dashboard

[moelll]

while doing a small cleaning, i noticed two hair-line cracks on the dash, above the stereo housing. one is around .5 inch and the other is 1.5 inches long. obviously i do not want to rip out the dash for two hair-line cracks, so is there a way to fill those cracks and make itr look good too?

[negusm]

I have used two part epoxy and a sheet of fiberglass "fabric" to repair my dash before but that was with it out.

One way might be to use JBWeld. It comes in two parts too. Mix together, smear it into the crack as bet you can (get some on the back with your finger too if you can). Then use some water and rub aways any excess on the outside. It is water soluable until it sets up.

-Mike

[v8only]

lol, if they are small enough, some 50resto paint may spray right over those cracks :)

[moelll]

hmm, i like the JB weld idea. i might be able to acess the hole from the back if i remove the stereo

thanks for the advice

[negusm]

If you do use JBWeld, it dries light grey.

You will need to paint it....or live with it.

If you can get the radio out and are agile enough, maybe try the two part epoxy and do it from the inside...that stuff dries clear.

-Mike

[85 Notchback]

OH OH ME FIRST.

Use that expanding foam sealer!!!! It works reeeaaalll goood. Then just spray paint over it with the original color (or close to it).

Calon

[negusm]

OH OH ME FIRST.

Use that expanding foam sealer!!!! It works reeeaaalll goood. Then just spray paint over it with the original color (or close to it).

Calon

I think he means the hard plastic dash.....no?

-Mike

[85 Notchback]

OH OH ME FIRST.

Use that expanding foam sealer!!!! It works reeeaaalll goood. Then just spray paint over it with the original color (or close to it).

Calon

I think he means the hard plastic dash.....no?

-Mike

Yeah he does. I guess I should explain a bit more thourough.

Fill the cracks with expanding foam sealer, shave both sides smooth with a razor blade, lightly sand it, and spray... It makes it look like nothing was ever cracked...

[Dean_T]

Would 2 part epoxy be strong enough for supporting the dash? My '84's dash shell is busted where it bolts at the base of the windshield. The center piece (which has a steel piece bolted to it) is completely separated! It would be a lot easier to slap epoxy (and maybe some fiberglas) all over the top than to rip out the dash, transfer all the guts to a donor shell, then wrestle it into place. Either way, I have to figure out why the dash won't go closer than about an 1" towards the windshield/cowl base without forcing it.

Dean T

[negusm]

Fill the cracks with expanding foam sealer, shave both sides smooth with a razor blade, lightly sand it, and spray... It makes it look like nothing was ever cracked...

Yeah, but I doubt the foam isn't going to do anything to keep the cracks from getting worse. I don't think I would go that route, myself....but I suppose it is an option.

When I repaired my first replacement dash, I used either some kit with the fiberglass "fabric" and a two part epoxy, or more likely made my own "kit" from some stuff we had laying around. When we pulled the dash to replace it with a NOS one, the repair was still really really strong. And I was very impressed with how strong that fabric made it.

I still have that old dash as its in "decent" shape. I replaced it because two tabs where the dash/gauge bezel mount were busted. I got some tabs hacked out of a destroyed dash and bonded them in place with some "Wonder Puddy" and Modeler's Mastic. That repair seems to be exceedingly strong too....that dash sits in the spare parts area.

-Mike

[mfstang]

Does anyone know where I can find a NOS dash for an '81. Mine is cracked in about a million different places.