Dashboard Do's and Dont's

[Neo Yakra]

i have a cracked dash on my 240 and i have been brain storming solutions... i could buy a new one (even at whole sale its like 900bucks total) i could get a salvaged one...(prob 150-200 for a nice one) or... perhaps i could use it as a gauge platform? or maybe? a few ideas or personal experiences would be great...

[ALTRNTV]

Get one at the junkyard, or one from here under the classifieds. Most uncracked ones go for around $100.

[andy31144]

Be cool and get one made out of carbon fiber.

[yokotas13]

or fiberglass your own

[TipStylez]

or be cheap and go get the carbon fiber dash cover on ebay to make it look like your dash is full carbon.

[ThatGuy]

Remember if you do go far a fiberglass or carbon fiber dash, to up your life insurance. That when we the sun reflects off that glossy surface and blinds you just before you swerve into on-coming traffic, your family will be taken care of. At least they can keep your car show trophies, though.

If you don't like your cracked dash, buy a new/used dah with no cracks and DON'T Armor-All it.

[ALTRNTV]

Say no to Armor-All!

[alexchanman]

junkyard that badboy

[P4rD0nM3]

Junkyard. $5 bucks (In Grand Junction) Any part you want except the whole engine.

[S14DB]

Remember if you do go far a fiberglass or carbon fiber dash, to up your life insurance. That when we the sun reflects off that glossy surface and blinds you just before you swerve into on-coming traffic, your family will be taken care of. At least they can keep your car show trophies, though.
I've seen guys with custom dash mats and covers for their Glass parts when not at the show. The glass scratches and fades easily.

But I'm sure there are some less than smart people that drive around with out them...

[S13SilviaGirl]

But I'm sure there are some less than smart people


hahahahaha speaking the truth!


and yes Armor All KILLS interiors and makes them shit, not the shit...McGuires Shine protectant iirc is what I use and it smells good too.!

[g6civcx]

My dash is perfect now, but the previous one was cracked, and the previous owner spray painted it glossy black.

I am going with a custom non-glossy aluminium dash for easier gauge mounting.

[ManoNegra]

$30 at the junkyard + stencil knife + bleeding thumb = HUD dash in my case.

[sushimonster]

my dash cracked due to vinyl protectant
i covered it with a magic mat but it reflects on the window
so i guesss im jsut gonna put a huge sticker or something lol

[EroGori]

i got a vinyl repair kit for mine. wish me luck!!! i'll post pics if it looks good.

[exitspeed]

If you don't like your cracked dash, buy a new/used dah with no cracks and DON'T Armor-All it.

Really? Don't Armor-All? I've always armor-alled all my cars.

[trsilvias13]

tint your window to keep inside the cabin cooler. That way the heat does not sink into your dash. The dash wont be as brittle.

[TipStylez]

^Keep it away from any direct sunlight for a long peroid of time.

[A Spec Products]

use meguiars vinyl protectant

that stuff is the shit

i put globs of it on and rub it in

i GREEEZE that bitch up

[2iv0 sx]

^even if the dash is HARD n DRY? (like mine)

since its summer now, small cracks are starting to form on my dash

[vspec15]

Say no to Armor-All!
Word up.:boink: And one thing i try to do is use my sun shield. Hopefully this actually reduces heat on the dashboards, which should prevent crackage. Correct me if im wrong. Anyone use tire shine? Any good or stay away?

[ALTRNTV]

Anyone use tire shine? Any good or stay away?

If you're worried about your tires cracking from the tire shine, you're not driving hard enough, since you'll replace your tires so often for the cracks to be worrysome. :bigok:

lol

[FRpilot]

$30 at the junkyard + stencil knife + bleeding thumb = HUD dash in my case.

dont you mean...

$30 at the junkyard + stencil knife = bleeding thumb + HUD dash

[ManoNegra]

Hey, the superbowl was on and I was rushing.... lol
Besides, thumb eventually stopped bleeding.

[CaoBoY]

meguires quick interior detailer for the win! it cleans it up, but doesnt make it all SHINEY SHINEY so you die afterwards.

[redsuns3838]

yeah i try to put meguiars protectant on it once every 2 weeks and i always put my sunshade up. i have a small crack in it but its not worth buying a new dash for 100+ and its just a thin crack like 4 inches long,

anyone know what i can do to keep it from splitting further? I was thinking about putting some kind of glue in it to hold it together but i dunno if that would help anything.

[SiI40sx]

just be a baller and rap it in suede material, I plan on doing it =)

[Dutchmalmiss]

i use a windex-sprayed cloth or just a damp cloth to keep it clean everyonce in a while. then cover it with beach towels and sunshade when under the sun!!!!

[S13SilviaGirl]

Really? Don't Armor-All? I've always armor-alled all my cars.


NOOOOOOOOO Armor All...It has chemicals in it that dry out your tires/dash anything you put it on, not to mention it leaves this greasy feeling and a horrid smell in the car. Meguiars is the shit and smells AWESOME!!!

[S14DB]

I use the 3M stuff. Yes it's expensive, but it lasts about a month between applications. Has a nice dull finish and has softened up some of the dry spots on my DD.

