1996 Dashpad idea
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 557
Likes: 105
1996 Dashpad idea
Hello,
I have a 1996 LT4 and the dash pad is a total mess from many years of sitting in the sun before I got it and more since then. It drives me nuts makes me feel like the car is crap. It's cracked all around the defrost vent and curling at the edges. It gasses off and makes my glass so nasty inside. I have looked at many replacements and they usually run around $450-500 but aren't in good condition for that price and need another $150 in shipping due to the bulk. Buying one of those will put me in the same spot in a couple of years.
I had a thought. I can do fiberglass molding. I have some experience with it. Both in making female molds and or repairs to the outside surface. My thought was take out the existing pad use kits to repair it and get it as close to straight as possible. With it on my work bench I can heat corners roll them back into place and get it as straight as possible. Then glue any delamitated areas back together. While the dash pad is out I will go ahead and disconnect the airbag and install a resistor to trick the light/sensor. Once I have the surface to my liking I will cover it in shrink wrap. Then apply heavy weave fiberglass with a roller and little heat to conform it and get it nice and neat and make sure it wraps around the whole dash. Then apply a liberal coat of West Systems 105 epoxy with 24 hour hardener. Once cured I will come back and fill and sand it as if to paint it. Trim away all excess. Now I have a fiberglass cap on my existing pad. Mount it back in the car to make sure it all fits. At this point I can paint it black and clear it with mat finish. Will that clear stand up to the heat of the sun through the windshield? Can the epoxy handle the heat? I live in Dallas TX it's always hot here. Or instead of painting it I could use my nicely filled fiberglass dash pad cap and make a female mold of it. That is why I would wrap the original pad with shrink wrap so it doesn't get destroyed. Once I have made the female mold I can vacuum pull a carbon dash cap that will slip onto my pad and mount back into the car. Pulling the part with a vacuum will give it a flawless finish right out of the mold. I think it would look cool.
Is this too much to do about nothing? Should I attempt it or just get a carpet dash pad cover from Central Corvette for $80.00 and be done with it. This would be a fall project.
Let me know what you think.
I have a 1996 LT4 and the dash pad is a total mess from many years of sitting in the sun before I got it and more since then. It drives me nuts makes me feel like the car is crap. It's cracked all around the defrost vent and curling at the edges. It gasses off and makes my glass so nasty inside. I have looked at many replacements and they usually run around $450-500 but aren't in good condition for that price and need another $150 in shipping due to the bulk. Buying one of those will put me in the same spot in a couple of years.
I had a thought. I can do fiberglass molding. I have some experience with it. Both in making female molds and or repairs to the outside surface. My thought was take out the existing pad use kits to repair it and get it as close to straight as possible. With it on my work bench I can heat corners roll them back into place and get it as straight as possible. Then glue any delamitated areas back together. While the dash pad is out I will go ahead and disconnect the airbag and install a resistor to trick the light/sensor. Once I have the surface to my liking I will cover it in shrink wrap. Then apply heavy weave fiberglass with a roller and little heat to conform it and get it nice and neat and make sure it wraps around the whole dash. Then apply a liberal coat of West Systems 105 epoxy with 24 hour hardener. Once cured I will come back and fill and sand it as if to paint it. Trim away all excess. Now I have a fiberglass cap on my existing pad. Mount it back in the car to make sure it all fits. At this point I can paint it black and clear it with mat finish. Will that clear stand up to the heat of the sun through the windshield? Can the epoxy handle the heat? I live in Dallas TX it's always hot here. Or instead of painting it I could use my nicely filled fiberglass dash pad cap and make a female mold of it. That is why I would wrap the original pad with shrink wrap so it doesn't get destroyed. Once I have made the female mold I can vacuum pull a carbon dash cap that will slip onto my pad and mount back into the car. Pulling the part with a vacuum will give it a flawless finish right out of the mold. I think it would look cool.
Is this too much to do about nothing? Should I attempt it or just get a carpet dash pad cover from Central Corvette for $80.00 and be done with it. This would be a fall project.
Let me know what you think.
