Cracked dash - send out to replace or buy a replacement?
 

My windshield is out after having a car repainted, so now would be the time to address my pretty badly sun damaged dash. I have a dash cover that I was planning on using but it’s going to bug me to not have fixed it more properly.

Is the current consensus to send it out for remanufacturing or to buy a new one?

Thoughts, ideas, alternative things to try gladly welcomed.

Thanks

I'd say it depends on how long you want to have the car out of service. I'll be doing some work in that area on my car soon, and I'm looking for a new dash because I want the car out of service as short a time as possible. If there's no rush, you may find reworking your existing dash easier or less expensive, as long as it's not too bad.

Thanks for the response.

I’ve seen some really great work that people have done here using flexible filler to repair cracks and then spray the dash. Wonder how those have held up?

Getting it wrapped is another option I suppose, that would be pretty fast.

If your dash is significantly warped or cracked, it's going to be a fair bit of rework. I have no personal experience, but based on what I've seen on threads here, it's not outside the realm of possibility that evidence of repaired cracks could one day start to show through again. I think the answer to this depends also on whether your dash is leather-covered or not. I suspect that sanding and filling cracks and then covering in vinyl will be a more robust repair than just sanding and filling and then repainting.

the new dashes for the early cars don't seem to fit...

Thanks for the responses, this is for my 1974.

Leaning towards getting it recovered in vinyl...

Filling and painting does, as suggested, leave me wondering when the cracks will reappear.

Fifteen years ago, I sent my dash off to Just Dashes. That was when it only cost $600 for what was a new dash, when you got it back. The only catch was it took six months go get it back. They were waiting on enough dashes to come in to make a run of them. I finally called them & raised hell & got it in a few weeks. Great quality though.

I have a cracked dash and a nice, used uncracked dash as a possible replacement (different color, though).

I talked to Classic 9 about fixing and recovering the original or recovering the stand by dash. They said stay with the original. They've fixed enough cracked dashes that they've got the repair process down pretty well. Probably cheaper than new though I didn't ask.

I'd have it recovered. Something else to consider, while the windshield is out take a good look at it and make sure there isn't a lot of pitting. One of my biggest regrets is putting my old windshield back in my car after the car was painted. I never really paid attention to how much pitting there was in it but after the car was painted I seem to notice it all the time.

Thanks for the responses, and good tip Nick, thank you.

Interesting thread here - some DIY leather covers. Heat/sun in SoCal makes me wonder how that holds up however. I'd imagine the process is the same if vinyl is used.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/701476-dash-recovery-dyi-best-way-thank-you-2.html

Edit: any of the SoCal mafia use these guys in San Diego for a dash? I know they do good work on the rest of the interior and turn out a good product;

https://www.autobahninteriors.com/services

I had an 88 911 with cracks throughout. I bought a plastic dash cover that was supposed to look original. Man was it ugly and cheap looking. I took it to my upholstery guy and he stretched and glued some high end leather to it, then glued it to my old dash. It looked great when done. I'm very picky, had it not looked so good I would have forked out the bucks for a new dash cover.

I had mine redone by Classic 9. They offer leather or vinyl, with several stitching options.

To recover with shipping is around $700-$1500 (Via the only 3 places in the US I would trust doing this job.)

A new dash is around $1300 with tax at your local dealer. The new ones don't fit. The edges don't lay close to the metal where the door meets the dash. I put a new factory dash in my 75 which would be the same as your 74.

You might try looking in the 911 used parts section to see if you can find a good takeout from a wrecked car. You might save a few dollars and get a really nice dash. The "new" dash in my car is one that was removed from a wrecked car. My car isn't out in the sun very often and if I park it outside I make sure to cover the dash. I also use a good UV protectant on the dash I think it's called 303 protectant.

I had GTS classics cover mine in leather and do some deviated stitching. Came out awesome.

Yes, it turned out very good. They are pros. Friend had a blue leather 964 dash that was a huge PITA to match and they got it spot on.

1500 bucks to refinish, seems a bit steep, no?
100 bucks worth of leather and a can of glue .......

Have you done it? Sounds easy enough, but is it in practice?

These dashes may look simple, but there are enough contours that I doubt you'll get it on with a single piece of leather. You'll need a seam somewhere.

Skip... here's mend & spray dash job done by John: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-924-944-968-technical-forum/1046846-johnjs-87-924s-rehabilitation-12.html

...And wrap done by myself: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/820657-recovering-dashboard-using-epoxy-gel-adhesive.html
.

I had Tony Garcia do mine for my M491. I bought a really nice dash since my original leather dash was warped. That and I can drive my car until I go to paint and install it then. It turned out excellent.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592335630.jpg


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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592335630.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592335630.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592335630.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592335630.jpg