what should i expect to pay for a good dash pad?

[lunatic_magnet]

what should i expect to pay for a clean 914 dash pad without cracks in it?

[norustscott]

150 to 600 used vs. new....I bought a used one with zero cracks only to have it crack a month after installing it...good luck

[red-beard]

Unless you're going for concourse, get a dash board cover. Once installed, you can't tell it's a cover and the material they are made of won't crack. About $80.

James

[lunatic_magnet]

thanks for the quick reply fellas!

[maf 914]

James,

What type cover are you referring to and where can they be found?

Thanks,
Mike

[red-beard]

I picked one up on E-bay. Pelican does not have them in the Catalog, but I'm sure they would find one to sell you since their competition does.

Tweeks has them for $80. I am presently very peeved at Tweeks, since they have a catalog with advertised prices, but a tiny disclaimer that prices are subject to change without notice....They are still advertising synch rings for $24.95. New price $79.95. No they won't honor the catalog prices. So sorry....

Anyway, Rant over. The cover is a hard plastic (ABS) overlay which covers the cracked dash. Once it's in place, you can't tell it's there. Mike95125 has one on his 914 and he didn't discover it was an overlay for quite a while. I was pretty amazed that a "flimsy peice of plastic" would actually make that much difference and make my dash look very nice.

James

[Amark]

I bought one of the cover-lays and decided to have mine re-covered by a local upholstery shop instead. I bought it back when the were $60.00 and would be willing to sell it to someone who could use it.

The upholstery shop charged me $150.00, I supplied the vinyl that matched my dash face and seats.

Mark

73 2.0

[red-beard]

Nice looking Dash!

James

[bob174]

James, have those synchro rings gone up over the last couple of months? I bought mine from Otto this summer for $20 each...

[anthony]

I like the idea of having the dash recovered! Looks great. Where did you get the matching vinyl? I've been on the lookout for matching vinyl to redo a center console.

I say that if you look at your 914 ownership as a long term thing then spending $500 on dash every 20 or 30 years is not such a bad investment. If you keep your car garaged and covered when parked in the sun the dash will last. One say to get a good deal on a dash is wait for a Performance 20% off sale and then make Pelican match the price.

One thing I hate are those carpet dash covers. They look so ugly inside a 914.

[Amark]

I wanted to get rid of all of the basket weave. I started by ordering a set of 911 style door panels from Original Fit Interiors. They sold me an additional 8 yards of matching vinyl. The vinyl is a low luster black w/ very little grain(Sierra Black). I had the guy that did my dash re-cover the back pad, console & seats w/ the matching material. I used a cloth for the inserts in the seats from a late model Mustang, kind of a German looking black. I used the same vinyl to replace the basket weave on the dash face. Recently had the same upholstery shop re-cover the roll bar pad in the same vinyl.

Mark

73 2.0

[red-beard]

Bob -

Yeah, universally they have about doubled in price. Pelican used to sell them for about $20 each. Now they are over $40.

James

[Peter_Hinkle]

[I bought a used one with zero cracks only to have it crack a month after installing it...good luck [/B][/QUOTE]

Dude, that really sucks!

[norustscott]

The classic 914 dash crack...rigt above the ash tray front to back...I bought a coverlay cover... it is ok....I don't like the wavy cut line where the dash pad meets the upper dash vinyl covering. you have to look for it but still...I have had it for a year and have not installed it. I guess I like looking a a little crack...

[1bad914]

I've run into the TWEEKS pricing problem, when I added everything up in a comparison with the supplier that supports this really nice forum, TWEEKS comes in cheaper, until you call them and the prices are basically the same or more!! I'll stick with Pelican Thank You!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Originally posted by norustscott
I guess I like looking a a little crack...

Jeez, Scott--don't say that where MikeZ can hear!!!!

--DD

[3D914]

Amark,

Can you share the name / number of the place that you're using for the upholstery work? The place I normally use wasn't willing to tackle the dash.

red-beard,
I have the plastic dash cover you spoke of, and just wanted to let others know that it DOES crack. The car is from CA and has only been in Phoenix for barely two years now. When I was working on the interior a year ago I noticed there are cracks along the top-front inside edges where the dash curves back. They're growing also - probably due to hotter climate.

Regards,

[red-beard]

Sheese Gerald, you gotta be nicer to your car and move to San Diego!!!

James

[red-beard]

Oh and as far as Tweeks or any other competitor is concerned, I do the majority of my Porsche shopping here. I should get a discount for volume!

If the price difference is small, I do buy it from who I know, especially since any small savings would be eaten in the shipping costs.

But, if I can buy something for 1/2 the price, I do buy it.

Unless it's one of the "Do not Call - ever" companies like AA or Partwerks.

James

[Amark]

3D914,

The upholstery guy is a friend of mine. His shop is called Diversified Auto Upholstery and his name is Andy. His phone # is 520-324-0826.

Mark

73 2.0