how to restore a 914 dash top/knee pad?

[jim912928]

I'm turning my attention to the inside of the car while the outside is getting refurbed by the body shop. My upper dash and knee pad are both heavily cracked. Finding crack free used parts has shown to be near impossible. So, has anybody taken on redoing these? Have pics? I believe I've seen some upholstered?

Share your experiences....spring is coming way too soon and I'm going to want to be driving this!

Thanks in advance.

[auh]

While my harness was getting replaced I redid my dash top. It was super easy and only took me about 1hr 30 min. The hardest part is not cutting the vinyl to short cause it has to be glued on the edges.

So 1 hr 30 min of time and 20ish dollars and my new dash top looks great.

Sorry I don't have a pics cause I wasn't thinking while doing this project at 2a.m.

Adam

[jim912928]

Adam, do you have a pic of the finished product installed?

[kellzey]

I purchased a new dash top and restored the bottom pad by just recovering it.

It's a little more difficult to cover the pieces in new vinyl like the factory. Most people who recover their dash top and bottom knee cap have it covered and stitched in leather. It should cost $200-$300 for both pieces. The factory did this in the 916 cars.


Here is what I did...

I made a new "dash face" by cutting out a template for the old face out of formica and then adhering the older-style basketweave material do it. This took an evening. This also allowed me to delete the seatbelt warning light.

Then I cleaned up the old dash, and repainted the front side and openings with satin black paint.

Using the old dash top covering material, I cut a new "under pad" from foam, and a new dash top from black vinyl.



I glued the foam to the dash and let dry and then glued the vinyl to the dash, trimmed, and let dry.

Then I adhered the new dash face to the dash frame with double-sided sticky tape.

I also made a new covering for the glove box door.

I installed the new dash pad and the previously restored lower dash pad.

New lenses for the switch assemblies, NOS blower control unit

I sldo fitted the DIN frame for the new stereo head unit.

Voila! Restored dashboard assembly!


I just recovered the dash face and the top of the dash near the windshield

[Tidybuoy]

Do you realize how much that is worth, Karl????

I just sold an old cracked dash on E-Bay & it went for $$$$. I can only imagine how much I would have gotten if I had done what you did here.

Great Job!

[jim912928]

Karl...you've given me some ideas as my car is stripped right now. So taking out the dash frame will be easy. I think I'll take the upper dash and kneepad to the upholsterer when they do my seats...anybody have a picture of a 916 interior?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Yes--Brett Johnson, in the "Restorer's Guide to Authenticity", has a number of photos of Hussey's silver one.

--DD

[mike95125]

Karl,
How did you silverize your instrument bezels? I am looking to do that and am not sure about what metal lies underneath.

[mike95125]

Oh ya, and what is that tripple gauge out of? Very freakin nice.

[kellzey]

Triple gauge was custom made by Palo Alto speedometer. North Hollywood also makes one. Bring $$$$$. It's a copy of the 904-style gauge. This one is new and comes with the appropriate sensors matched to the modules.

They did the bezel rings as well. Although there are a few companies that make slip-on rings in chrome, aluminum, or brushed stainless that attach to your black bezels.

[iamchappy]

There are places that you can send your dash top and have it restored, they fill the cracks, sand and smooth then vacuum form new vinyl to it. It cost around 150.00
I lost my link but theres a place in Cal that does it, do a search on dash restoration.

[kellzey]

http://www.justdashes.com

[iamchappy]

Karl you just beat me to it, I got stuck on the australian dash restorers site.

[mike95125]

What places have the bezel rings?

[sammyg2]

Last time I checked justdashes wouldn't even answer the phone for $150.

911 dash re-dos were in the $550 range.

[Mike Kunz]

I'd love to know who offers the bezel rings as well....looks great!

Mike

[iamchappy]

There is a source that does them for that, My cousin has a little used car business in Florida that has it done a few for him. I will see what I can find out as I am interested now.

[mike95125]

I have found a few places for the bezels.
http://www.rennlist.com/spnsrs/Tacho_Performance2.html
http://www.type-911.co.uk/ac_carinteriors.htm

I would like to find a few places that do guage faces as well (besides Palo Alto).

[mike95125]

Check this out too.
http://www.white-face-gauges.com/Corsa_B_Tacho_12_Uhr_Tachoscheiben_Nachts.jpg