Dash Pad Repair??

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ovrmyhed

ovrmyhed

Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Threads
30
Messages
157
Location
Southern NH
Hi All,
I'm new to this site and FJ40's in general. I have done a ton of reading already, and a BIG THANKS to all for the great posts, knowledge and pictures! The amount of hours I have already saved in the short time I have been here is huge.

WIth that said, I have been unable to find a lot of info on Dash Pad repair (could be my limited search ability). The one I have is toast, and I have been looking at a donor vehicle (for other reasons). I have attached a picture (I think) of the donor Dash Pad. It has one fairly good size crack just to the right of the steering wheel. Can these be fixed? Do you want to fix them? I have seen the covers, (and the cost for replacements), and if I can avoid a replacement I would like to.

Also, are Parts trucks a "requirement". I think I almost have it "covered" with the parts I know i need, so it seems like a no brainer (although I am going to pay for it at home if you know what I mean).

Thanks in advance for your replies.
proj 043.webp
 
If your existing dash isn't wasted, a cap will work. I have one on mine and like it. When I first got it I was disappointed because it didn't seem to cover the ends completely. I started looking at other options and decided that I would just give it a try. It lays nice and flat, looks good, and doesn't creek or groan. So I'm happy with mine. In the event I didn't like the result I was either going for a new pad ( spendy ) or a dash storage box. Only thing I don't like about the storage option is the need to cut up the dash flanges to install it. It's probably not the safest set up in a crash either.
 
I took my crack pad to a guy who repairs car seat he did a great job with putting a new cover
I will try to get pics. new pad at $$$OR more than $400.00 my repair was only$70.
 
I had a guy that re-covered my seats cover the dash pad as well. It looked very good. For the mounting holes I just made a small hole I could get the screw head thru and the shaft of a Philip's and they almost disappeared afterwards. This was 20 years ago and I have since just removed the pad but it was cheap and looked good at the time. If the pads in basically good shape a good upholsterer should be able to fix you up pretty inexpensively...
 
My son and I did the SOR covers. I wasn't sure when we ordered them, but when we installed I think they look very nice - you have to look close (very close) to see it is a cover.
 
talking ebay ads. what will they think of next?

there is absolutely nothing wrong with these caps and if installed correctly, it is difficult for those familiar to detect and impossible for those that aren't. I can see no reason to spend +$500 on a new OE pad.
 
I was watching a show the other day where a guy was refinishing a dash on an old impala. It had cracks about 1/4" wide or so, he filled them with bondo and just repainted the damned thing. It looked pretty good....
 
I have fixed the jeep ones paintable adhesive caulk. I painted my jeep one with black plastic paint after turned out OK, lots of Jeep people have fixed them then spray them with a bed liner, the texture hides the repair. Next one I do I will spray with the rubber tool handle coating they now have. Kind of like bed liner but more of a rubber end product.
 
Dash cover from CCOT

Has anyone used the dash cover from CCOT? Any photos of it and feedback pro or con. Do you think it is similar to the SOR dash cover?

The idea of caulking the cracks, and spraying with a textured spray paint, or maybe painting with Herculiner seems like a good one to me.
Any photos of dashes repaired this way???
 
Thanks all for the replies!
I will try the repair and if I don't lilke it I can always cover it.
 
ovrmyhed said:
Thanks all for the replies!
I will try the repair and if I don't lilke it I can always cover it.
Click to expand...

It really depends on the level of repair you are looking to achieve. Caps certainly will do the job.

I can give a vote for the excellent results of the above mentioned Just Dashes. Used them 10+ years ago & today it still looks like new. DD, parked outside 100% of time. I 'think' the cost was about $300 incl. shipping. Sure to have gone up some since...but excellent results.

John
 
cjgoode said:
I have fixed the jeep ones paintable adhesive caulk. I painted my jeep one with black plastic paint after turned out OK, lots of Jeep people have fixed them then spray them with a bed liner, the texture hides the repair. Next one I do I will spray with the rubber tool handle coating they now have. Kind of like bed liner but more of a rubber end product.
Click to expand...
My pad is cracked at the passenger end next to the roll cage, but otherwise it’s in great shape. It’s not terrible, but I don’t have any desire for the top this summer. I don’t want the damage to spread from exposure. Has anyone else used the tool coating? I’m doing my best to keep the dash origanal as I can.
 
I’d probably use an epoxy weld. I’ve used JB’s “clearWeld” on other stuff. It comes in a mixing syringe. It self levels, which is something standard JBWeld doesn’t do and it remains flexible when cured. But it dries clear/opaque.

I did search and see the Permatex line has a black epoxy adhesive. No idea if it remains flexible.
 
If anyone is considering buying a dash please see my above post dated 2010. Happy to report the dash I had repaired by JustDashes is still just as perfect today as the day they did the work sometime in 2000.

My 40 is definitely not a 'queen'...but the dash is like new. FYI
 
My dash pads are faded, but no cracks that I need to repair. What have you used to protect and bring out the shine in these dash pads? Armor All?
 
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