what dash cap should i get?

porschekid15 · porschekid15's Garage

hey guys, i was wondering what type of dash cap i can get. What company makes the best quality, and lowest price. also is there any better alternative instead of a dash cap?
thanks

i want it to look as close to the original dash as possible, just without the cracks.

wild man · 12-16-2010, 07:12 AM

How about a dash "cover". They are only about 70 bucks, but you won't get the stock appearance. I think they give you that "fuzzy" dash appearance.

romad · romad's Garage

Personally, dash does not affect ride or performance, so what is the rush. Save your money for what even it takes and have the dash relaminated better than new. I'm going to have to address the few crack in my dash eventually, and committing to gluing on a cover that may or may not look right just doesn't seem like the best solution.

Cocacolakidd · Cocacolakidd's Garage

All of those plastic dash caps look and feel like &^$%* - Hard plastic just doesn't get it. Go with a temp carpet type until you can recover/restore the dash...

2 cents worth.

romad · romad's Garage

Welcome To Just Dashes

One example of many companies doing great work check out youtube for the process. Its the factory vacuum form process with modern materials. Its well worth the effort and cost.

wild man · 12-16-2010, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cocacolakidd

All of those plastic dash caps look and feel like &^$%* - Hard plastic just doesn't get it. Go with a temp carpet type until you can recover/restore the dash...

2 cents worth.

That's the type I was referring to. As for me, none of the 4 vehicles in this class that I have owned so far, were exempt from this issue, so I have learned to live with it. I don't even notice it any more. But one of my friend's, who is a real stickler for details, always brings it up, and it gets on my nerves.

James Chimney · James Chimney's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by wild man

But one of my friend's, who is a real stickler for details, always brings it up, and it gets on my nerves.

Time for a new friend?
I have a few cracks on my dash too but will be a few years before I glue one of those daps on mine

flash968 · 12-16-2010, 09:00 AM

the dash is actually relatively easy to replace - find a good one at yard, or better yet, remove yours and have it recovered - a couple hundred bucks and a weekend of work, and you're good to go

billy mild · 09:48 AM

How bad is it to take the dash out really. It really scares me so I haven't even thought of that as an option.

Its funny people always mention something about the dash cracks in my car too. I just don't care that much. Eventually I will take care of that once I get everything else the way I want it. My next project is the rear hatch rattle. I'm just going to ghetto fix it and reglue the top of the hatch to stop the rattle.

porschekid15 · porschekid15's Garage

yeah... my interior is almost perfect other than the dash cracks and the fact i dont have a shift boot. but this is something my dad is getting me for my birthday, and he wanted me to find out what the best quality one is.

Rasta Monsta · Rasta Monsta's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by romad

Its well worth the effort and cost.

There aren't any prices I was able to find on the website. Anyone happen to know the cost?

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy mild

How bad is it to take the dash out really. It really scares me so I haven't even thought of that as an option.

Nothing to worry about, look how simple:

porschekid15 · porschekid15's Garage

i think my main issue is that my 944 is my daily driver... so i need it to get back and forth to school and dont know if i... scratch that i forgot i have a parts car

!!! good idea guys. ill take the dash outta my parts car, send it to get it re-covered, and on a weekend do a swap.

romad · romad's Garage

See how easy it is.......no worst tear down than any normal A/C annual

flash968 · 12-16-2010, 10:10 AM

kid - bingo! there you go

now you can even do it in leather if you want

Cocacolakidd · Cocacolakidd's Garage

To replace a dash sounds horrible and very complicated big work, but they are not that bad. I have done several and now can do them in 4 to 5 hours start to finish.

Go to Clark's Garage Home Page in the Garage Manual look up dash replace. See Body - 24, Dash Replacement.

Clark's gives a full disassemble and re-assembly that's easy to follow...

klm2500hd · 12-16-2010, 05:53 PM

IMO it was more work to remove the center console than the dash. Easy project, just take good notes, or better yet, pictures on where the wiring goes. The plastic covers aren't bad for a quick cheap fix, but they will warp over time.

Rtarh2o · 12-16-2010, 07:17 PM

I am about to put one on my project 944 Turbo. I had one years ago on my old 924 and thought it looked fine? I have test fitted the one on my 944 and I think it looks fine too? I guess maybe I am not that picky. I agree that a dash replacement is the best way to go but I would much rather spend $100 on a plastic dash cover and not have to look at a cracked dash for a couple years until I save enough money for a replacement dash.
Just my thoughts
Rusty

Aufgeladen944 · 12-16-2010, 07:52 PM

I bought a cap and didn't glue it down for the first couple years. It warped really bad this year, so I either have to replace it, glue it down, or ship out the original and cover it.

I don't think the covers look all that bad. I HATE the carpet ones though.

wild man · 12-16-2010, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klm2500hd

IMO it was more work to remove the center console than the dash.

That isn't exactly what I wanted to hear. I'm looking to replace the radio that is in the car. But it looks like someone used strap iron (pipe strapping) to mount it, so the console looks like it will have to come out in order to remove it. But to be perfectly honest, I don't even have the slightest idea on how to proceed.

Grandad#3 · 12-16-2010, 09:37 PM

Plastic Dash Caps are the pitts if you live where it gets HOT in the summer. It will warp and buckle like crazy if you don't remove all the old loose dash pieces and it will still pull the loose stuff up. I know how it looks so I don't need anyone else's comments on my dash. If they make a comment just tell them to cough up the money and you'll be more than happy to buy a new one with their money. I have a Suede type cover on now and I can live with that until I want to spend the $300-$500 for a leather one I can install myself. Just follow Clark's Garage.com for Dash Removal, bag and tag everything as you take stuff apart. Be Super Careful with the plastic trim as it is brittle and breaks easy. The Center Console is only held on with like 6 -8 screws.

Cheers,
Larry