Replacing the D*&^ Dash!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
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Replacing the D*&^ Dash!
A friend has a 1975 911S in decent shape outside and mechanically, but the inside is trashed...
First up, it needs a new dash...
so, 1. Are the original Dashes still available from Porsche?
and 2. How difficult are they to install? Someone told me the windshield has to be removed to put in a new dash. Guess a Dash Cover is an option, but not for me... if I'm doing this, it's going to be NOS all the way...BUT, I don't want to trash a perfectly good windshield to do it, ans I guarantee, It WILL break, either on the way out, or on the way in!
Now on to seat material... Does anyone know if the funky Blue/Black/Grey Houndstooth fabric is still available? I have an absolutely excellent Cut and Sew person, but she still needs the correct fabric to do this job...
I don't know...I wonder why I even consider these jobs for people...
First up, it needs a new dash...
so, 1. Are the original Dashes still available from Porsche?
and 2. How difficult are they to install? Someone told me the windshield has to be removed to put in a new dash. Guess a Dash Cover is an option, but not for me... if I'm doing this, it's going to be NOS all the way...BUT, I don't want to trash a perfectly good windshield to do it, ans I guarantee, It WILL break, either on the way out, or on the way in!
Now on to seat material... Does anyone know if the funky Blue/Black/Grey Houndstooth fabric is still available? I have an absolutely excellent Cut and Sew person, but she still needs the correct fabric to do this job...
I don't know...I wonder why I even consider these jobs for people...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,471
Likes: 1,632
From: Cambridge Ontario Canada
From everything i have read the windsheild does have to come out, I have heard of it done many times without breaking the windsheild. As to availability a lot will depend on colour, I have Cork ... good luck ... but black my be available. There is somebody on this list who recovers dashes and his work looks oustanding. Not sure where he is though.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
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Well, this one is plain old Black, so that could be a plus... I had not considered a Recover, but if the work was good enough, I might!
Any one have alead on who does 911 Dash recovers? I know my Trim person will not attempt it... too many variables and compound curves for her...
Sooo... take the car to the best Glass shop around and hope for the best? Wonderful... that adds another $400.00 to the project...
Any one have alead on who does 911 Dash recovers? I know my Trim person will not attempt it... too many variables and compound curves for her...
Sooo... take the car to the best Glass shop around and hope for the best? Wonderful... that adds another $400.00 to the project...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,471
Likes: 1,632
From: Cambridge Ontario Canada
There is definitely a guy who recovers dashes here with pics, try a search, I think his Avatar is a 944. lots of guys take the windshield out themselves also. I think Black dashes may be available on Pelican ... is it vinyl ? oops sorry ..... Genuine Porsche leatherette ?
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 228
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From: Southwest Missouri
Do not be intimidated by a winshield removal / re-install. If you have any mechanical ability at all you and a friend (you will need another person) can do it.
Use ONLY an OEM seal. Put a strong cord inside the inner lip. One person outside, pressing on the glass as the guy in the car pulls the seal "lip" over the flange. A 30 minute job.
Use ONLY an OEM seal. Put a strong cord inside the inner lip. One person outside, pressing on the glass as the guy in the car pulls the seal "lip" over the flange. A 30 minute job.
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Instructor
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Great News! I found Rob Budd's Site, after some searching on here, and he looks like He Da Man when it comes to dashes and Seats...
I will call him and see if he knows where to get that funky Houndstooth stuff...
Luckily, I am close enough to him to haul all of the parts up there and then go pick them up when done. From the sound of it, just cut the old windsheild gasket to remove, and then buy a new gasket and use the old Rope and Lube trick to reinstall... Seriously, I wonder how some of that KY Lube would work to ease the reinstall? NOT the Jelly, the liquid stuff? Anyone try that???
I will call him and see if he knows where to get that funky Houndstooth stuff...
Luckily, I am close enough to him to haul all of the parts up there and then go pick them up when done. From the sound of it, just cut the old windsheild gasket to remove, and then buy a new gasket and use the old Rope and Lube trick to reinstall... Seriously, I wonder how some of that KY Lube would work to ease the reinstall? NOT the Jelly, the liquid stuff? Anyone try that???
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,471
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From: Cambridge Ontario Canada
Originally Posted by 1986951
Great News! I found Rob Budd's Site, after some searching on here, and he looks like He Da Man when it comes to dashes and Seats...
I will call him and see if he knows where to get that funky Houndstooth stuff...
Luckily, I am close enough to him to haul all of the parts up there and then go pick them up when done. From the sound of it, just cut the old windsheild gasket to remove, and then buy a new gasket and use the old Rope and Lube trick to reinstall... Seriously, I wonder how some of that KY Lube would work to ease the reinstall? NOT the Jelly, the liquid stuff? Anyone try that???
I will call him and see if he knows where to get that funky Houndstooth stuff...
Luckily, I am close enough to him to haul all of the parts up there and then go pick them up when done. From the sound of it, just cut the old windsheild gasket to remove, and then buy a new gasket and use the old Rope and Lube trick to reinstall... Seriously, I wonder how some of that KY Lube would work to ease the reinstall? NOT the Jelly, the liquid stuff? Anyone try that???
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
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Hey, that's a great idea! Good use for the new 7.3 MP Camera! I need to justify the purchase to the wifey!!! I always enjoy 'How To" threads with photos from others so here is an opportunity...
Not sure when I will get to this one... We have plans most every weekend until the end of July...
Going to be a fast summer!
Not sure when I will get to this one... We have plans most every weekend until the end of July...
Going to be a fast summer!
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,980
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I've used liquid dishwashing soap a couple of times on the new gasket to get it on easier. When we'd prep for the 24 Hours of Daytona we always put a brand new OEM windshield in the night before the race. Of course we just had clips to move and we could pop it right out and right back in again in like 15-20 minutes when we weren't in a hurry. We changed a broken one one time under yellow during the race and I think it took us like 5 minutes. Funny what adrenaline can do for you.
Track Day
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 22
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From: Stavanger, Norway
Damn....I am new here, so i could'nt show the pics.???? This is my first reply to a thread here... How many posts do i need before i can show pics.???
Have pics of before\after, and some of the work, those corners and curves are tricky.
There is a small trick that makes the job of getting out the windshield easier. Use a Vicegrip and insert 3 coins in the two upper corners of the windshield ( inside,( under the lip ), and... it will go out easily..Push it out...4 hands is the safest... I have pics of how its done, but havn't uploaded the pics from the camera yet....
Was to busy to take pics of the entire process on the dashpad
Espen, Norway
Have pics of before\after, and some of the work, those corners and curves are tricky.
There is a small trick that makes the job of getting out the windshield easier. Use a Vicegrip and insert 3 coins in the two upper corners of the windshield ( inside,( under the lip ), and... it will go out easily..Push it out...4 hands is the safest... I have pics of how its done, but havn't uploaded the pics from the camera yet....
Was to busy to take pics of the entire process on the dashpad
Espen, Norway