How to Repair Cracked Dash

[r6_240sx]

Read my other thread, I got better results treating it as a plastic repair.

Still gotta use these afterwords:
SEM Texture Coating
SEM Color Coat (I used Landau Black)

You can find your local SEM supplier here:
SEM Products - Where to Buy (http://semaerospace.com/Suppliers.asp?p=1)

Bring the ashtray/gearbox trim in and try to match it. If your dash has faded due to the sun, it’s going to be near impossible to find a color match for the SEM Color Coat. You’re best off removing the whole dash, repairing and repainting it.

[BoostedCoupe]

WOW!!!!! this could be done to look great with the dash outside the car.

[SR240DET]

very nice :kiss: ill give it a go.

[r6_240sx]

WOW!!!!! this could be done to look great with the dash outside the car.I agree taking the dash out, repairing and repainting it is the IDEAL way to go.

Not only will you have to worry about spraying space, you can respray the whole thing and not have to worry about blending.

[BoostedCoupe]

Yup and for the people with crackes that are in hard to reach spots it would work aswell.

[xblack240x]

Wow great write-up, now I have something to do that doesn't require a lot of money haha.

[w0nderbr3ad]

subscribed! when my dash does to shit i know what i'll be doin. thank you sir.

[lolatclint]

props. i want to do it, but im too lazy.

[shinhed]

I remember the old thread and how SinisterSntra91 didn't want to share the secret to a good repair. What a douche thing to do.

Props to you, r6_240sx.

[CrimsonRockett]

I have two cracked up dashes in the garage that need repair.

Now I have something to do when my project is finished.

Thanks!

[Flicktitty]

Nice write up..
thanks.

[Joshkl]

yea dude great write up. muchos gracias.

[ThatGuy]

I nominate this for best write-up of 2009, thus far. :ddog:



Seriously though, thanks for the info. It is a welcome addition to Zilvia.net. :bow:

[memo92]

subscribed! when my dash does to shit i know what i'll be doin. thank you sir.

Yes there are many people that would rather keep this to themeselves and make a profit.

Thanks, r6_240sx.

[S-Nation S13]

lol i was just about to fill in my cracks with rtv.. and call it a day hahah GHETTO AS FUK but thanks this seems to be more legit +1 o damn no more rep system FAIL!!

[BustedS13]

i wonder how this will hold up to sun and heat compared to an oem dash.

i'm going to the junkyard to hunt down an uncracked dash for my dumpster car. but if i can't find one, i guess i'll give this a shot... once i buy my third dash, what's a good protectant?

[DrtyRat]

I nominate this for best write-up of 2009, thus far. :ddog:



Seriously though, thanks for the info. It is a welcome addition to Zilvia.net. :bow:

archives?
Nice write-up OP

[blueshark123]

i might use this when i get a 240z

[ThatGuy]

archives?


I had planned to archive it eventually. I wanted to allow people to continue to post in here, and offer other points of view or further proof of method for this technique. If I archive it now, that can't happen. :bow:

[charlie321]

I remember the old thread and how SinisterSntra91 didn't want to share the secret to a good repair. What a douche thing to do.

Props to you, r6_240sx.

yeah props, i remember that guy, showing us that he can do it, so we all ask him "how?". he comes and says he can't say, but he'll do it for a price. ugh, that was lame.

thanks again! this is a great writeup, i've always wanted to know how to do this!

[Om1kron]

fucking sweet my s14 dash just cracked for the first time in 12 years =( and my s13 dash needs fucking jesus mary and fucking joseph's ass.

[juice.def]

damn a good job and a nice write up its times like these where i think RIP +reps

[projectRDM]

I've used that same method before for years, works perfect. The texture coating is the key to getting a good grain to match. SEM products can't be beat for their quality.

[r6_240sx]

I remember the old thread and how SinisterSntra91 didn't want to share the secret to a good repair. What a douche thing to do.

Props to you, r6_240sx.Yes there are many people that would rather keep this to themeselves and make a profit.

Thanks, r6_240sx.yeah props, i remember that guy, showing us that he can do it, so we all ask him "how?". he comes and says he can't say, but he'll do it for a price. ugh, that was lame.

thanks again! this is a great writeup, i've always wanted to know how to do this!I get where they're coming from and why they wouldn't want to post how. But to me they shouldn't be worried.

