Rob M Budd

I finally completed design, construction and installation of a dash cover for the 944. And its now available in Porsche vinyl or leather.

Its designed as a replacement cover for the factory vinyl.

It comes with a 1/8 inch backing material that glues in place over the flat sections over the factory foam. This is necessary since repairing the cracks in the factory foam sometimes leaves a rough finish.

Installation is not as easy as a cap or spray on material and requires careful trimming and attention to detail.

Let me know what you think.
Pictured is a vinyl cover

yellowline

Wow that's nice. Can you do one for an early 944?

PorscheDude1

Awsome work! Nice stitches...

500

Wow, that IS nice. The stitching adds a really nice update to the look.

Are you planning to do a cover for the lower half too (to make the match perfect)?

Does this require removing the original skin from the dash?

How much $$?

I really like it.

zoltan944

rob has been doing them for the 928. As you can see by doing this you get the 928 french stitches. He currently does the Apillars, console, pod, and dash. So, i am sure he will be able to accomidate anything in the 944 with enough interest

Rob M Budd

Thanks very much! Yes I think the French seam adds a nice touch.

The cover will come uninstalled and the lower half is a piece of vinyl or leather that only needs to be timmed and glued on. So I can include a piece to do it.

Yes. To have it look right, the original skin should be taken off. I didn't try to fit it with both the new and old vinyl, but you might have some clearance issues with the cluster and metal trim on the windshield side if the old vinyl is still there. It fits fine with my cover alone.

They'll be on eBay for $189 in Porsche vinyl. In genuine Porsche leather it will be $299. That will include a piece of material for the bottom section. Plus $10.00 USA shipping.

To Rennlisters 179 and 289 with $8.00 USA shipping & I can send a Paypal link for payment.

Rob M Budd

I can but I don't have a dash for the early model. I've had several folk tell me that will send me one, but none ever materialized.

Riff

Wow, that looks great!!! Can you describe the install process. I saw the part about removing the orignal skin, but is this a formed cover that slides over the dash, or does it come as a flat and then have to be stretched into place? Just wondering how you would get it to adhere to the contours of the dash so nicely! Again, awesome stuff!

alordofchaos

Way cool! I know what I want for Christmas!

gregeast

Any thoughts on doing this on an airbag dash?

Rob M Budd

The stitching gives it the contour or the dash, so its not flat. But its not entirely contoured either. You don't really stretch the vinyl. It more of a press and trim process.
A good grade of contact cement will hold it in the recesses.
With adhesive on the dash and cover, you press the vinyl into the recesses and curves. You would do this on all the horizontal surfaces. The adhesive holds it in place and then you trim it, folding a section onto the underside and then gluing it.

Installation can be done by the average do it yourselfer with a lot of patience, time and attention to detail.
Of course the average do it your selfer can screw it up too. If you've got reservations about installation, get a dash core from a wrecking yard and take it and the cover to a professional.
A professional auto upholstery trim ship will charge about $150- $350 to install a 944 cover.

Rob M Budd

I can do a cover for an air bag model, but I would need a dash to do the design. Air bag dashes are hard to come by.

apierce918

yeah, i want one of those

Mike Murcia

What contact cement are you using for this? Is there one brand in particular that holds up to heat but also cures quickly for the indentations by the windshield vents?

KuHL 951

Very nice looking work, I wish I had a good double needle machine. If you have to remove the old skin is there any chance of the foam core pulling off with the skin? Another question "if the dash is already off the car would a vacuum bag be any advantage in getting a better bond?" I do veneering and have all the vac equipment.