Dash Repair Process/Pictures

[kjohnson2444]

Nice work Cajunz. Looks good.

[Diseazd]

Hi Bruce,

You did these repairs 6 years ago. We are all wondering how the repairs are holding up after all that time? Would be nice to hear your input. The results you had were amazing.

Thanks

EuroDat........Bruce sold the car to me a couple years ago. The repair is holding up well.......Bruce did a super job. I might add that the car stays in a heated and air conditioned garage.

Edited November 8, 2012 by Diseazd

[EuroDat]

Thanks Diseazd, good to hear its still holding up

Grats on the top job cajunz. Looks really good.

I have a cap on mine and now very tempted to try this resto.

Chas

[cajunz]

Eurodat, go for it. Its not that hard. Just take you time and pay attention to the details. If I can do this, anyone can.

[conedodger]

I'm wondering if this could be done in the car.. I only have one crack and a weird kind of impact like it was hit with a golf ball...

[cajunz]

Conedodger, I suppose it could be done in car but would be a pain and make a big mess. You would have to do a lot of masking to keep the spray on texture and paint from getting on everything. You'll also have alot of dust from the sanding. When I first tried this, I used the SEM bumper repair kit. Its pretty expensive for the amount of material that you have to use. The SEM Flexible Polyester Glaze worked better for me. The price is around $40 but I got it for half price because it had been on the shelf for awhile, plus it comes in a 24 oz tube. Not hard to do, just take you time and try not to put the putty on too thick. Also, use a sanding block for the flatter surfaces so you don't end up with groves that you'll be able to see. Around the instrument cluster, I sanded by hand but don't press too hard and just let the paper do the work. The results are definitely worth the time and expense.

[getrdone]

I used pretty much the same procedure and SEM products that are shown throughout this thread. Thanks everyone for the pictures that helped me along the way.

[EuroDat]

This is truly the most impressive resto job you can do on your car. Really amazed how the old badly cracked dashes turn up like new.

Im now buzy with 240 bumpers on my 280z and a 71C transmission swap. The next project will be the dash, thanks to you guys.

My dash is cracked and the PO put a cap on it. He used plenty of glue and I think he might of been cross eyed:ermm: because it didnt line up to good. It really annoys me when I look at it.

Grats for the Great posts and the dashes, but that goes without saying, just look at the results.

Chas

[EuroDat]

Can someone post a link to a shop where you can buy SEM's. Im having trouble trying to find it in Europe and might have to order it over the net. Or a photo of the cans, then I can ask a local if he can supply it.

Thanks Chas

[ChrisZ]

Try to make a search on Ebay UK, i believe i have seen SEM there, but not sure tho.

[moritz55]

Well, I spent 1 week repairing my dash while installed in my car. I didn't want to tear everything out and I was absolutely sick of the dash mat. I followed all of the procedures in this thread ... THANK YOU with one exception. I had trouble smoothing and sanding the SEM Bumper Repair epoxy. With my dash installed it's tough to shape it properly. I had quite a lot of experience using Six10 Marine Epoxy on my boat to repair a swim platform. It's got great bonding and strength characteristics plus it's thick and holds perfectly when spread while also having a 42 minute working life. I applied it with a siringe on top of the cracks still visible from the Stuff Foam allowing it to be reaised above the surface for easy spreading. It spreads superbly thin such that I had at least 1.5 inches spread over the uncracked portions for proper overlap adhesion. It required minimal sanding even though sanding is not to bad after 24hr cure. After I sanded it down pretty well shaping it close to original contour I used car body fine glazing compound to fill scratches and fine pin holes. This allowed me to get the shape pretty well back to original without damaging my windshield (which is 3yrs old - I know, I should have repaired the dash back then - but never thought of it!).

The Six10 Marine Epoxy Link: Six10 Introduction

If it were'nt for Six10 Epoxy that I used on my boat so successfully, I would have never been able to tackle this and get the shape right with my dash installed. I hope it holds up well ... will keep you all apprised.

Here are photos before, during and after completed.

Edited March 16, 2013 by moritz55

[moritz55]

Here's a few more of the finsihed dash..

Overall it was a bit tricky painting .. I practiced outside the car on a piece of wood to assure I had the SEM texture paint distance right. At best I could only get about 16inches of distance, so after 24hrs, I used a gray scotch brite pad to smooth them down evenly. Then for top coating I used light coats of Dupli-Color Low-Gloss Black (DE1634) and Semi-Gloss Black (DE1635) which withstands excessive temperatures. Alternating light coats allowed me to blend to the original face which had more luster. This paint is used on all types of engine parts and bonds superbly to clean surfaces of all types.

Anyway .. many thanks for this outstanding thread. I would not have tackled this dash repair while still installed if I did not have materials that worked easily for shaping the dash back to almost original contour.

It's denfintely better than having the dash mat. Let's see how it holds up in the North Carolina Summer!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all ...

Mark

Edited March 16, 2013 by moritz55