How do I keep my dash from cracking?
 

My 911 either still has it's original leather dash or it was replaced at some point in the last 37 years. Seeing as how the early dashes are either really expensive or NLA I'd like to keep this one nice.

My car is garaged and I plan to use a shade if it is ever parked outside. What products do you guys use on your dashes to keep them nice? I know Armor All type products are a big no no. I've used Lexol and Meguiar's leather products which worked really well.

Lexol is the best.

Thankfully, my car has an almost perfect dash. I've owned cars that had split like the San Andreas fault. Buy one of those cheesy fabric covers and only use it when no ones looking. ;)

Best thing is to keep it cool and out of direct UV sunlight.

Keeping it out of direct sun is 90% of the battle. Next, use a high quality LEATHER treatment. Don't use Armour-all or any treatment for vinyl (even Lexol Vinylex is not good). I'm sure that Lexol makes a leather treatment.

Lexol and keep the dash covered to prevent damage from the sun's UV rays...

even if out of the sun, do not let it get real hot

leather is mammalian skin that no longer has the numerous support mechanisms that keep skin working - blood supply, oil glands, sweat glands, etc. The skin is a complicated organ.

You are going to have to do all the work that your body automatically does for your skin.

Lexol is good; Leatherique of Hide Food might be better. Also be sure to distinguish a cleaner from a mix of oils and other chemicals meant to "feed' the leather.

Thank you for all the tips guys. I will use a leather conditioner on the dash and avoid the sun.

Away for the UV and Hide Food (Connolly). NO ArmorAll.

I don't know what all this uv talk is because electromagnetic radiation in the uv spectum doesn't penetrate through but a few millimeters of glass anyways.

When I bought my SC, the leather looked very tired and dry. I applied, by hand, mink oil. Placed the car out in the hot sun, applied the mink oil and let the leather absorb the oil. After a long while I wiped off the excess. This has brought some life back to the leather.

The leatherique forum talks about getting leather back to supple soft state, and is pretty good info. They do of course tout their own products, however I have gone and done one set of seats that came out good/great and am working on a second set of seats that are very hard.
Generally the older and stiffer the leather the more times and applications of hide food will be needed to get the leather soft again.
Check out leatherique for some good detailed info on how to save your leather dash.
Good luck!

I second the vote for Leatherique.

Do you need to prep the dash prior to using Lexol or Leatherique if other products like ArmorAll were used before?

Yeah. Lexol is for leather. I went to the Salvation Army and bought a beach towell for 10 cents to throw over it. Replacing a dashboard is no fun. I know.

"Cheers" Roadslayer

'70 pickup.
And 2 cats.

UV is most damaging at the shorter wavelengths (higher energy in each photon), but still damaging at the lower wavelengths; blue light will cause damage as well. Glass windows - for example - need to be treated to reduce the effects of the EMF (visible + UV) on fabrics or wines if they are stored near the windows.

2d, the glass is not a 'few'' mm thick, so there is not that much attenuation.

3rd, any light raises the temperature in the car, and that is harmful

4th, - open windows!

I also use leatherique on both my Bmw and Porsche. Their rejuvenator oil works great in softening old leather. I actually just bought a gallon of there pristine clean because it is great product for genearal maintenance and cleaning everything. i.e. leather, vinyl, dashes without drying them out. I actually received a discount for being a BMW and PCA member.