Making my Dash Crack Go Away

[HarryD]

After many years of having my dash look like this one:



I got one of those $13.66 Dash Repair kits from Permatex and now it looks like:




While not perfect, the hole is now filled and looks like a defect in the covering (BTW-The difference in the color is not as obvious to the naked eye but due to the different reflectivity, it does stand out in the photo).

[89turbocabmike]

Nice Harry. I have two small hairline cracks about 3/4" long that threaten to split open. Good to know there is an option.

[Paulporsche]

Good to know. Thanks. Is this an Autozone type product?

[RickM]

Can you now texture the fix and redye the entire dash?

[jluetjen]

There's certainly an "art" to doing it -- and HarryD is a better artist then me!

[goat]

Not too bad.
I have a hairline crack that has been driving me crazy for a few years.
May have to try this out, sure is cheaper than replacing the dash.....

[azasadny]

Good work!!

[Evans, Marv]

For you guys that have those hairline cracks, try drilling a hole at each end of them with a small drill bit. Sometimes that will stop them from propogating farther. Sometimes it will stop it for quite a while & it will continue again, at which point you can drill again. A very small drill hole is a good trade-off for a bigger crack (did I say that?).

[fintstone]

Good work. I have never tried that large a crack, but I fixed a kneepad with the same kit. The texture matched exactly, but the color was not exactly right under sun or lights. Fortunately, kneepads see little of either...and you cannot even see the repair once installed.

[HarryD]

Originally posted by Paulporsche
Good to know. Thanks. Is this an Autozone type product?

I got mine at Baxter Auto Parts but any autoparts store should carry it.

[HarryD]

Originally posted by RickM
Can you now texture the fix and redye the entire dash?

You are too funny.

[wahoofan]

Harry,
My '72 dash has that exact same crack and I'm not too keen on pulling the windshield to remove it. How is your repair holding up 2 years later? And regarding the comment about texture and re-dyeing the dash, wouldn't that be relatively simple and help the fix blend better?

[rusnak]

You can make the color difference go away with some spray on color, such as Nu Life. Check the threads on this.

[pwd72s]

Way to go, Harry!

[HarryD]

Originally posted by wahoofan
Harry,
My '72 dash has that exact same crack and I'm not too keen on pulling the windshield to remove it. How is your repair holding up 2 years later? And regarding the comment about texture and re-dyeing the dash, wouldn't that be relatively simple and help the fix blend better?

The repair did not last and the crack reappered after about 3 months. I am thinking of trying again as I have plenty of material left but so far, i just ignore it.

I think there is a real art to this type of repair. About 15 years ago, I had a pro come out to my house after a move to repair some tears in a vinyl chair the movers created and those repairs are still invisble.

[blucille]

so why not ask the pro to fix your dash?????

[ruf-porsche]

Furniture is in a climate control space whereas the Porsche is not. Plus the fact that during the summer the dash is exposed to the sun which account for stress on the material.

[rusnak]

There is a kit out by Permatex that is very good. The trick is to reinforce the under layer with cloth and flexible glue. The top plastic material should be layed on thin. You cure it with a hot iron that is included in the kit, and bake in matching texture. I have used in to plug holes left in my leather console from the PO's cell phone mount.

The repair is still invisible. I finished with the spray on color that I mentioned previously.

[Gasman59]

FYI, I used Phenoseal black latex caulk/adhesive to fill the crack. Over a year since and no sign of any splitting.
Now to get the Permatex kit and complete the repair.

[dd74]

Originally posted by sonett43
so why not ask the pro to fix your dash?????

I'm inclined to do the same with my cracks...eventually.