Dashboard repairable?

[JQ911]

Can this bend/warp on the AC vents be repaired, heated maybe so it would go back to its previous form? Are there still tricks to fix this or just replace the whole dash?

[Chuck.H]

I covered my dash with alcantara, couldn't be happier with the results. If you went this route you could build up that area above the vent to make it straight again. I see what looks like a dash pad, the alcantara will also cover that :-) The added benefit is the material is very 'matte finish' so you get no glare.



Hope this helps,
Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 336k miles

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by Chuck.H

I covered my dash with alcantara, couldn't be happier with the results. If you went this route you could build up that area above the vent to make it straight again. I see what looks like a dash pad, the alcantara will also cover that :-) The added benefit is the material is very 'matte finish' so you get no glare.



Hope this helps,
Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 336k miles

Chuck, do you have a thread on the install? The steps you took?

[Chuck.H]

No writeup, but simple to do:

I removed my dash without a lot of pain - I could access all of the front-to-rear facing nuts from inside the front trunk, using a variety of wrenches, sockets and extensions (from very long to no extension at all). Hmmm, there was one F-R nut next to the A/C duct which I accessed thru the speedo hole.

I did NOT have any screws under the defroster trim panel that would have required the windshield to be removed. My windshield was removed at the time, but I re-installed the dash after the new glass was in. I've heard earlier models require windshield removal to access screws.

One thing I did do, was 'slot' the holes in the metal on the top of the gauges to make installation easier... you could probably install it without doing that, but I found I had to press quite hard and the slots made it WAY easier.

Now, the alcantara covering -- I got my my material from JPM coachworks, I got the thinner material because I heard it stretches easier. I cut a big piece, sprayed both the material and dash with 3M spray adhesive, and used extra contact cement in the contours where I wanted extra stick. I started in the middle and smoothed it down all around the dash, I found I could lift and reposition it where needed (though less of that in the contact cement area's). I had two people around to help hold the dash down while I stretched. I just covered right over the center vent and then cut it open later. I was able to stretch it down and around the gauge covering area, but I had to slit it at the right and leftmost underneath parts. I then cut small triangles to cover those areas.

Hope this helps,
Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 336k miles

['89cab]

I had that problem on my '85 Targa. All I did was run a bead of black silicone in the gap. Feathered the edges by running my finger over the bead (like you would to caulk a gap in sinks or tubs. It made the gap disappear, so I could stop obsessing about it.

[kidrock]

I wonder if it could be gently heated, then gently clamped into position until it cools?

[donagain1]

I've got to watch this one closely, the dash on my '85 suffers from the same condition (albeit around a smaller vent with floppy vertical deflectors. Does anyone know whether the deflector fins can be repaired without removing the dash cover?

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by kidrock

I wonder if it could be gently heated, then gently clamped into position until it cools?

A couple of people on here have used a heat gun to fix this. There are a few good threads on it.

[CCM911]

I am under the impression that this only happens in cars with full leather interiors, is this correct? Mine has the same issue, and most I have seen with Full Leather(which includes the dash) seem to have this issue as well. I think there is a thread where a person removed the dash and had it professionally recovered.

[DaddyGlenn]

Originally Posted by Chuck.H

{snip}....I got my my material from JPM coachworks, I got the thinner material because I heard it stretches easier. ...{snip}

How many yards did it take? 2?

[Chuck.H]

Glen writes: How many yards did it take? 2?

The alcantara I got is quite wide, maybe 60"? So I sliced off maybe 20" of that to cover the dash in one shot. The material is a little expensive, but it's really nice stuff and very durable so I think it's def worth it.

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 336k miles

[R K T]

I also did my dash in Alcantara, actually I covered a dashcap and put it on top of my dash.
Just for another source....I bought mine from B&J fabrics @ $60 per yard. I bought two yards, enough to do the dash and kneepad, armrests etc.

[JQ911]

Originally Posted by '89cab

I had that problem on my '85 Targa. All I did was run a bead of black silicone in the gap. Feathered the edges by running my finger over the bead (like you would to caulk a gap in sinks or tubs. It made the gap disappear, so I could stop obsessing about it.

After reading this, I made a temp/quick fix. I might explore the Alcantaras but for now I got a vinyl black silicone and filled the gap.

Here is a picture of the initial fill I did 2 minutes ago. I will clean the surrounding areas so it would not dry on the borders of the dash and do a 2nd pass to fill up the uneven portions and flatten similar to applying a patty on a body work. I will send pictures of the outcome once the silicone cures.