j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Hi,
I'm having my pod recovered and I was on the fence whether to send my dash too. The cost for a dash is around $700 so I tried to address my dash's defficiencies. Mostly I have the typical leather shrinkage which pulls away from the defroster vents mostly on the passenger side.
Since I have other wood accents in my car, I made a matching cover for the area around the vent. It has brass tabs underneath, which slide under the vent trim, in the way You can insert a putty knife. It took a lot of fiddling but the result is passable and it hides the biggest defect on the dash. (BTW you can see that I'm podless.) I thought about taking pics of bottom side but it's so tedious getting these installed, I'm not going to remove them. I have been using a windshield sunshade when I'm parked so I hope the sun won't be too much trouble.

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/92...erior_007a.jpg
http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/92...erior_008a.jpg
http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/92...erior_009a.jpg
http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/92...erior_010a.jpg

AJK

I think that looks quite nice. I had the same problem and tried to fill in the area where the leather pulled away from the vent and then fill the seam with a leather putty. (I was doing the seats at the same time) It looks OK, but I'm getting some new cracking. Your solution will be permanent.

Tom. M

That does look great....now if someone could make one that fits across both vents (like the later model GTS vent insert) and that tapers to a flush fit all the way round ...would be cool....something like Jagers overlay kit...thinner and tapered to be flush would be cool....

Later,
Tom
89GT

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Thanks guys. The covers are 1/4" thick at the interior edge and 1/8" thick near the windshield. The edges are softened so in real life they look quite thin. You need a certain thickness to cover the raised, shrunken leather, and for structural integrity. It was a real bear fitting these to each vent. I thought about making it as one continuous cover, but now I'm glad I didn't because I don't think I could get all 4 edges engaged at the same time. It would look awfully nice though.

Imo000

Very clever, looks good!

ACG

Looks great!!!

CaseyH

Great idea, it'd be awesome if somebody would start manufacturing these things in other materials as well...

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Casey,
Thanks. Actually the wood matches my interior, but you could use a fine-grained, stable wood such as maple or poplar, and paint it to match the interior color or whatever you might want. Clear coat it and it should be pretty nice.

CaseyH

Jager has something similar, but they aren't big enough to cover up the peeling leather. And, for some reason that I don't understand, it says they don't work on leather dashes.
http://jageng.com/garage9/product_in...c626483ac19ffe

But, I'm going to get the brushed aluminum package so I would need to get aluminum to match.

heinrich

I think that looks great.

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

I made a removable center piece to join the two vent covers. It cleans it up a little and gives it the look of one sweep of wood. I haven't decided whether I like it as two pices or one connected assembly. See pics

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/92...erior_014a.jpg

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/92...erior_012a.jpg

Thanks for looking

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Hi,
I'm sure most are bored by this, but I took some of your suggestions and made a single vent cover for both defroster areas. I tapered the ends a bit more and I chose a more highly figured piece of wood which matches my other interior accents. The overall effect is very clean and looks to me like a factory wood option component that might have been offered but never was.

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/92...erior_015a.jpg
http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/92...erior_019a.jpg

Thanks for looking

Alan

Dave - you have been a busy guy!

Nice work... I assume this means someone can pick up the 2 half versions & bridge too...?

I don't need one - but you should have a ready supply of those that do - it can always be painted right?

Alan

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Thanks Alan,

I have the 2 half versions in ebony w/matching bridge. I have contacted Jager to see if they would like to make these in metal on their CNC equipment. We'll see if they go anywhere.
I have the jigs to make either version, the 2 halves or the single full width. I just made the bridge as a one-off to see if the full width would be nicer. I really think it is.
I don't know what the rules are about providing a service or product to members in small quantity, but if Randy allows, I'd be happy to discuss making these for someone in wood of their choice or primed for painting. The cost would be material plus a very nominal charge for my labor of about 2 hours.
The ebony ones have about $60 worth of materials in them so it would be a shame to paint them.

Again, thanks for your interest