Replacement dash cover

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starvin2047
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Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2017 1:35 pm
Your car is a: 1985 124 spider

Replacement dash cover

Postby starvin2047 » Sun Oct 15, 2017 2:57 pm

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I've purchashed a car which will soon be shipped from the US to the UK.
I've bought this as a project, car is currently a none runner coming out of storage from the last year.
Before shipping I want to purchase a few parts that I think I will require before shipping. The dash top cover has split and see ther are two options to sort this. What are the cover skins like? has anyone used them? or would you suggest I get the original replacemnet item?
Thanks in advance

car is a 1985 auto

FiatJim
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Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 7:29 pm
Your car is a: 1973 spider refurbished
Location: Greensboro, NC

Re: Replacement dash cover

Postby FiatJim » Sun Oct 15, 2017 3:54 pm

I had a dash cover installed during a resto job. It quickly became wavy along the edge nearest the windshield. The opening for the glove box was also problematic and I had to cut, sand the glove box door. If I were to do it again, I would get a full replacement and not a cover.

Jim

bobplyler
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Your car is a: 1979 spider 2000
Location: Charlotte, NC

Re: Replacement dash cover

Postby bobplyler » Sun Oct 15, 2017 4:59 pm

1979 Fiat Spider (since new)
2005 Lincoln LS (the wife's car)
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier (daily driver)
1999 Honda Shadow VLX 600
1972 Grumman Traveller 5895L (long gone).

FiatJim
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Your car is a: 1973 spider refurbished
Location: Greensboro, NC

Re: Replacement dash cover

Postby FiatJim » Sun Oct 15, 2017 5:57 pm

I added the carpet overlay after the cap to cover up the wavy dash cap. I haven't glues/velcro it down

gchocevar
Posts: 108
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:40 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Pininfarina 2000
Location: Cleveland Ohio USA

Re: Replacement dash cover

Postby gchocevar » Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:57 pm

I did the full dash cover and the console cover 8 years ago. I think the new plastics have better UV protection. However, you do need to sand the wood trim, especially the glove box as recommended.

Greg

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spidernut
Posts: 1905
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:20 am
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider Automatic
Location: Lincoln, CA

Re: Replacement dash cover

Postby spidernut » Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:53 pm

1. I installed a full dash cap on one of my cars. The fit was pretty good after some trimming around the glove box. It made for a presentable dash but was not the same vinyl texture as the original. I give it a 6 out of 10.

2. One of my cars had a 1/2 cap. It warped and cracked and looked horrible. I give it a 0 out of 10.

3. A friend bought the full fiberglass dash replacement from one of the vendors. He said it took a huge amount of work to make it fit right. It looks very good in his car. I give it a 8 out of 10.

4. I have recently opted for repairing any damage to the dash (warping or very large cracks) then laying two layers of fiberglass over the dash and sanding smooth. Once done, I found that Rustoleum truck bed liner can be sprayed lightly on the fiberglass to give it some texture. I lightly sanded off about 1/4 of the texture to make it appear more like vinyl. I then painted it. It looked great but was a lot of work. I give it a 7.5 out of 10.

5. One other option if to send it off to Justdashes.com. You'll have a 10 out of 10.
John G.
1979 Spider (Owned since 2000)
1971 124 Sport Spider (Owned since 2017)
1977 Spider (Sold 2017)
1979 Spider (Disposed of in 2017)
1979 Spider (Sold 2015)
1980 Spider (Sold in 2013)
1981 Spider (Sold in 1985)
2017 Spider (Owned since 2019)

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wetminkey
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Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:57 pm
Your car is a: 1979 2000 Spider
Location: Ault, Colorado

Re: Replacement dash cover

Postby wetminkey » Wed Oct 25, 2017 1:50 am

Thanks for the advice, my friend.
I was looking to purchase a OEM type dash replacement, but I'll be checking out justdashes.com first.
Todd.
1988 Mazda RX-7
1979 Fiat Spider 2000
1978 3/4 ton Chev 4x4 P/U "FRANKENTRUCK"
1976 Camaro
1972 VW Superbeetle
1969 Ford F100
1968 Mustang coupe

