Dash pad speaker repair
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 140
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From: Sunnyvale TX
Dash pad speaker repair
HI
the speaker holes in my dash pad are very brittle and starting to split
has anybody come up with a way to fix this to stop it from comming apart? or maby is there a kind of plastic cover (dye to match) that can be put over it to cover the tear out in the mesh?
the speaker holes in my dash pad are very brittle and starting to split
has anybody come up with a way to fix this to stop it from comming apart? or maby is there a kind of plastic cover (dye to match) that can be put over it to cover the tear out in the mesh?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
There are plastic covers available but they are for the whole dash, and not just the speakers. I had the same problem with my dash so I wrapped mine in black leather to match the rest of the interior.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 140
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From: Sunnyvale TX
it doesnt look too bad right now but it is EXTREMELY fragile
ive been thinking of lookng for a rectangluar plastic speaker cover or something thats 1/8 inch think and dying it to match the dash pad and placing them on top to see how it looks. i think if i did that it would generally keep the uniform look of the pad but i havent found anything yet
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
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From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
I layered some super glue along the rips that have seems and plan to file it down then hit it with some dye. I don't have a missing chunk like you do tho. Without the missing piece I'm not sure what I would do.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 140
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From: Sunnyvale TX
thanks for the replys
I do have an old dash pad, in much worse condition that is why i bought this one to replace couldnt justify buying a whole new one when this one was perfecct after redye w/ just this one speaker cover problem for 1/3 the price. maby i could splice a piece in. is there naything you could put underneath to support it like hardware cloth or something
i tried superglueing all the rips back together, while holding it for the glue to dry, others grew so i stopped immiediately
im sure im not hte only one who has had this problem
shouldnt there be a low profile aftermarket speaker cover that can be placed over it?
I do have an old dash pad, in much worse condition that is why i bought this one to replace couldnt justify buying a whole new one when this one was perfecct after redye w/ just this one speaker cover problem for 1/3 the price. maby i could splice a piece in. is there naything you could put underneath to support it like hardware cloth or something
i tried superglueing all the rips back together, while holding it for the glue to dry, others grew so i stopped immiediately
im sure im not hte only one who has had this problem
shouldnt there be a low profile aftermarket speaker cover that can be placed over it?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Rochester New York
I don't know if this would be any help, but my '81 has plastic grills that kinda snap into the dash top - maybe you could neatly trim out an area the size of the grill, and attach it from underneath? You would be completely cutting out all the old funkyness and after putting the new grills in noone would really look twice at it if it was trimmed neatly, maybe you could even put some kind of edge around it? I don't know, just an idea.
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Vikersund
Hi !
I have done it as following:
1. removed the dash pad
2. fixed the cracks with super glue ( you can replace the holes with parts from the old one )
3. soacked the whole hole section with super glue from the backside
4. I bought some glassfiber for boat repair ( not the woven one ) and splittet it to just one glassfiber layer and cutted it to the right shape.
5.soaked it with polyester ( not to extensive) outside of the dash board and then put it on the speaker opening from the backside.
- it`s important to split the glassfiber mat into the thinest possible layer and soack it not too extensive with the polyester for not to close the holes in the dash and that the polyester not flow over to the outside of the dashboard.
If you have no experience with the glassfiber so make some tests with the whole procedure outside of the dashboard.
I have warmed up the dash pad a little for to improve flexibility.
Cheers, Marius.
I have done it as following:
1. removed the dash pad
2. fixed the cracks with super glue ( you can replace the holes with parts from the old one )
3. soacked the whole hole section with super glue from the backside
4. I bought some glassfiber for boat repair ( not the woven one ) and splittet it to just one glassfiber layer and cutted it to the right shape.
5.soaked it with polyester ( not to extensive) outside of the dash board and then put it on the speaker opening from the backside.
- it`s important to split the glassfiber mat into the thinest possible layer and soack it not too extensive with the polyester for not to close the holes in the dash and that the polyester not flow over to the outside of the dashboard.
If you have no experience with the glassfiber so make some tests with the whole procedure outside of the dashboard.
I have warmed up the dash pad a little for to improve flexibility.
Cheers, Marius.
Last edited by c373; May 17, 2008 at 06:21 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 221
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From: Methuen Ma
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Sorry, I must have switched off the subscription to this thread. The leather was actually quite thin, and stretched easily to contour around the ends. I'm not totally happy and would rather just find a '69 dash pad with no speaker cutouts.
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 221
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From: Methuen Ma
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 398
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From: Sacramento California
Also, if you go to a reputable stereo shop they should be able to fabricate small grills to cover the factory vents. You could also do this your self if you can find grill cloth that closely matches your dash pad color.
Kelly
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
When I pulled mine out of the '69 it was a tight fit. Was it difficult to get yours back in with the added thickness of the new cover?
Also, if you go to a reputable stereo shop they should be able to fabricate small grills to cover the factory vents. You could also do this your self if you can find grill cloth that closely matches your dash pad color.
Kelly
Also, if you go to a reputable stereo shop they should be able to fabricate small grills to cover the factory vents. You could also do this your self if you can find grill cloth that closely matches your dash pad color.
Kelly
I never went the cap route, but the cap can be installed with the dash IN the car. Makes it a very easy install.
The problem with making grill covers is they were originally PART of the covering...just punched holes, so making a grill cover would not sit flush and would sit on top of the covering. I don't like the way that looks so I went the route of just re-wrapping until I could find a dash pad with no speaker holes.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
Seems like useing a dash cap would be about as cheaply that it could be done and still look well. Seen them for about $139. But I have not seen a cap installed on a car that I knew was a cap anyway to know how good they look.
Advanced
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Just took the one off of my car..The person who installed it did a pretty crappy job but, If you take your time and it could look well done but it your **** retentive you will not be happy tho
