Opinions on Dash Caps

[zark]

It has been six months, but it has not been subjected to summer heat yet. I am not concerned about the KYDEX. I suspect that eventually I will have to do the same over the odometer/tach area.

I got onto the Kydex because by youngest son is a blacksmith and he has used it for knive sheafs. He has made two knives for soldiers serving in Iraq and Afganistan. The sheaf is worn on the chest upside down, the Kydex is formed over a part of the hilt to hold the knive in the sheaf. Kydex is the plastic that is often used in public places with high wear, like the inside of subway cars.

I used a small piece of kydex to cover up cracks and holes in the console were the choke was attached. Now bolt down to a steel fabrication that is welded to the tunnel. It was very useful to have that space ahead of the of the ash tray to work with.

[JimmyZ]

Zark

Which pattern did you use and where can one get small quantities? The ashtray idea is intriguing. Someone might even create a custom heater panel.

[BrianL1987]

Nice fix. Where do should I expect to find Kydex & SEM spray?

[zark]

Sorry about taking so long to get back to you. Here is the link to the company I bought it from.

http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=41_54_136&products_id=271

http://www.interstateplastics.com/Calcutta-Black-Kydex-T-Sheet-KYDB0T1.php

The surface texture is called haircell. The first site above has a very close up image of the texture. I used 0.060 inch thick material. If I where going to mold it into the instrument wells I would get the 0.028 thickness. The second site above will cut the size piece you need. Kydex is made in 4x8 and 4x12 foot sheets. Don't use spray on contact cement it is simply not as strong as the type that you would brush or roll on. It is low in solids.

[zark]

I missed the SEM question. You can get SEM products at any autobody shop supply store.

[Bonzi Lon]

Zark: Larger auto-body shops should have it. I googled SEM Vinyl Dye and got lots of places for mail order.

Just my opinion, the inexpensive dash caps and half dash caps remind me of a toupe.

Bonzi Lon

[fiveleaf]

I was wondering, does my dash have a dash cap?

I don't want to try to remove it, only to find that it isin't a cap at all!

Also (while I'm at the dash), a dremel and POR15 is probably the best way to remove this rust and protect for the future?

Just had to add... my wife is great for letting this happen in the living room

Sorry for the hi-jack! If this dash does have a cap on it, then this is testament to how they actually protect your dash...

EDIT: here is what the dash looks like overall.

EDIT: It's confirmed -- there is a full cap on this dash.

Edited March 2, 2010 by fiveleaf

[TomoHawk]

From the first picture with the cut, it looks like you have a cap on. It should have a plasticy 'tink' if you tap on it, instead of a fuller,dull sound if you knock on it. There should also be a lip you can get your finger under, or a lip that goes into the tach and Speedometer openings that prevents those gauges from coming out, if there is a cap. The original covering should still be fairly well attached.

It certainly looks as if you could use a full de-rusting in a giant tub of Evap-O-rust and a good sealer coat. :classic:

[TomoHawk]

What's the thickest you can get Kydex in? it looks like a great product to make replacement parts like the underdash covers or kick panels.

thxZ

[zark]

Fiveleaf, that looks like a cap to me. Are the last two pictures, that show the whole dash, after you removed the cap? If so it looks like it is in really good shape. One of the real advantages of the small cap is that it does not interfer with the instruments.

You can get Kydex up to 0.25 inches thick. Check the links I gave above. Yes it makes great kick panels. I am considering using some 1/8 inch thick material to mold a door panel.

[zark]

Fiveleaf, that looks like a cap to me. Are the last two pictures, that show the whole dash, after you removed the cap? If so it looks like it is in really good shape. One of the real advantages of the small cap is that it does not interfer with the instruments.

You can get Kydex up to 0.25 inches thick. Check the links I gave above. Yes it makes great kick panels. I am considering using some 1/8 inch thick material to mold a door panel.

[fiveleaf]

I received an email from the PO (dad) about 30min ago. There is a cap on the dash, and all photos are with the cap on.

The Orginal Dash has seen better days.

I'm trying to glue up the crack in the dash cap at the moment. I'll take pics and let you know how the repair goes on this.

EDIT:

Upon looking further into this (and some other issues), I decided to rebuild the clock (off-time) and tach (dead). Doing so means the removal of the dash cap. There was so much glue in there it started to take chunks out of the orginal dash as I carefully pulled it off. It's like duct tape on cardboard, to a lesser extent. The current cap is also tearing the centre crack much larger. It's terrible.

So... anyone know where to get a new dash cap for less than $100?

EDIT v2.0: MSA has the cheapest full cover dash option, for $100. Many of them out there are $150+

Edited March 3, 2010 by fiveleaf