Doing this correctly is truly a skill. Getting the texture and blending properly is what makes it really difficult and why I would pay someone else to do it. The only problem for me is that my car is in the middle of butt fucking nowhere in socal (yes it is actually possible), so I was off to fend for myself.

i wonder how this will hold up to sun and heat compared to an oem dash.

i'm going to the junkyard to hunt down an uncracked dash for my dumpster car. but if i can't find one, i guess i'll give this a shot... once i buy my third dash, what's a good protectant?Anything should be good, just stay away from Armor-All (aka Harm-it-all). You just need to lube up the dash again since you used Wax and Grease remover for this procedure.

I've used that same method before for years, works perfect. The texture coating is the key to getting a good grain to match. SEM products can't be beat for their quality.Have you had any cracks?

[superbraut]

deleting .

[Shokinem]

mad props im gona try this on my dodges dash

[projectRDM]

Have you had any cracks?

None that I know of. I sold most of the dashes I've repaired. The main thing is to just keep moisture in the dash, wiping it with a wet rag once in a while is all a dash really needs. These fools who never touch the dash with anything will always experience cracks because they dry out.

[r6_240sx]

Good to know!

Mine didn't crack because of that reason though. :wtc:

[driven_]

Good to know!

Mine didn't crack because of that reason though. :wtc:

did you slam someone's head on it?

haha.

mine was clean.

and i miss it =(

[r6_240sx]

LOL, if you only knew.

[punk138]

this is awesome!

i just got two hairline cracks on my s13.

thanks a bunch.

[Touge Noob S13]

i wonder how this will hold up to sun and heat compared to an oem dash.

i'm going to the junkyard to hunt down an uncracked dash for my dumpster car. but if i can't find one, i guess i'll give this a shot... once i buy my third dash, what's a good protectant?


303 Aerospace Protectant, I put off buying this since you have to order it online and my perfect dash cracked. I ordered it and use it to prevent the dash from cracking in other areas.

303 Aerospace Protectant, 303 aerospace, 303 protectant, aerospace protectant, 303 products, 303 (http://autogeek.net/303aerprot.html)

[K_style]

very good !!!

i just got my self 3 cracks on my dash board....

i am going to fix it this weekend

[fiznowler]

My interior is near mint less a big ass crack right above the cluster. I have been trying to find a solution for this for a long time. I really didn't want to have to take it to a shop and it is hard to find a good used dash! Thanks OP

[Teambadrun]

Good write up mate, i will be fixing a small crack i have on the dash of my Silvia!

[DALAZ_68]

A+ write up mang... great details....i htink u single handidly destroyed the 100.00 + sales of s13 dashes :w00t:


as far as paint, why not use some type of high temp paint, i understand that some might be glossy, but arent there flat finishes to, this way for those who live in inferno summer areas wont worry about it ?

[sideways86]

Awesome write up! gonna try this out on my 86 soon. does the sem texture coating sand pretty easy? i'd like to get a smooth finish on my dash, rather then the textured look.

[DreamN]

I freakin' love you! I'll be doing this soon enough. I hate the little spider cracks I have.

[Norrek4040]

here is a write up on Fiber Glassing A dash! CLICK (http://texasnissans.com/tx/forums/showthread.php?t=8523)

[Digitalism240]

nice! good write up

[r6_240sx]

A+ write up mang... great details....i htink u single handidly destroyed the 100.00 + sales of s13 dashes :w00t:Nah, I doubt it. Most people don't bother to do research. If you look at the link I posted at the top of my post, I got most of my procedure steps from that guy and his post has been available for anyone to read for over 2 years now.
as far as paint, why not use some type of high temp paint, i understand that some might be glossy, but arent there flat finishes to, this way for those who live in inferno summer areas wont worry about it ?SEM also sells Satin Black which is more of a flat black finish.

I bought that color first and realized the color didn't matched. :duh: That's why I emphasize on bringing in a piece of your dash to color match. Eyeballing isn't very accurate, LOL.

But sure, I don't see why you can't try other paint finishes, I just went with this one because they specialize in this kind of stuff.

