Am considering a purchase and have done some research. Wanted to ask if anyone had any experience with any brands of kits in carbon fiber, wood, aluminum.. anything really. Just wanted to gather what i can to help me decide what finish/brand/kit i want to go with.

 

I have installed the wood on several cars, since I always liked it on my factory luxury cars. It takes alittle time and patience, just like about anything else. If I can ever get to the website to use pictures (my IP's internet server blocks uploading pictures) I could upload some shots. There are a number of reasonably priced systems out there, the biggest defining issue in quality seems to be the adhesive system, which is obviously very important. The only types I have applied used the 3M adhesive system with the peal off backing. I have installations over ten years old without a single problem. Step one in installing is to have the areas very well cleaned (especially if you have used some silicone based enhancers), start from the top and work your way down, make sure the pieces are soft and pliable (set them out in the sun on a warm/hot day util they flex easily), peel (starting from the top) down a short distance on the backing tape and gently position using the interior corners as the alignment guide (like around the radio or GIC) (this is the time to reposition if you are going to, soon after this you will be looking at a major job to try and reposition, if you even can without tearing the material), then press down firmly. Continue peeling down the back facing paper, a little at a time, pressing it in place as you go. Once you have done a couple of pieces you get the hand of it and things go much easier. Be sure to take your time and enjoy what you are doing, it will be worth it. There are only a couple of pieces that have a little trick to them, like the headlight control on my 92. Since it was a circular piece, I had to create a coule of cuts on the back paper so I could get the backing off around the dimmer control arm. The other was the almost 90 degree curve on the lower section, below the radio, but that went easy enough by making sure the piece was extra warm and soft when I applied it.

As for carbon vs. wood vs. whatever, it is a matter of personal opinion. I'll bet you can find samples of everything from the forum group.

 

Thanks for the input. Much appreciated. Do you happen to remember what brand kit you used? If you used more than one brand do they all seem to appear 'similar' in look? What i mean by that is the clearcoat or wood design underneath.

 

Second to last set I bot was thru a wholesaler, and the retail price was $550, wholesale about 300. The last came from a dealer on eb.., and I ended up paying $152 + shipping as I recall. It was one of those that had dozens of dash kits for sale at any given time, for a variety of years and models, in wood or carbon fiber look. I can't tell any difference between the two suppliers. Both used 3M adhesive and had comparable quality. And there was a substantial difference in the price - it seems those items have some really high mark up. The last one on the 92 has been on for only about 6 months, so it hasn't been tested in high temp situations, but it would seem logical that cold would be more of a challenge to the adhesive than the heat, and all of the products I have experience with use 3M for the adhesive, and I think that is what defines the standard of quality for at least keeping everything in place, and I would assume if someone wanted to create a cheap knock off that they would skimp on the adhesive as well as everything else.

 

I think they all look aweful...

BUT from all the car shows ive been to, from what I have seen..if you MUST do it, the wood kits look better than the "carbon fiber" kits.

it just doesn't look right in a C4 corvette though...wood is something you see in a caddy or something with more rounded insides like the C5 (i've seen a C5 with real (no stick on kit) light burlwood and was like WOW that looks good)

 

I think they all look aweful...

BUT from all the car shows ive been to, from what I have seen..if you MUST do it, the wood kits look better than the "carbon fiber" kits.

it just doesn't look right in a C4 corvette though...wood is something you see in a caddy or something with more rounded insides like the C5 (i've seen a C5 with real (no stick on kit) light burlwood and was like WOW that looks good)

 

to each his own i guess. For me the wood is a real 'oldschool' look.. i want to make my interior look a little flashy the way i like it. I have a few ideas but i can't seem to find a supplier that has all the pieces i need. Even worse i was thinking of going brushed alum.. some suppliers use real alum while others use a vinyl with a clearcoat. i wanted to mix 2 kits to get the coverage i want but can't find the same materials to reduce the chances of them looking way different. All the kit suppliers i found however do have real carbon fibre and im leaning to go with that.

i feel like buying them all to see them in person..... the .. visa.. is .. calling...

 

i think they look cheap. If your dash is in bad shape, it may be worth getting somthing to cover it up. When i bought my 85', it had a wood grain dash kit, cheap peice of laminated plastic.

 

I had the wood kit in my 86 vette when i bought it, I diden't like it
so I got rid of it, People tell me car looks 1000 times better without it.