Keeping your Dashboard crack free!

[mvroyal]

What do you use on your Dashboard to keep it from cracking?

[zhead240]

i don't use anything but i do have a dash cover.

[blue 72]

Luck?

[kjohnson2444]

This is a good question. My '70 still has a perfect dash, but it has been in storage for many years. I think sun and heat are bad for the dash. I only wipe mine with a damp cloth. I don't use any cleaners at all.

[cygnusx1]

Keep the sun off of it. I use a dash carpet on both my clean dashes. Both are rubbed down with Vaseline once a year and then covered up. The cars are in a dark garage most of the time too.

[Oiluj]

My 72's original dash is crack-free, but it's only a matter of time. They all crack eventually...

Dark garage & dash cover help. I've heard that a light coating of mineral, (unscented baby), oil is good for the vinyl.

[soundmasterg]

If anyone is looking for a dash I have a nice, uncracked one from '71-'72 that I would like to sell. If interested, you can PM me.

Greg

[whodafknos]

how would one fix or cover up cracks in the dash

[Kathy & Rick]

Keep the sun off of it. I use a dash carpet on both my clean dashes. Both are rubbed down with Vaseline once a year and then covered up. The cars are in a dark garage most of the time too.

Referring both to Dave's quote and to Julio's right below it:

Vaseline and mineral (baby?) oil both seem reasonable and logical.

HOWEVER:

Would these not be somewhat sticky, making dust, hair, and debris

adhere to them?

Is their chemical compound such that it would NOT cause an ad-

verse chemical reaction with the vinyl?-- I believe that vinyl is a

petroleum-based product.........

What do American and European manufacturers use in their vinyl

that was not used in the 240Z vinyl? I haven't heard of any major

cracking problems on any other car......

Forgive the ignorance; I'm a Bus. Admin. guy, not a chemist!

All Z Best,..................Rick (and Kathy, of course)

Edited June 5, 2011 by Kathy & Rick

[AZ-240z]

There are many products on the market made to preserve vinyl. My understanding of the science behind these products is that the chemical components that comprise vinyl will, under prolonged exposure to heat, sunlight and UV, etc., break down and off-gas thereby actually shrinking the material causing cracking. Products such as Armorall, Lexol Vinylex, etc., are supposed to replace those chemical components and preserve the integrity of the vinyl. Vasoline and mineral oil may seal the vinyl to inhibit off-gasing, but that is just conjecture on my part

Again, this is just my take after reading many posts on the subject in this forum. I recommend going to the search function, plugging in a key word such as "Armorall" and then take a look at

all of the threads which have discussed this in the past to help you form your own conclusions. Good reading.

Dan

[Montezuma]

I have Z buddy and fellow member of this board who owns some really fine cars, he swears by Lextoyl leather conditioner.

[jmark]

Here is what I've been using lately.

http://www.detailedimage.com/303-M2/Aerospace-Protectant-P12/16-oz-S1/