crazy dash repair trick

[datsunfish]

Now I know there are better ways to do things but I amuse myself by finding "household remedies" for messed up stuff.

I recently tried to fill in some cracks on my 620 dash to find that the filler would not adhere to the surface material.I thought about it and remembered that abs glue will soften and bond to abs pipe.It is also hard,flexible and sandable when fully cured.I poured a bit into some small holes and it definitely made one with the foam and vinyl.It dries very fast but takes a few hours to harden.I found that you can dig out the cracks and holes and build them back up to the surface.Then do a couple light coats over everything.Let it sit over night and start sanding.You will end up with a flat surface and not textured but I think there is a vinyl spray with texture to it.

A lot of work to do the whole thing but way cheap.You can also use abs glue to just fill in cracks to keep them from getting worse.And its black.

I will get some pics this weekend.Mine is not done yet but so far it kicks ass!

[DatDoug]

"I picked a bad week to quit sniffin glue":D

[datzenmike]

"I picked a bad week to quit sniffin glue":D

 

Ha ha. I'd love to see Lloyd Bridges say that. :lol: (love that movie)

[Icehouse]

dude that us a great idea, I want to try it on my extra 68 dash. Or the 1200 dash :)

[Datsun4u]

Why repair it? I am working on a 521 dash now. I have about an hour into it. It is amazing what you find when you strip things.

 

Before

[Datsun4u]

After

[sdsurf]

After

 

what's the point of that?

[Datsun4u]

what's the point of that?

 

You can paint it, powdercoat it or cover it with whatever you want.

[dat521gatherer]

the 520 metal dash cap is a very popular 521 upgrade but a rare part to find these days. i never thought about stripping a padded 521 cap. paint it.

 

datsunfish do post your picks when done. i bought the schucks vinyl repair kit with the little heat iron and it worked like shit.:mad:

[datsunfish]

Do the abs glue....No doug,not like that.!This is crazy but I think a lot of us will benefit from this.

4U,is that a 521 dash stripped down or a 520 metal dash you pulled somebodys vinyl wrap off of?I am working on a 620 full molded dash that is no where near the same.

Dont get me wrong,I have a 521 with 520 dash and it is by far my favorite rig,but this would save a few 521 vinyl padded dashes too.:cool:

[SHADY280]

if you want texture, use gravel guard. its black, textured and a little flexable. its a trick i learned on hybridz

[Datsun4u]

Do the abs glue....No doug,not like that.!This is crazy but I think a lot of us will benefit from this.

4U,is that a 521 dash stripped down or a 520 metal dash you pulled somebodys vinyl wrap off of?I am working on a 620 full molded dash that is no where near the same.

Dont get me wrong,I have a 521 with 520 dash and it is by far my favorite rig,but this would save a few 521 vinyl padded dashes too.:cool:

 

That is a 521 dash I pulled apart and sanded it down. The front edge of the top lines up perfectly with the face for a different look. I have not seen many 520's. Do they have metal dash tops?

[djmoreron]

spray it with rhino liner

[sdsurf]

I want to try the ABS method... Could you also recover with new vinyl?

[ggzilla]

On Icehouse's dash, I used 30-year Silicone Caulk. It was easy to work with but had a moderate amount of shrinkage after drying. The ABS sounds better if it "becomes one with the vinyl".

 

One problem I had was painting. I used a semi-gloss vinyl paint but it was too shiny. I think flat black would have been better.