[2iv0 sx]

^What exactly do you use? thats what i need, something to soften up the dash.

[TipStylez]

Take it out and steam wash it then hose it down. Then just wash with a damp cloth once in a whle.

[95zilvia]

Dash mat :)

[S14DB]

^What exactly do you use? thats what i need, something to soften up the dash.
3M Refresh, it tends to be hard to find and expensive. But only putting it on once a month the bottle lasts forever. Just don't get the pine sent. Smells great but gets old day after day...

[BayS13]

i found my black uncracked dash on the sidewalk in oakland. pretty sweet, but it was covered in bird poop

[2iv0 sx]

Thanks! the 3M Refresh is hard to find.. been tryna google it couldnt find anything, but I did find another 3M product thats similar.

Its 3M Leather and Vinyl Cleaner and Restorer (http://www.autogeek.net/3mleatvincle.html). $9 on Amazon.

Hopefully it helps the dash. :x:

[S14DB]

SHould look like this:
http://www.blastmart.com/product_image.php?imageid=368
http://www.blastmart.com/customer/product.php?productid=260&cat=55&page=2

[Enjin]

daaaaaaamn pulling a dash out and installing a new one is such a biatch.

its not hard.

its just... tedious. lol have fun :)

[KA24DESOneThree]

Alcantara. Be rally.

[rsxrcr87]

+1 for 3M refresh i Love the bottle i have and i hope i can find another when this one runs out. and it does Not attract dust like everything else i have used

[sked707]

Yeah check out your local junkyard. i've seen some pretty good ones
when i go. and what's the deal with armor all? I've been using it for years and
have yet to see any cracks on my dash. Although i do admit it does leave
that crappy greasy residue like s13silviagirl mentioned.

[ThatGuy]

The true problem with Amor All appears when you stop using it. The chemical makeup of it removes the natural moisture of the vinyl, so that it relies on Amor All to stay soft. When you stop using it, the vinyl no longer gets the moisture from Amor All and cracks and degrades. It's Amor Alls way of making you continue to buy their product.

[kognition]

Put some manmade suede on it.

[KA24DESOneThree]

Put some manmade suede on it.

That's a +1 for alcantara.

Seriously... alcantara ain't just for showcars; rally and race cars use it as well. Cuts glare to just about nil.

[SR240DET]

anybody know how to stick some man made suede on to the dash? What would the upholstery shop do to put it on the dash?

[kognition]

I don't know. But i you should ask a shop. My safe bet would be on CLEAR silicone in case you want to remove it down the road. The silicone rubs off, wheras something like Gorrila Glue would not. Personally i would go with clear silicone from Home Depot. It can handle high temps with no bubbling or weird crap. And when laying it down, just wear rubber gloves and rub it on in a consistent thin layer. If you can get more hands to lay it out faster, that would be better. And take the dash out of the car to do this. It will be a cleaner job. Degrease your dash first with a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol.

anybody know how to stick some man made suede on to the dash? What would the upholstery shop do to put it on the dash?

[koukimonster139]

...silicon is the ingredient in Armor-All and some other products that promotes cracking on your dash when it gets hot. Buy a dash cap or mat. I wouldnt recomend buying a new dash. Invest your money elsewhere that is actually useful. its just a 240sx....

[Nismo240SX]

i have two dashes, one that is in the car is cracked all to hell, the other is chipping. anyone have pics of a dash mat in a s13... to top it off blue? thanks.

[kognition]

I don't know if cured silicone and liquid silicone in Armor All would have the same properties. I could be wrong.

...silicon is the ingredient in Armor-All and some other products that promotes cracking on your dash when it gets hot. Buy a dash cap or mat. I wouldnt recomend buying a new dash. Invest your money elsewhere that is actually useful. its just a 240sx....

[240-Trevor]

If you want a cheaper/easier to find alterative, I use this... New Again Interior lotion I've been using It for about 4 months now, still nice and oily since the day I put It on.

http://www.detailcity.com/new-again.html

Best part about It Is, you can usually find It at the local autoparts store or G.I. Joes etc.

They also make a Black Again Exterior lotion that makes faded exterior trim and plastic pieces shine again, I've never tried this stuff though.

[koukimonster139]

I don't know if cured silicone and liquid silicone in Armor All would have the same properties. I could be wrong.

i dunno either...i was just sayin Armor All is the devil.

[420sx]

i dont think i cleaned my dash in a while since i started tracking the car. but armor all does make it dry out.

[SR240DET]

I don't know. But i you should ask a shop. My safe bet would be on CLEAR silicone in case you want to remove it down the road. The silicone rubs off, wheras something like Gorrila Glue would not. Personally i would go with clear silicone from Home Depot. It can handle high temps with no bubbling or weird crap. And when laying it down, just wear rubber gloves and rub it on in a consistent thin layer. If you can get more hands to lay it out faster, that would be better. And take the dash out of the car to do this. It will be a cleaner job. Degrease your dash first with a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol.

thats the problem i live in bum fuck nowhere florida and we dont have shops like that around here. My s14 dash is cracked so i need something to cover it up for good.