1g DSM Dash Construction?

[sc2_ct]

I've done some searching on the subject and wanted to find out if the information that I found is correct.

Is it true that the 1g dash is actually two parts -- the hard plastic part and then the soft padded vinyl part? I don't have time to completely remove my dashboard and check, but if this is correct, I will buy a spare dashboard locally so that I can do some fiberglass work.

Obviously I have the same problem as all the other 1g guys -- the padded vinyl parts of the dash are lifting up off of the dash surface and it looks really tacky. I've already started making a fiberglass replacement of the lower knee panel under the steering column, and will be starting on the glove box tomorrow.

Pretty much what I am doing is making fiberglass molds of the outside contours of the parts, and I will then make a good fiberglass casting of the parts. After this is done I will scrape off all of the foam/vinyl and make a mold and then a cast of the metal piece itself. This will give me the two parts, and I can then glass them together, fill with expanding foam from behind, and wrap the resulting parts in heat-formable vinyl using heat activated adhesive. The end result will be a single-piece replacement made entirely out of fiberglass that will a lot lighter, better for sound-deadening the cabin, and that will never have this damn peeling problem again.

What I would like to know is whether or not the foam panel for the main dashboard is similar and whether it can be separated from the rest of the dashboard (all of the plastic trim and stuff by the defroster. Has anyone who has removed their dashboard seen whether or not these parts can be separated?

The image that I have attached shows the area that I am talking about in case I did not manage to explain what I am talking about. I’d like to know if the part that is highlighted in red could be separated from the part that is highlighted in blue once the dashboard has been removed.

 

[sc2_ct]

Well, nevermind, I ended up finding the information I was looking for by accident in the "Chassis Electrical" section of my Haynes manual -- Why it was in Chassis Electrical rather than in the Body section is completely beyond me though.

Well, since I can't delete the post anyway it would seem, I might as well leave it up to see if anyone happens to have any interesting suggestions on the project

 

[bigemrich]

The red part is soft, the blue part is hard plastic. The soft part bolts in and slides into the hard plastic. Really simple to work with.

--Kyle

 

[laserboy]

The red part is soft, the blue part is hard plastic. The soft part bolts in and slides into the hard plastic. Really simple to work with.

--Kyle

I've had my dash completely out, and the red and blue come out in one pice, never bothered to look if the come apart, i'll check it out next time, i gotta replace my speedo cable.
Good to know if it comes apart though.

 

[coldshard]

excellent notion, maybe you could write a VFAQ for those of us that aren't that good with fiberglass, i'v been wanting to redo my interior like that myself but don't have the fiberglass experience to go it alone.

 

[sc2_ct]

If the upper pad is constructed at all like the knee pad under the steering column, it's actually going to be a fairly difficult project since I will have to make a mold of the top of the entire piece, then smooth out and trim the mold and make a casting of that. Then I'd have to scrape all of the foam and vinyl off the metal framing for it, make a mold of that, trim and smooth the mold and then make a casting of that. Next I'd have to take both of the castings and fiberglass the two parts together, drill a bunch of holes in the lower side, fill with expanding foam, and use the original molds to clamp the two pieces together so that the expansion of the foam doesn't cause it to deform. I'll take pictures and post them as I go along as soon as I get a chane to get started (it's still too cold in CT in an unheated garage for the resin to cure properly).

 

[Mike1992]

Yep, its 2 pieces that bolt togeather. I had the same idea you did but never went with it. I got both parts still in my garage though and it might happen some day. I was going to have carbonwerks make one for me, but the $400 tag was a bit outta my range, but who knows that might happen also. I'd like to see the finished product.

 

[rad]

but you can always post the answer, so the next poor soul with the same question can find the answer .. without even scrolling down

Well, since I can't delete the post anyway it would seem, I might as well leave it up to see if anyone happens to have any interesting suggestions on the project

 

[HighPsi92GST]

iv always wanted to do some custom work to the dash itself. never got around to it though.

 

[Screamin Eagle]

I just wanted to get some opinions from you guys on the dash idea. I don't have the time or the effort for the whole dash, but my arm rest area and the other black vinyl part that goes around the gauges and the one around the heater controls are really scuffed up over the years and seem kind of trashy looking. Do you think it would look good with just those fiberglassed and painted say gloss black. I don't want anything to flashy, but I'm not down with just painting them with vinyl paint.

 

[sc2_ct]

That is what I'm going to do with those parts. I haven't decided whether I'm going to paint or have them hydrographically coated with some pattern though.

 

[1stGenRocks]

i know some of you will still want to fiberglass it but i'd recomend cleaning it good and armoralling it first. when i got my first 1G the interior was TRASHED. i cleaned it all with foaming vinyl/carpet cleaner and then slathered on the armor all until it stopped soaking in. its been sitting in my back yard for close to a year now and the interior still looks great. i was using armor all "detailers solution" its clear and is like a oil that you wipe on and let soak in. it even got rid of most of the sun fading on the door panel tops by the windows. it comes in a spray bottle but i just put it on a rag since that was easier.

 

[Screamin Eagle]

well i would armorol it up good, but there are actually scuffs and slits in the vinyl, so i don't think armorol would really help, I still don't know what to do about the dash pad this is coming up though, i think that i've tried everything.

 

[neuralracing]

I want to redo my interior as well... I have everything out... looking for pics and ideas...

 

[TsssiAWD]

I want to redo my interior as well... I have everything out... looking for pics and ideas...

if your looking to do something subtle and not to difficult try covering the vinyl pieces with tweed it can be purchased in several colors from your local fabric carrier also the padded vinyl pieces can be painted if you wanted just sand and prime them well first and add a layer of clearcoat. however If your looking to do more drastic work then i would say yes fiberglass is the way to go