Fox_

I finally got around to pulling the dash.

It'd been recovered once before and what was left of that actually looked pretty professional. However there wasn't much left of that recovering job.

I spent an hour peeling old vinyl off and this is what I'm left with.

I've heard the fiberglass bondo does pretty well. Has anyone done this before? Anyone have any suggestions?

Rob Edwards

1.

http://www.classic9leathershop.com/9...r-porsche-928/

2.

http://www.classicnineleathershop.co...structions.pdf

soontobered84

What you're probably seeing is the factory leather covering that was installed over the original factory vinyl burgundy covering.

Fox_

That thought crossed my mind as well.

I'm not so arrogant as to not admit I know nothing about these vehicles. Other than what I'm learning with my hands restoring this car.

I bought some experimental materials and I'm gonna see what happens.

I'm in the middle of cleaning, knocking off all the loose foam and sanding.

Will post pictures.

Fogey1

Here are some threads I've archived over the years. Some are old enough the pix have vanished. Hope they help.

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...ow-to-fix.html
Dash Cracked? Here's How to Fix

https://rennlist.com/forums/5719220-post90.html

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...t-process.html
Rob Budd dash cover replacement process

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...ow-to-fix.html

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...-covering.html
Repair cracks in pod and dash WITHOUT covering !

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...pair-Pic-Heavy

Wisconsin Joe

Ladybug83 did a very nice writeup on it:

https://rennlist.com/forums/928/8028...h-recover.html

AirtekHVAC

This is what I got, but I have not done it yet......

docmirror

I know that filling and sanding cracks are a big part of the job, but has anyone thought about undercoating the vinyl with some extra thin foam?


I was thinking of doing the job myself, and don't mind filling and sanding, but I think with the foam under, it will take out any potential cracks showing through.

Cadillac art

The Robb Budd process includes this type of foam, and it's essential. You still need to fill the cracks though. I did mine a couple months back. It was a lot of work, but with all of the threads here, and the instructions from Classic9, it came out great.

Rob M Budd

This is a valid point.
Foam under the vinyl or leather covering does in fact stop cracks from coming back.

A theory which I think is valid is that the substrate and top covering are expanding and shrinking at different rates due to temperature and other factors resulting in cracks.

The newer Porsche dash boards in the 996, Boxster, and later cars have a layer of foam between the covering and substrate.

I started using a 1/8 inch layer of polyethylene foam on the dashboards and pods more than 10 years ago. Its sanded on all the edges to meet the contours and taper into the flat areas so it doesn't add to the dimensions.

The foam doesn't help shrinkage of the leather though. The leather still has to be treated, kept clean, and out of the sun.

I started doing 996 and Boxster dashboards about 2-3 years after they came out. All have leather shrinkage but none are cracked.

docmirror

Thanks Robb. I'm going to try it with some thin foam, and some marine vinyl since I'm in TX and my car is not garaged. It's a project I'll start in a week or so and see how it does. I can afford a few bucks for the vinyl and foam and cement to experiment a bit. If it doesn't work, I'll just call and order the correct fitted cover and do it right.

Rob M Budd

This is the foam you want to use.

docmirror

udaman Robb. Looks high density. I'll grab some up at J&J next week and have at it.

M. Requin

My first attempt at dash and pod crack repair was to use a filled 2-part polyester resin (like Tiger Hair or whatever) and it wasn't long before the cracks reappeared. My second, and successful, attempt started with a layer of n0n-woven mat, and then the hairy bondo layer. I don't garage my car, unfortunately, so it has been out in the sun for a little over a year, but with no visible deterioration. Others have used similar approaches and the ones reported here seem to have all been successful. A linky to mine: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...h-project.html

PelicanParts.com

You should post up some DIY info once you figure out what you're going to do.

-Luccia