Dashboard Instrument Trim Cover or Surround

[jaustinmd]

I've got an '82 911SC that has a 964 dash and instruments. A previous owner installed a carbon fiber/"carbon fiber look" trim piece that surrounds the instruments:



I've never really liked the trim as it has no less than SEVEN die-cut knockouts for switches and only TWO on the far right are actually used (intermittent wiper switch and clock set switch)! That leaves 5 ugly die-cut punches in the panel which you can see in the photo above!

I would like to either remove this piece or cover it up! I'm assuming it was glued or pressure-sensitive taped to the underlying trim. I also assume that removing it would either destroy the trim underneath or at least leave an ugly adhesive residue.

I've never found a thread or link to a detailed explanation of removing or replacing this trim, so here are my questions:

1. IF I remove this "carbon fiber" overlay, and the underlying vinyl is damaged or destroyed, can it be replaced with Porsche part #91155254900700 "dashboard instrument cluster surround" without having to do major disassembly or removal of the entire dash? Can the edges of the vinyl be tucked under the "hood" surrounding the top of the instruments?

2. Am I correct in assuming that #91155254900700 is just a piece of black vinyl with cutouts for the instruments and you can make additional cut-outs as necessary for switches?

3. Has anyone been there/done that and found they wished they had simply put a ?vinyl or ?aluminum cover over their existing trim surround and not disturb the underlying materials? Seems with the rubber collar mounted instruments, the resultant build-up of the instrument hole thicknesses wouldn't matter?

4. Are there better, aftermarket/custom solutions? I can't even find the "carbon fiber" surround I have now with the cheesy 5 unneeded switch cutouts, so I assume it was an aftermarket item and is NLA , not that I want another one!

[tcar]

Gauges just pop out from the back, start with the clock.
If you remove them entirely, do a sketch of each one w/ wire colors; tag the wires.
Do not rely on Bentley.

Try a hair dryer, see if it will peel off.

I'd replace the Oil T/P gauge too, it's ugly.

[Uwon]

+1
I'd also remove the steering wheel first to make access easier and put some masking tape around the gauge bezels to avoid damage to them. Use 3M General adhesive remover to hopefully remove all the crap off the surface. Get some black vynil fron Joann's- it's as good as any.
Good luck.
Johan

[jaustinmd]

Originally Posted by Uwon

+1
I'd also remove the steering wheel first to make access easier and put some masking tape around the gauge bezels to avoid damage to them. Use 3M General adhesive remover to hopefully remove all the crap off the surface. Get some black vynil fron Joann's- it's as good as any.
Good luck.
Johan

No one so far has mentioned having to do any major disassembly of the instrument panel, etc. So am I to assume if I recover the area in vinyl, I will be able to to do this with the panel in-place? Obviously the gauge bezels will cover the edges of the new vinyl around the holes, but are there seams/crevices surrounding the periphery of the gauge cluster area where I can tuck-in the edges of the vinyl for a neat appearance?

[jaustinmd]

Originally Posted by tcar

I'd replace the Oil T/P gauge too, it's ugly.

What do you suggest for a replacement???

[Lyle O]

This is the gauge you should have (though newer standard is without the actual temps listed on the left; the range would just be split into three segments). With the 964 a lot more idiot lights were added, most of which you don't need.

[RSBob]

And the PO needs to be flogged. Lettuce hope he kept his 'esthetics' off the rest of the car.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by jaustinmd

No one so far has mentioned having to do any major disassembly of the instrument panel, etc. So am I to assume if I recover the area in vinyl, I will be able to to do this with the panel in-place? Obviously the gauge bezels will cover the edges of the new vinyl around the holes, but are there seams/crevices surrounding the periphery of the gauge cluster area where I can tuck-in the edges of the vinyl for a neat appearance?

If that stuff won't come off easily, you can easily put new vinyl over what's there.

If it will, you can use it for a pattern. Or make a pattern from heavy packaging paper. Get a piece of vinyl from an upholstery shop or a Michael's, or fabric store.

