: VileZambonie on January 01, 2011, 03:55:18 pm
Seam sealer
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: 86silverado on January 01, 2011, 04:35:56 pm
seam sealer?
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: VileZambonie on January 02, 2011, 09:01:10 pm
I'll post pix of the one I just fixed...
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: VileZambonie on January 02, 2011, 09:20:15 pm
I took a beat up dash pad I had and in between watching paint dry I decided to see how it would turn out if I actually tried to fix it. I ground down all of the areas around the cracks and filled them with seam sealer. Later I wiped the whole dash with laquer thinner and put some body filler over the rough areas. I primed it and it looked pretty good. I decided since I don't really care about it to try making a stronger texture. I shot it with spatter paint and plan to DA the whole thing. Then I'll paint it and see how it looks/holds up.

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/IMAG0228.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/IMAG0233.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/IMAG0234.jpg)



Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: topp on January 02, 2011, 09:51:11 pm
What did you fill the speaker holes/areas with?
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: GUITAR1989 on January 03, 2011, 04:17:34 am
thats cool man. My dash is in about the shape yours was before you filled it in and repainted it. Im gonna get some of that sealer and have a go at it :)
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: VileZambonie on January 03, 2011, 10:52:34 am
I pulled out all of the foam under the speaker holes and put duct tape over the top. I filled it with foam and then used body filler over the top. I used the coverlay I had laying around as a template to redrill the holes. I'll finish it up tonight and see how it looks.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: bobcooter on January 03, 2011, 06:22:08 pm
Looks really good. What is DA?



Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: Da67goatman on January 03, 2011, 06:23:51 pm
Dual Action Sander aka DA
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: 86silverado on January 07, 2011, 04:15:09 pm
that is a good idea, what seam sealer did you use?  mines gonna need quite a bit in some places
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: Da67goatman on January 08, 2011, 05:21:38 pm
Yeah what sealer did you use?  I have 3 dashpads I need to repair.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: VileZambonie on January 09, 2011, 12:21:34 pm
Try this stuff

http://www.amazon.com/Urethane-Supply-Company-Padded-Filler/dp/B0002JKE6Y
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: 86silverado on January 10, 2011, 04:14:54 pm
and after you did all of that did you just sand it all smooth?  there was one on here that they did in fiberglass that looked good, but once you get one of those done i would like to see how they turn out, thanks for all of the info so far!
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: Da67goatman on January 29, 2011, 02:09:39 pm
Just ordered some of that filler.  I'll let you know how it works.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: 86silverado on January 30, 2011, 07:53:41 pm
alrite, im thinkin bout gettin some of it
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: Da67goatman on February 03, 2011, 02:19:30 pm
I got the filler today, started repairing the dash pad.  We'll see how it works, man it is expensive though I paid $30.95 for a little 9oz can.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: 86silverado on February 03, 2011, 04:44:48 pm
that is pretty expensive, worth it if it works though.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: bobcooter on February 04, 2011, 08:14:30 am
Yeah, compared to almost $300.00 for a new dash pad.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: slammed79 on February 04, 2011, 01:01:18 pm
Hmm... seam sealer just might be the missing link. I've been stuck on how to finish the dash I was fixing on the 74, I still have the dash, imma pick up some seam seam sealer this weekend and see what happens
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: 86silverado on February 04, 2011, 03:31:49 pm
i wanna see them when they are done, im gettin ready to order some of it right now
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: GUITAR1989 on February 04, 2011, 06:44:07 pm
Yeah im gonna need to get on doing this to my dash after I finish painting my frame and engine bay :)
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: Da67goatman on February 08, 2011, 05:21:29 pm
That filler is just glorified bondo.  Even smells the same and mixes at the same ratio.  Don't waste your money.  I fixed two other dashes with painter's caulk and bondo and they look just the same.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: 86silverado on February 08, 2011, 05:44:45 pm
so its bondo? with a different name?
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: Da67goatman on February 08, 2011, 08:30:54 pm
yep.  It dries just as hard and you sand it just the same, its just a different color.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: VileZambonie on February 08, 2011, 08:32:32 pm
It is but it should be able to withstand cracking from slight amounts of flex better.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: bowtieman82 on February 10, 2011, 02:04:53 pm
on my dash im using fiber glass and bondo to get a smooth look and fill a the holes up. plan to paint it to match the truck. ive seen other people do it hop it work out.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: 86silverado on February 10, 2011, 04:32:30 pm
there was a post on here about fiberglassing the dash, i like that idea i have another one that im going to try that on, they look good done that way.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: thirsty on February 10, 2011, 08:45:25 pm
on my dash im using fiber glass and bondo to get a smooth look and fill a the holes up. plan to paint it to match the truck. ive seen other people do it hop it work out.
Don't they make a bondo product that has fiberglass in it? Strong like the old tiger hair but workable like bodo. I saw it at my buddy's shop and I think they used it for snowmobile hoods.
Title: Re: Any Ways To Fix Cracked Dash?
Post by: 86silverado on February 11, 2011, 01:41:21 pm
yes they have a fiberglass repair, it comes with a piece of fiberglass, and you lay down the resin then put fiberglass in the spot then go back over it with resin.  stuff gets itchy workin with it. if you do buy it right next to it there should be an extra thing of fiberglass you can buy, i would get it because they dont give much with the kit and gets used up quick if you have alot of places to fix, so i would buy the extra if you have alot to fix.