1983 944 dash

[jhampton]

where can i get a non cracked dash for my 944? the color is brown

[Brando]

for an 83? Have it reupholstered.

[jhampton]

ya but where and or who. cant find anyone who wants to touch it

[Brando]

Upholstery shops are all over the place. Try google maps for your area. There's 3 or four within driving distance of where I live.

[greg911944]

I put a dash cap on mine worked out very well

[Rrrockhound]

If you don't mind spending some $$, google the 928 leather shop. Or justdashes.com

[jcommin]

The choices are simple:

Find a better dash

Cap it either with a Coverlay or carpet

Re-do it.

No easy options.

Simplest: use a Coverlay or carpet

Most expensive - re-do it.

Most labor intense: re-do it or find a better dash. Removing a dash is not for the faint of heart.

[zedsn]

Hi, on ebay right now there is a brown color dash plastic cap that you put over the top of your dash for 75 plus shipping and it looks pretty nice when installed. The brown is a good match to the original dash as well. Worth the money on my opinion.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I was able to source a perfect (uncracked) early 944 dash for my '85/1. It was not easy to locate, nor was it cheap. Brown will be even more difficult to find (the later 924S cars had the same dash style as the early 944s, but few if any came in brown). I'd suggest the reupholstery route.

[Dark Skies]

I just placed an order with 928 leather shop and his prices aren't bad at all when you compare them with the cost of sourcing a dash or getting a cover. Cheaper than having the same work done in the UK.

I'm paying £240 for a vinyl kit (inc P&P to the UK) for the dash and glove box that will look better than the original did when new.

In comparison - £85 for a slightly cracked secondhand dash.

or £95 for a not terribly good fitting plastic cover.

And yes, the guy is happy to do RHD dashes for Australia, Japan and the UK markets as they're a mirror image of the left hand dash.

[jcommin]

you will be very happy with the 928 leather shop. He refurbished my seats, wheel and dash. His work is outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[shikzachaser]

Unless you have a concours type vehicle I personally would go with a good plastic overlay. If you take your time and remove the vents, center speaker grill, etc before you silicone it on then use duct tape to pull everything tight before letting it sit overnight to allow the silicone to cure, you will be amazed how good it actually looks. You can use a little paint thinner on a rag to wipe the duct tape adhesive that sticks off it. I have a pretty nice 84 and am totally happy with the overlay. I used the cash I saved on a new dash to buy an OE windshield, white guage conversion parts, new white oil pressure guage and clock, 2 used perfect door panels, and a new center console cover. It seemed like a good trade-off.

Steve

[shikzachaser]

[Dark Skies]

The American overlay appears to be a better fit than the ones available in RHD - they seem to finish at a more logical line than ours too. I took inordinate care in fitting mine and holding it down when gluing but you could still hook a fingernail under some edges. Mine cracked after a year just on the edge near the door - it's thinner there and obviously didn't like being 'made' to fit. With the benefit of hindsight it might have been better to gently heat the area with a hair dryer to mold it to fit.

I made my own dash cover to cover the vents on my replacement dash - it looked good and I'd have stayed with that - then I noticed a nasty scar across the clocks that hadn't shown up in the light in my garage.

I'm going with black vinyl from the leather shop - he puts foam under the cover so's it has that upholstered 'ploomfy' feel to it. After I've spent all that money on changing the entire interior from brown to black I figured one last outlay would be the icing on the cake.

[scottmandue]

Steve,

Who makes that dash cap and/or where did you buy it?

[svandamme]

the dash caps do look ok from the outside, but i never like it when sitting in the car, on my own car, i just know it's there and the few parts where it showed just bugged the hell out of me... especially the part right above the steering wheel hub is flimsy looking

[jcommin]

Cars can be a real bad habit. What looks good to you looks bad to someone else. I take none of this personally. I had a coverlay and didn't like it. I jumped off the deep end and went all out to refurbish my car that best reflects me and what I'm comfortable with. Was this allot of money, YES. Is this very smart or a wise investment, NO.

So what does this say about me: I got more money than brains when it comes to my Porsche.

But, the smell, the feel, the pride, the enjoyment I got from working on this: it's a good lookin' ride...........priceless.

[shikzachaser]

Mine is an accuform I got from Mesa Performance --around $95. I just felt that the money I spent on the car could go better elsewhere. I have dumped over $20K into my 84 in engine, suspension, and various other things so I can definately relate to diminishing returns on a 944. That did not even include my labor to put it together.







Stroker motor, Lindsey fuel rail and adjustable regulator, MAP conversion,bigger injectors, A/C conversion to R-134, headers, head, exhaust, 951 sway bars, clutch, lightened flywheel, Koni yellows, adjustable front springs, 17" wheels, Brembo brakes, all new bushings, stereo, fiberwerks bumpers, wheel bearings, ball joints, white guages, H4's, short shift kit, LSD, dyno time, etc etc, it adds up fast. I had to stop the bleeding somewhere. They are cool cars though. I have had this one a long time and it just turned 80K miles last week.

[jcommin]

Nice lookin' car Steve

[shikzachaser]

Thanks Jim:

It's a lot of fun for an old beater. How do you like the Benz? I have always wanted an ML55 and found the right one not too long ago. It's my first MB and I love it. It has replaced a 911 and a Durango.

Steve