If you're careful and remove the steering wheel, you may be able to leave the gauge wiring hooked up. I have.

[jaustinmd]

Originally Posted by Lyle O

This is the gauge you should have (though newer standard is without the actual temps listed on the left; the range would just be split into three segments). With the 964 a lot more idiot lights were added, most of which you don't need.

I scored a similar gauge on Ebay in mint condition and installed a new faceplate with the actual temps. I agree - it looks MUCH better!

By the way, the 964 gauge, which is also in near-mint condition, is up on Ebay in case anyone is interested. I'll accept a Best Offer and it includes free shipping: Porsche 964 Oil Press Temp Instrument Cluster 96464110301 VDO 110 000 086 002 | eBay

[javadog]

If the carbon fiber piece is tucked behing the dash top, and especially if it is glued in place, you'll probably have to remove the dash top to fix this, which then requires removing the windshield.

If, for whatever reason you have to replace the underlying vinyl, you'll get to remove the windshield, dash top, gauges, switches, steering wheel surround and the lower dash trim.

JR

[Discseven]

Following in JR's footsteps... if PO followed stock/original Vinyl coverage of gauge panel... then CF would be slightly up under dash top (which does have a lip that wraps down slightly over face of gauge panel.) Might be possible... to push material up under dash lip to avoid windshield and dash removal. Pic is '80. Dash top is slightly flexible so my guess is the "shade" that goes over the gauge area could be bent up enough get a material tuck in there. Not knowing how PO installed CF makes all this speculative.

[jaustinmd]

Originally Posted by Discseven

Following in JR's footsteps... if PO followed stock/original Vinyl coverage of gauge panel... then CF would be slightly up under dash top (which does have a lip that wraps down slightly over face of gauge panel.) Might be possible... to push material up under dash lip to avoid windshield and dash removal. Pic is '80. Dash top is slightly flexible so my guess is the "shade" that goes over the gauge area could be bent up enough get a material tuck in there. Not knowing how PO installed CF makes all this speculative.

The carbon fiber surround is not a fabric but rather a rigid, flat piece of material - more of a flat "panel." So, there is a definite edge all the way around - nothing tucked-in anywhere. Just teasing the edges, it doesn't seem stuck very tightly - who knows, it may just have some bits of pressure sensitive tape holding it (it wouldn't take much as the instruments themselves would hold it in place.
I'll probably take the steering wheel off to get it out of the way and at least pull the gauges out of the holes and then try peeling up one end with a little gentle heat and see how it goes - I just don't want to turn a little cosmetic improvement into a major disassembly of the car!

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by jaustinmd

I just don't want to turn a little cosmetic improvement into a major disassembly of the car!

Indeed... good to think stuff like this thoroughly through before diving in. (Respect to everyone having their own taste... but... think you're making right move getting rid of CF next to gauges---focus should be on info provided by gauges. Anything distracting from that info is "visual noise" IMHO.)

[jaustinmd]

Originally Posted by Discseven

Indeed... good to think stuff like this thoroughly through before diving in. (Respect to everyone having their own taste... but... think you're making right move getting rid of CF next to gauges---focus should be on info provided by gauges. Anything distracting from that info is "visual noise" IMHO.)

Just got an email from the PO that installed the CF panel! He said the original covering underneath has a burn mark.

He said the CF panel was a "peel and stick" - as I stated earlier, it does not look like it is very firmly attached ... I may see if I can carefully peel it off and simply recover the CF panel in grained black vinyl and put it back on. The average person would never know the difference and I'm not going for 100% originality as I've got other mods on the car for the sake of comfort and safety - it's not a "collector" car - it's a car that's fun to DRIVE!

[javadog]

You might be able to repair the burn mark. Vinyl can be touched up. You might try that first.

JR

[Knight77911]

Does anyone have any recommendations on the adhesive to attach the new vinyl? I need something I can work with that will give me the ability to move around and work into place.