3rdgen dashes SUCK!!, My car has gone through 2 in its lifetime (car was raised in the sun city).. I refuse to pay the ridiculous fee to get another one that is going to crack, and the days of finding good ones in junk yards are legendary myths now.

Has anyone ever tried or suceeded in creating a dash out of different materials? (ABS plastic + ?) I dont know enough about fabrication to make something happen, but I am amazed that no one has built the "Better thirdgen dash". I'd pay 100 bux for another if I knew it was going to last. Anyway.. anyone have any ideas or results ?

 

Why not wrap the sucker in the fabric/suede/fur/neoprene of your choice? This would help cut down the glare. I myself would do it in black tweed, but my dash is still nice. Probably from all the repeated armour allings of its youth. I can't stand the stuff now.

 

As stated above its easy to just go ahead and cover it. Mine was cracked beyond believe....big chunks missing, and after about a month it drove me crazy so i covered it in black vinyl! It looks awesome, lots of compliments on it itself. Curently working on building vent to put in. I will try to get some pictures up of it ASAP

 

I had the same problem with my dash as well. So I went to Checkers, bought a roll of carpet, and some adheisive and made a permanent dash cover. I wish I had pics, but it came out really good. It looks like a dashmat, but its permanent. Trust me its worth it. It just takes a little bit of patients and a little finesse.

 

On ebay they have ABS dash caps. Sure they are as much as a dash pad, but you'll only have to buy one!

 

Please gents, show me the pics if you got em. Im looking for ideas.

 

Incase the Pic does not work here is a link

 

What did you re-wrap it in ?

 

i rewrapped it in black viynl. I will try to take a new picture tomorrow. That picture was taken day of install, and still had creases in it. Now the dash is complettly smooth!

 

what is making everyones dashes crack? I understand they're old but I would think as long as you protect it properly, they should last. Mine has seen extreme cold/heat, but still Looks brand new. I would guess as long as you keep a window shade on the windshield when its in the sun and not use oil based cleaners, they should be all right for a very long time. I don't car though, got me a 4thgen dash now

 

In my experience it's been some dumb jerk using the dash as a grab handle to get in or out of the car. Happened on my second gen TA and my vette. I'm not telling anyone how good or bad of shape my dash pad is in in this TA though... don't want no jinx on it...

 

Any updates on this... myself personally, my dash looked comparable to the scene in Alien where the lil bugger popped out of the dude's stomach. It literally looked like something tried to free itself from my dash. So, I took the dash off, started stripping it bone dry, and set fire to it (literally). Their is an interesting frame under the dash that seems to have potential. I am going to take it to an upholsterer and see if he has any ideas.

 

people refusing to believe that armorall or some other cleaner isnt the best thing for their cars dash.

 

Hah! Living in North Carolina I can guarantee you don't know what cold is. Try the northern prairies when it is -40* ... That'll crack your dash, and give you change, too

 

my dash was in perfect condition, for what seemed like forever....(18 years or so). Armoralled on occasion to try to keep things nice, and it was still somewhat soft. Well, winter time came around, (as it had for 18 previous years) and on one nite the temp dropped to 15 below. came out the next day, dash was cracked, right up the middle....no sign of that the day before, no sign of it before anything, just one random day.

upset me, but gave me an excuse to start on that 4th gen swap.

 

Hah! I live in a town where their is only 2 real seasons, summer and Xmas. Its still hitting 100 degrees here.. thats what ate my dash.

 

People have I got a little story to share with you.
My dash pad from my 82 is cracked beyond belief, someone on here sold me one with 2 two inch minor cracks so I bought it. I got it in the mail today and the bone head wrapped it once with a single layer of bubble wrap and sent it through USPS Parcel Post. Now I don't mind parcel post but when I picked it up it was in worse shape than my original. Cracks and chips and pieces all beneath that single layer of used bubble wrap. I wish there was another solution.