Dash Cover

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Neveragain55
Posts: 165
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Location: Connecticut

Dash Cover

Post by Neveragain55 »

So......

I can only imagine that this topic has been brought up 1 million times (and yes, I did a search)

I bought one of those Accuform plastic cap covers for a little over $100.00 dollars and yes.....it was an unmitigated disaster... :evil:

Not happy.........AT ALL :x

It was way to big and in the middle of trying to trim the damn thing it cracked all to hell.

Having said that, there's no way I'm taking a few days to completely rip out my existing dash to install a new one or good used one with no cracks, I have put literally years into this car, she's almost across the finish line, and I'm tired, seriously, I'm all out of energy for big projects.

All I want to do is find a cap, or a leather cover, or hell, even a carpet cover at this point, anything.

I just want to finish this car already...............please help.

Here's how she stands now, she's 99.999999% done.

As usual, thanks in advance.....
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1964 Ford Thunderbird
1970 Lincoln Mark III
1977 Datsun 280Z
1979 Suzuki GS750E
1989 BMW 635 CSI L6
1997 Mercedes SL500
2009 Volvo S60
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635sharknose
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Re: Dash Cover

Post by 635sharknose »

I did the leather cover. A lot of work and you will need to remove the dash for it. So not an option for you I assume after reading your post.
Paul
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1987 635CSi Bronzitbeige
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Neveragain55
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Re: Dash Cover

Post by Neveragain55 »

635sharknose wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 9:57 pm I did the leather cover. A lot of work and you will need to remove the dash for it. So not an option for you I assume after reading your post.
Oh that is bad news, I found some online and was considering one but you're saying that the dash has to come off.

So, those leather dash covers don't just lay over the existing dash????
1964 Ford Thunderbird
1970 Lincoln Mark III
1977 Datsun 280Z
1979 Suzuki GS750E
1989 BMW 635 CSI L6
1997 Mercedes SL500
2009 Volvo S60
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635sharknose
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Re: Dash Cover

Post by 635sharknose »

It needs to be glued to your dash. You will also need to smoothen the cracks before you do that. Performing thus work with the dashboard inside the car will be impossible.
Paul
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Instagram: @635sharknose
1987 635CSi Bronzitbeige
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Neveragain55
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Re: Dash Cover

Post by Neveragain55 »

635sharknose wrote: Sat May 29, 2021 4:46 am It needs to be glued to your dash. You will also need to smoothen the cracks before you do that. Performing thus work with the dashboard inside the car will be impossible.
Got it, I actually looked at your post where you provided a link of the project.

It looks great but it looks like the leather kit you used is not the leather kit I saw advertised on eBay.

Please take a look at these and tell me if you bought one of these.
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Screenshot_2021-05-29-04-46-38.png
Screenshot_2021-05-29-04-46-38.png (1.01 MiB) Viewed 4102 times
To me, these look like they just lay on top of the dash.
1964 Ford Thunderbird
1970 Lincoln Mark III
1977 Datsun 280Z
1979 Suzuki GS750E
1989 BMW 635 CSI L6
1997 Mercedes SL500
2009 Volvo S60
User avatar
635sharknose
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Joined: Fri Sep 13, 2019 4:58 pm
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Re: Dash Cover

Post by 635sharknose »

It's the same one from JF Customs. I used the Highline cover. It was a lot cheaper though when I bought it.
Paul
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1987 635CSi Bronzitbeige
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Neveragain55
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Re: Dash Cover

Post by Neveragain55 »

635sharknose wrote: Sat May 29, 2021 12:27 pm It's the same one from JF Customs. I used the Highline cover. It was a lot cheaper though when I bought it.

Thanks, you're right.

I reached out to them and they explained that the dash would have to come out.
I find it incredibly hard to believe that somebody out there doesn't just make either a "quality" molded dash cap, with precise measurements that could be glued right on top of the existing dash without any cutting or trimming, or a leather, or suede cover that could be placed on top.

The other plastic dash cap I bought from Accuform fit like a glove on my 1991 Chevy Silverado so I had high hopes for the one I bought for the Beemer, but it was a disaster in every way and it was very thin & flimsy.

Anyway, thanks for the tips......
1964 Ford Thunderbird
1970 Lincoln Mark III
1977 Datsun 280Z
1979 Suzuki GS750E
1989 BMW 635 CSI L6
1997 Mercedes SL500
2009 Volvo S60
User avatar
635sharknose
Posts: 513
Joined: Fri Sep 13, 2019 4:58 pm
Location: The Netherlands
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Re: Dash Cover

Post by 635sharknose »

Removing the dash isn't that much work.
Gluing and stretching the cover to make it fit the dash is much more work.

Too bad the plastic dash cap was of bad quality. That would have been the easiest fix.

Bert had a good idea as well, repair the cracks and spray the dash with truck bed liner spray.
Another option I saw was flocking.
For both options, a removal of the dash will be necessary though.
Paul
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Instagram: @635sharknose
1987 635CSi Bronzitbeige
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