help with fiberglassing dash

[cardreams]

hey guys anyone have a step by step on doing a dash like this

[samstheman]

Yep make sure u repair and glass while its in truck and inplace while glass dries it might twist so u might want a screw r two in also to keep located. If the glass dries while the pad is in different shape it wont fit back in the correct location. The paint is up to u.

[Pop's C-10]

send mooseknuckles a pm...

[85chevy86]

I pulled the cover off just leaving the foam pad alone. Then filled all the cracks with spray foam from hard ware store. Smooth the foam that I added out the best I could. Then added 3 layers of fiber glass matt making sure each layer was as level as I could get it be for adding the next. Finally a little bit of body filler, primer, and paint .

I did have to trim me gauge panel to make it fit.

[85chevy86]

Also test fit be for the final layer of fiber glass I did have to trim mine a little

[bnoon]

I've seen several how-tos online regarding how to make custom interior bits. Never really read all of them through because I was an car audio installer back in the 80's-90's and lived through the evolution of some of these processes. The very basis of it is: stretch cloth over a frame, staple (or glue/etc) in place where needed, spread resin over the cloth. Use plastic filler to smooth and finish, then either paint or cover with your favorite upholstery material.

For the stretch cloth, I like to use a thin grill cloth type because I can make the part thinner and reinforce where needed with multiple layers, while others like to do one thick coat on a fleece for strength in one shot.

[cardreams]

Originally Posted by Pop's C-10

send mooseknuckles a pm...

i did lol he has not got back to me yet

was also think of just using body fill is that posable as well ???

[85chevy86]

If you mean body fill the whole dash I would think that would crack

[DREAMER1]

The most important part is to start off with an OEM dash. No matter how beat up it is it has a metal skeleton unlike the aftermarket ones that have a weaker polyurethane frame. Thus the twisting.

[cardreams]

so do i take all the vinyl/plastic stuff off and start from that or just repair the crakes with foam and then but the body fill over top ??? just not sure how it would bound to the plastic??

[85chevy86]

take the vinyl off. I did not on the first one I did and it cracked. Also the clips that hold the dash in near the window I did not put them back in either. Are you still going to fiber glass? or just body fill?

[cardreams]

Originally Posted by 85chevy86

take the vinyl off. I did not on the first one I did and it cracked. Also the clips that hold the dash in near the window I did not put them back in either. Are you still going to fiber glass? or just body fill?

witch ever is easier lol what did you do


just took all the plastic off today look for help from some that has done it before like you lol

[jitteryguy]

I took all of the plastic off then used long strip's of glass mat dip in resin. I let it over hang all the edge's then trim'd to fit.

[cory d]

i have a real hard time finding dashed that arent rusted out by where the vin goes. how did that one turn out