Dash caps or Leather lay on dash cover?
#16
Racer
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GlenL: Yes, the car has real leather now, its only bad around the vents, it is the best, I could order the pre cut leather kit & have a professional install it locally, cost more but it is the best, I'm gonna call local upholsterers & see if anybody would be willing to do the labor part of it, I'd never attempt it myself,Thanks, Bill
#17
Nordschleife Master
Picking up a spare dash and fiddling with it until you are happy with it instead of pulling yours and leaving the car dashless for weeks is the way to go.
I suspect putting the cover on is critical, so I would opt for cost of shipping and have Rob or Paul do the install unless a local trimmer has some excellent similar work they can show you.
I suspect putting the cover on is critical, so I would opt for cost of shipping and have Rob or Paul do the install unless a local trimmer has some excellent similar work they can show you.
#18
Instructor
Speaking of re-upholster... Anyone in so-cal (LA) recognize this piece of work? I guess someone along the line of succession (before me) decided to go to town with a box cutter on the dash... But this was re-uphostered *already* undoing two layers of fuglies ain't gonna be fun... A plastic cap ain't gonna go over that for sure.
#19
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Whoa - how did you end-up with a car like this? Most would run at the sight of this...
As to the leather covers - I would say it depends on the climate you're in.
If you park your car in the dry California or Arizona sun a lot, the leather cover will sooner or later dry and shrink as leather tends to do. In this case, synthetic materials are more durable.
But if you are in an area of moderate summers, and try to cover an ugly dash until maybe some day you'll fix it, then the leather can be a nice solution.
As to the leather covers - I would say it depends on the climate you're in.
If you park your car in the dry California or Arizona sun a lot, the leather cover will sooner or later dry and shrink as leather tends to do. In this case, synthetic materials are more durable.
But if you are in an area of moderate summers, and try to cover an ugly dash until maybe some day you'll fix it, then the leather can be a nice solution.
#20
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About those plastic dash caps, has anyone ever tried to reinforce them from underneath with fiberglass or maybe strips of plastic to give them more strength and rigidity? That way they would be less prone to warp once installed. Just wondering as I have a brand new set in a box I'd like to use on my '83, but have been hesitant due to all the negative information I've read about warping in a very short time. I live in Pennsylvania with cold winters and hot summers, but nothing like AZ or TX. Thanks, Joe
Of course for the pods and dashes I do, there are a couple more steps that give a deeper texture and a longer life. But this will get you a pretty good looking vinyl dash and pod. For large areas to fill household foam that comes in a can can be used to fill and shape.
#22
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#23
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One of the DFW 928 guys has an early car with this dash and pod cover. It fits like a glove. I thought at first that it was factory vinyl. It looks great. It sits flat when it's cool, but has a small bulge when it's been parked out in the sun. He figures it's due to expansion, and says that if he had it to do again, he'd leave the portion near the vents unglued to leave room for expansion.
My dash and pod had horrible leather which I removed. A proper Rob Budd interior would cost more than I paid for the car. So, went with Plasti-Dip worked with a texture roller. It's a good 10-foot job, but this cover is bound to be an improvement. If I can get Kevin's fiberglass rear quarters at Frenzy, I might work on redoing the interior this winter.
My dash and pod had horrible leather which I removed. A proper Rob Budd interior would cost more than I paid for the car. So, went with Plasti-Dip worked with a texture roller. It's a good 10-foot job, but this cover is bound to be an improvement. If I can get Kevin's fiberglass rear quarters at Frenzy, I might work on redoing the interior this winter.
#25
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