Is there a current acceptable option for restoring a cracked dash between dash cover and spending $1200 to have it restored at a day shop? What else works?

It depends upon your definition of acceptable. There is this: http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/thread23919.html. If you have a 240Z, there is someone selling a new skin made from a mold of a good dash with a BIN price of around $780. I cannot vouch for quality or fitment, though.

I'll vouch for the dash resto link listed above. If you follow the proceedure and take your time, it'll come out great at a small fraction of the cost of a new dash.

I'll vouch for the dash resto link listed above. If you follow the proceedure and take your time, it'll come out great at a small fraction of the cost of a new dash.

yes but that is ALOT of work and its dirty, smelly work. I like the idea of a newer more stable foam material with the 780$

one on ebay. However that one on ebay may have been a onetime only deal.

Edited December 21, 201212 yr by hr369

This is completely irrelevant, but on one of the pictures, I swear there is a crude Chevy logo in that dash. Now...I'm a chevy guy myself, but on a Datsun? :-O ...

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Datsun-240Z-Dash-Reproduction-Foam-with-PVC-skin-like-original-/00/s/OTAwWDE2MDA=/$T2eC16h,!)sE9swmcNCUBQ0oOSBrWg~~60_57.JPG

Worth a mention for anyone who might have a huge problem with a Chevy part in their datsun (kidding, of course!)

Original ad: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Datsun-240Z-Dash-Reproduction-Foam-with-PVC-skin-like-original-/121041007490?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c2e9b3382&vxp=mtr

Edited December 22, 201212 yr by ZohanIsBack

Actually, that is on most dash covers, too.

Huh... Must be a lot of Chevy lovers out there. haha. Of course, the whole point of my previous post was as a joke...

I would not dismiss the look of a full face dash cover-if you take your time and install it carefully the only places it really shows as a cover are the sides with the doors open and the glove box with it open. In the newly restored dashes I have seen, the grain embossed into the newer dash restorations is not the same as original-it looks good, certianly better than a severely cracked dash, but not identical. Having had a restored dash, a cover, and an original dash all at the same time, if I couldn't get original I would choose a full face cover. A carefully installed one looks great in a driver, very few people take the time to look close enough to tell it is a cover. If the rest of the interior is up to speed, and a spirited drive is involved, ods are your passenger will have no idea unless you tell! check my gallery for side by side pictures( http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=19208&title=restored-vs-nos-dash&cat=500 ) cover ( http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14322&title=hls30-my-73-inside&cat=3223 )-and my install thread( ).

Something thing to think about...Something to think about if you are considering a fiberglass dash-what happens to a face you like/love when it hits it..and how will you like your choice then...there is a actually a good reason street driven cars have padded dashes...

I would not dismiss the look of a full face dash cover-if you take your time and install it carefully the only places it really shows as a cover are the sides with the doors open and the glove box with it open. In the newly restored dashes I have seen, the grain embossed into the newer dash restorations is not the same as original-it looks good, certianly better than a severely cracked dash, but not identical. Having had a restored dash, a cover, and an original dash all at the same time, if I couldn't get original I would choose a full face cover. A carefully installed one looks great in a driver, very few people take the time to look close enough to tell it is a cover. If the rest of the interior is up to speed, and a spirited drive is involved, ods are your passenger will have no idea unless you tell! check my gallery for side by side pictures( http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=19208&title=restored-vs-nos-dash&cat=500 ) cover ( http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14322&title=hls30-my-73-inside&cat=3223 )-and my install thread( ).

Something thing to think about...Something to think about if you are considering a fiberglass dash-what happens to a face you like/love when it hits it..and how will you like your choice then...there is a actually a good reason street driven cars have padded dashes...

I'm ready to do the full dash cap on my 78/280. I would welcome opinions on where to purchase one. I've looked at Black Dragon and MSA. My guess is you can't tell them apart but anyone with first knowledge please let me know good or bad. One more question please. I plan on doing the cap with the dash in the car. Any comments on that plan? Thanks, JB

Edited December 22, 201212 yr by jcb

Both sell the same parts-they come from Palco Industries. http://www.dashtop.com/categories/datsun-nissan-cars

You are better off to install the cap with the dash in the car-no reason what so ever to take it out. Cant seem to find my thread on installing the cover-but I will.

Thanks 30. I would like to see that thread if you can find it. I did not mean to hijack this but I guess I did. Sorry, Thanks again. JB