PhillySpider
Posts: 325
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:51 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000
Location: New Hope, PA

Re: Replacement dash cover

Postby PhillySpider » Wed Oct 25, 2017 4:11 pm

just dashes is ridiculously expensive. look up "flocking" on youtube. I'll be pulling my dash, grinding and filling the cracks and going either with a slightly textured flock of vinyl spray paint...Good luck!

baltobernie
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Your car is a: 1973 Spider [sold]
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: Replacement dash cover

Postby baltobernie » Wed Oct 25, 2017 9:09 pm

I've had good luck with my cap after seven years:

Image

The cap to get is produced by a company in Nevada. Mine was purchased from IAP; ask the current vendors to name their source. Caps do require trimming, and the OE dash must be structurally sound and free of Armor-All or other coatings that prohibit adhesion. Repair your split dash, use paint prep to clean several times, then scuff with 80-grit paper before applying adhesive.

Maintain with the stuff they sell to treat black bumpers and weatherstripping, not silicone.

gbraun
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2017 3:59 pm
Your car is a: Fiat spider 1984 from california

Re: Replacement dash cover

Postby gbraun » Fri Oct 27, 2017 4:06 pm

In my case I just glue skai on it and the result is very good.

Some pictures on the french fiat 124 forum :

http://club.caradisiac.com/braung/resto ... to_6830988
http://club.caradisiac.com/braung/resto ... to_6830990
http://club.caradisiac.com/braung/resto ... to_6830989



Regards

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NorthernOtter
Posts: 33
Joined: Tue Jan 23, 2018 5:28 pm
Your car is a: 1973 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Replacement dash cover

Postby NorthernOtter » Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:58 pm

gbraun wrote:In my case I just glue skai on it and the result is very good.

Some pictures on the french fiat 124 forum :

http://club.caradisiac.com/braung/resto ... to_6830988
http://club.caradisiac.com/braung/resto ... to_6830990
http://club.caradisiac.com/braung/resto ... to_6830989



Regards


Is skai another word for vinyl? From your pictures it looks like you filled the cracks and applied a new black vinyl by hand - is this something a novice could do, or is it a particularly tough job?

My dash is overall in good shape but has the standard vent cracks. I've been thinking about just trying to recover it in vinyl myself.

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focodave
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Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Fort Collins, CO

Re: Replacement dash cover

Postby focodave » Thu Feb 01, 2018 4:48 pm

Here's mine, which I got from Auto Ricambi.
It's a hard textured-finish plastic, complete, new dash, for about $420.
It took quite a bit of trimming with a Dremel tool, etc -- but the results are that it looks just about perfect, in my opinion.
A great project that can be done in one day...

Image
Image
1980 Spider 2000 F.I. (my hobby)
1970 MGB GT (my other hobby)
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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Replacement dash cover

Postby RRoller123 » Fri Feb 02, 2018 5:57 am

Looks great! What is the gauge down by the ignition switch?
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
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focodave
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Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Fort Collins, CO

Re: Replacement dash cover

Postby focodave » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:08 am

Looks great! What is the gauge down by the ignition switch?


That's my voltmeter.
1980 Spider 2000 F.I. (my hobby)
1970 MGB GT (my other hobby)
2008 Ford Expedition (daily driver)
2019 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard
2019 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Sportster

Warren
Posts: 132
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:25 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider

Re: Replacement dash cover

Postby Warren » Fri Feb 02, 2018 12:32 pm

Hello:
I also have the hard black plastic one bought many years ago from IAP and it does look good except after a few years it developed a small sag. I had to go back and trim the glove box door to get it to close. Sag does not appear to have gotten any worse since then.
Warren
Sylacauga Alabama
1979 Fiat Spider Automatic
1991 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce
1974 Dodge Dart Sport Hang 10 (in restoration)
Multiple other cars, trucks, and boats


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