928man

I want to fix up a leather dash without pulling it out, jager sells a dash leather cover that lays on the dash as a carpeted one would, looks nice but is still a cover.($200) Am I better off getting a plastic dash cap($100) & who makes the best one? & can it be installed effectively without dash removal, also if later I want to remove it are they easy to remove? The pod is good as is. Any suggestions?

tmpusfugit

I don't have a recommendation on what to buy, but I do have one on what not to buy...the plastic caps are a complete waste of money. i had one on my first 928, it was all wrinkled up, but it had sat out in the hot Texas sun for 4 years, more or less abandoned.

So I figured a plastic cap for my 3rd 928 would be good for a season or so. I removed the dash and installed the plastic cap per the instructions. Used plenty glue per the instructions, left it clamped for 24 hours, at the recommended temperature. The second day I had the car out and on the street this spring the cover warped all over the place. Save the $100+ and don't go for plastic...

928man

Jim: Maybe I'm better off going with the leather lay on cover, the car is not going to be garaged & will be outside all the time, although Penna is not like the western desert. Thanks, Bill

David Wilson

928man
What color dash cover do You need ? I have a brown leather one.

928man

The interior is black, but thanks .

ilikebig928butts

oh! oh! oh! *raise hand*
I need a brown one just like that!

_________________________
'84 AT 928S "Red"
To do list: Transmission, brakes, suspensions, belts, electrical exorcism, fubar'd dash and bodywork.

Podguy

One option is to get a vinyl cover from Rob if he is still making them. it will look like leather and probably last longer. I agree the caps do not work and they look like crap. At least I have never seen one work.

Removing the dash is not that big a deal. About an hour to hour and a half. There are a lot of things you can clean up when it is out.

danglerb

Live with it until you can fix it properly. Once the leather shrinks, its doesn't unshrink it needs to be replaced to fix it. If it has to stay outside maybe look into a quality cover for the whole car?

928 Is My Favorite Time of Day

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

tmpusfugit

In my very limited experience with plastic caps (2 cars) warping is only one problem. Another problem has to do with the accuracy of the original fit of the plastic to the dash itself, as well as the pod. There are places where the plastic is hard against the dash and other places where there are gaps of more than 1/4" when everything is in place as it should be. The fit around the pod switches required all sorts of grinding to fit the switches.

I suspect a couple of layers of fiberglass cloth properly applied could minimize warpage, but the cover has to flex quite a bit to install it in the first place....also, the heat of the fiberglass resin setting might well warp the cover unless you had a mold in which it waas allowed to dry/harden....

I just last week ordered up a spare (old/cracked) dash and pod from Mark Benton, just to test out some other ideas I have regarding "dash fixes". While I like the leather dashes as done by Paul, Rob, etc, I am a bit put off by the wait as well as the difficulties and costs of shipping, as well as having my car out of service for some period of time.

I just don't see the plastic panels to be a good solution for me....I am usually pretty inventive and handy, but not with the panels I have.... YMMV.

Warren928

I've used the plastic dash cap before, and I leave my windows cracked if I park it outside, and living in the upper part of the country may help. I haven't seen any warping and it's been 8 years. I bought a pebble finished one that is semi-glossy. I agree the plastic ones are not the best looking, but I can't see using leather on anything but a car that does not get alot of outdoor exposure, or taking precautions like using the cracked windows method, leather conditioning often and a reflective windshield heat barrier when parked.

chrly924s

Ive taken the warped dash caps off both my cars. Local guy has a hotrod
trim shop recovered both dashes in leather for $85 ea labor. The auto grade leather was about $130.
Short of recovering, I would prefer a lay on cover.

928man

Don't know which way I'll go but thanks for all the advice, everybody!

David Wilson

Ilikebig928butts

I sent you a private message. I also have floor mats.

GlenL

Get your dash recovered in real, beautiful leather. You can get the leather dash already cut and sewn and install it yourself or send the dash in to be done. Sure, we're talking hundreds of bucks either way but you'll love it. Plastic looks like crap. Leather looks like Porsche.