Dash, are these cracks repairable?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 8
From: Redruth Cornwall
Dash, are these cracks repairable?
Moved the old girl so I could clean out the garage and took some warts and all pics of her. The dash has a couple of cracks about 2 inches long on the top front edge. Are these repairable and if so with what? I will probably end up changing the interior color so the dash would be dyed anyway so hopefully this would help mask any repairs.
Also, should there be a solid bar across the bottom of this part of the dash?
Also, should there be a solid bar across the bottom of this part of the dash?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
I repaired cracks a lot worse than that on my C2 with one of those vinyl repair kits from JC Whitney... around 1982. The cracks never re-appeared. I did however use DuPont paint and flexible additive to paint the entire dash. When I was done, you could not see where there had been any cracks... and it's still that way. The color (saddle) had to be mixed.. instructions were in the kit.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
1) That crack can be patched with some Bondo polyester body putty. Just mask off everything but the crack and about 1/8" around it. Use finger or flat stick to spread putty into the crack. There will be some that smears on the adjacent surface. Wipe excess off with finger but keep filled area from getting low. After about 2-3 minutes, use a fiber brush (toothbrush?) to lightly work across the crack to level the surface down and reveal any graining in the surface. When you get it to look OK, let it dry completely. Then re-color with vinyl dye (NOT PAINT!!!). If you get the dye mixed to match that dash pad, you can just use a small paint brush to recolor the patched area.
2) It appears that you have the plastic cover. But the lower portion has a metal plate/strip that runs from one side to the other. It has the (2) manual override vacuum switches for the wiper door and headlights and the wiper motor cut-off switch mounted to it (for '68-72 car).
2) It appears that you have the plastic cover. But the lower portion has a metal plate/strip that runs from one side to the other. It has the (2) manual override vacuum switches for the wiper door and headlights and the wiper motor cut-off switch mounted to it (for '68-72 car).
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 8
From: Redruth Cornwall
Thanks for the replies. If I can salvage the original then I think I will. Not sure how well the after market dashes fit. I did see a cover that you glue over your exisitng dash for about $120.....Any one used one and got it to look good?
Yes mine is a 79.
Am in need of the pad below the steering wheel as bubba has made several holes in mine for electric switches! Can any one post a link to a supplier please or just tell me what they are called. I couldnt find any when I tried looking. Mind you, I guess if Im dyeing the interior I may be able to repair it?
Yes mine is a 79.
Am in need of the pad below the steering wheel as bubba has made several holes in mine for electric switches! Can any one post a link to a supplier please or just tell me what they are called. I couldnt find any when I tried looking. Mind you, I guess if Im dyeing the interior I may be able to repair it?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 8
From: Redruth Cornwall
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Mine had similar cracks (1980) and a 1/2" hole on the left side of the instrument cluster. I used a flexible bumper repair kit. It has 2 tubes like JB Weld and you mix it and go to work. Just dab some on your finger and wipe it across the split like was already suggested. For the hole I used super glue to harden the foam on the underside of the skin, then filled it in with the flexible bumper stuff.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Here is a pic of the lower cover your missing and you can find them at the link below.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=18678
http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=18678
