porsche1662

Has any one installed a Dash and pod overlay. I am looking at a set from 928 international, and wonder how easy/ hard it is to install. And how does it look ? Or is it better to have a couple of minor cracks and leave it original ????

Ron_H

If the cracks are few and of minor size, there are plastic filler fixes out there which you may do yourself and then re-dye. The biggest problem is the necessity to use a heat gun, especially around the windshield, to cure the plastic. Check at an automotive paint supply (to the trade only) store for this material.

BillHapke

I tried to repair the cracks in my pod, to no avail, so I gave up and bought a pod cover. I found that I had to fit and re-fit it until it fit perfectly and looked natural. You have to be looking for it to see how it is installed. Be sure to feather the edges, on the inside. Looks better than the repaired cracks that I couldn't get the surface to look correct.

Greg86andahalf

I did the overlay for the dash and pod. I removed the dash from the car to install the overlay which gave me the ability to epoxy the overlay completely and hold it down with tape until dry, especially around the defroster vent. Although the instructions often say not to cement the overlay to the dash on top, but my experience based on doing a couple of cars is to cement the hell out of the overlay as much as possible. No warping or bubbling on my dash after one year. I use a windshield sun deflector and "crack" the side window an inch in the summer to prevent major heat in the car from warping the overlay.

The pod overlay went on well except I had to enlarge the one cut-out for the ignition switch because the large key would not fit in and turn.

If you want some pix, let me know and I'll dig 'em out and post them.

Greg

JEC_31

Mine was a friggin' nighmare, but all said and done it's much nice than the deep and long cracks it covers. It needed it or a new dash.

I spent maybe 4 hours trimming and re-trimming to get it to fit, and then while curing it warped up around the top vents. I still need to fix that.

The separate piece for the instrument pod was more difficult. At first I thought I was screwed it fit so bad. More trimming, some major modifications to the sides and front, and I had to trim out the ignition-key hole quite a bit. Then as I had used up the rather medium-sized tube of the supplied silicone on the dash, I grabbed some hi-test silicone stuff I had lying around the garage and it smelled awful.

The color (brown) is a close-enough match. One glance and it's kind of obvious, but smooth.

When you do it I strongly recommend getting a swivel-curved-blade deburring knife. It worked wonders for me, made the whole project possible. You can whittle away at the edges, leaving a smooth curved bevel.

I I ever have to do this again, the dash is coming out first!!!!!

Good luck.

pvoth

fill the cracks with dash fixit stuff...then cover it with glazing putty....
sand as you go.....when it looks good.....spray it with layers of "chip guard" to give it some texture...(used samed stuff on roof of my 914)....then dyed it...
looks pretty good can hardly tell.....



















'

V-Fib

I have, like others, achieved nice results with a set from one of the Big 3. No trimming required. I think about $129.00 + s/h. The quality was very good. The warped, cheap plastic one it replaced was much lower quality and really didn't match/fit well at all. There are more than one manufacturer making these and quality can vary.



Anthony Tate
79/928 Silver Metallic

Marc Schwager

There are other options for your pod if you have the $$. There is a guy named Dan (aka Dan the pod guy) that repairs them to as good as new. You can find him here:

http://www.kondratyev.com/porsche/products/pods.htm

I've seen his work and it looks quite good.

porsche1662

Thanks Guys I will look into all of the above options. I will let you know how it works out.

ajd0002

Anthony, did you remove the dash and/or pod to do yours? If not, any tips as I'm looking at buying the covers from one of the Big 3 (as soon as I can figure out how to ship to Canada without tripling the cost).

Tks

V-Fib

The pod has to come off. It can be done with the dash in the car. Unless you have good reason to take the dash out for some other reason, it's too much of a PITA. I did remove the center console. I agree with Greg86and ahalf, use a lot of adhesive. Be sure to take some fine sandpaper or emory cloth to the underside of the cap and go over the whole underside surface of the cap, then wipe clean. This promotes adhesion/bond of the dash and cap. I had a better fit from removing the rest of the leather ( mine already had a cheap cap covering what leather was still there). Do the same prep to the pod cover. I used bungee cords wrapped around the pod in various positions to apply pressure to the pod cap and pod face.

DO NOT WEDGE ANYTHING BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND DASH OR POD TO APPLY PRESSURE. A CRACKED WINDSHIELD CAN RESULT.



Anthony Tate
79/928 Silver Metallic

Ron_H

Whatever you do, do NOT let anyone talk you into a replacement dash from Just Dashes. One was just installed in my beast and you have not heard the language I have used since I saw it in the daylight. Approximately $1800 later and I will toss it as soon as possible and certainly before anyone sees it. It has simply diminished the value of my 928. Squeaks and rattles, poor fit, and wrong color match, and now if I keep it I must re-dye the entire interior. Arrgh!!! Waste of time and money. I want my old cracked pod and dash back. I am now going off to throw a temper tantrum until I cool off. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Must be bad Karma coming back to me for something bad I once did.