Awesome write up! gonna try this out on my 86 soon. does the sem texture coating sand pretty easy? i'd like to get a smooth finish on my dash, rather then the textured look.Yes, but no on the super glue part I highlighted in red.

If I find another cracked dash, I might try out a different method using some Fusor products I have instead of super glue.

IF ANY OF YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THIS METHOD, PLEASE POST UP YOUR REVIEW AND RESULTS IF YOU CAN.

[wow-thats-a-cool-car]

I nominate this for best write-up of 2009, thus far. :ddog:



Seriously though, thanks for the info. It is a welcome addition to Zilvia.net. :bow:

it was published in 2008 lol:keke:

[r6_240sx]

I just realized I posted this on New Year's Eve at 10PM. To think most people are partying at that time. Sigh...

[ThatGuy]

it was published in 2008 lol:keke:

Not by my time zone.

Thread started 01-01-2009, 01:03 AM.

:D

[MissShiftS13]

This is sweet because my dash has a couple cracks and my friend just bought his s13 with a hud dash and his has a couple small ones, thanx for the info im going to have to try it and sweet job throwing in dave chappelle out of nowhere....good stuff!

[aoiken3]

i'll have to give this a go. my dash looks like wolverine took his anger out on it. nice write up man

[s13dan]

damn, i could never match my blue dash without taking it out and painting it.

[nightkids14]

I tried it...came out pretty good...

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c244/jiggamanpedro/IMG_0634.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c244/jiggamanpedro/IMG_0636.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c244/jiggamanpedro/IMG_0642.jpg

its a little ashy...dont use towels that have lint!

Holler!

[drift_limo]

damm i have 3 dashes in the garage... i was gonna throw them away till this thread
thx

[sincity_sil80]

great advice. and props on the write up to r6. i'll definately be trying this. my dash needs a miracle
None that I know of. I sold most of the dashes I've repaired. The main thing is to just keep moisture in the dash, wiping it with a wet rag once in a while is all a dash really needs. These fools who never touch the dash with anything will always experience cracks because they dry out.

[nightkids14]

I used the CA medium grade filler glue it's called zap a gap. It worked out well. Taping off the dash is smart but those damn lines are impossible to blend. I say if the area is small enough, hold the the spray can a little farther away and just over spray a little. Buff out the over spray.

[OverBoost]

If anyone is having trouble locating the SEM supplies in their area, I have a can each of the texture coat (sku: 39853), Landau Black color coat (sku: 15013) and the plastic adhesion promoter (sku: 39863). I used them one time to fix a crack in my dash. I no longer need it, so if you are interested in it, send me a PM. FYI, these paints alone can cost $50+ brand new from an SEM supplier.

[Lxtasy]

This is great.My 96 has a cracked dash and I am very good with body work.So this would be very easy for me to do.
Thanks,
Chris

[hOngsterr]

I'd do this method,
but a have a like a crack about the size
of a pencil eraser. soo
not worth it yet lol.
i'll just put a sticker over it.

[Buriantsu]

Fire. Doing that shit tomm if I get all the stuff.

[zTheStig]

holy you sir are the savior of cracked up dash i salute you

[DreamN]

I've still been to lazy to fix mine lol

[EchaKqulo]

Man what happened to the write-up??? I saw this tread months ago and now that i was going to subscribe it, is gone!!! I have used the search but none of the results are the way this one was. Would somebody posted back!!!??

[nothix]

+1 I need this!

[r6_240sx]

I'll rewrite it if I have time, but just look at my Plastic Repair thread. I got better results with that method.

Summary:
1. Clean w/ wax and grease remover
2. Sand
3. Clean w/ wax and grease remover
4. Spray the Lord Fusor 602EZ
5. Fill in the holes/cracks with Lord Fusor Bumper Repair Adhesive
6. Sand
7. Clean with wax and grease remover
8. Fill in minor imperfections with a polyester putty/finishing glaze (Anything from Evercoat is good or you can use the Finishing Adhesive that Lord Fusor also carries.)
9. Sand
10. Clean with wax and grease remover
11. Spray plastic adhesion promoter
12. Spray SEM texture coat (might need to sand to get uniform texture)
13. Spray SEM Color Coat

Read the instructions on each item you are using to figure out what sandpaper grit size to prep with.

[S13Boosts]

I have TONS of cracks on my dash...