Guys,

I've got a 92 B4C that has holes in the front dash panel where the cops mounted their radio. Is there a way to repair these, or should I rip the entire dash assembly out and find another one?

 

Time for a new shell.

 

You can always find a plug for the holes but i'd say your best bet would be to just try and replace the peices that have the holes.

Have fun.

 

Any tricks pulling the dash shell out? Does the damn thing bolt to the firewall? I've pulled all visible screws and bolts from underneath and below the dash pad, and it's still mounted solid.

 

there are two larger bolts on each end of the dash, and a few along the bottom that hold it to the metal strip. There's a couple near the steering column, and a couple that hold it to the heater venting. Once all that stuff is out, it'll come right out. Dropping the steering column down a little bit helps too.

 

you can also skin your dash. ive talked to some of the paintless dent repair guys in my area (mars is the name i think) anyways they told me you can buy an outer skin for dash's any color and look completely factory, they just glue on. i though id look like crap but they told me theyve done lots of mercedes and bmw's and they look great. they should run like 80 bucks that saves you a little time and headaches pulling your old dash.

 

drop the steering comlumn and then get the big bolts underneath and it should come out

 

before you pull it..


theres a couple things i would like to try..

long story short:

my car had custom wood grain trim on it (real wood) ... looked great for woodgrain trim, but it wasnt "me".. i like the black dash....


when i pulled it all off, there were lil screw holes next to the normal screw holes...

why dont you try some of thoes plastic repair kits? and take pics?
if it saves ya from replacing teh dashthen gofor it.... and if it doesnt, you arnt out much..


i would really like to see how well thoes things work.

 

I will try that first and let you know - thanks dude.

 

that would be great..


id try it myself, but the holes are small and bearly noticeable unless you know they are there...

so its not worth replacing all the plastic, and i dont want to try this stuff and have it come out worse then it started...

 

The plastic repair kits work great once you get the hang of it. I've seen used cars guys fix cracks in a dashpad and you could hardly tell. I would not buy the one that does not come with an electric heater. The cheaper kits give you a little wooden dowel with a flat metal head that you are supposed to heat with a ligher or something like it. I tried one of these and it didn't work that great. The problem I had was keeping the thing hot enough to melt the filler evenly and get the grain right.

I would try one of these on an old dash or something and then work on the permanent fix. I think this would be a lot easier than pulling the dash. Maybe you could find an upolstery place or car dealer that could help you out.

 

Probably have to take the dash pad off also... it should be secured on the firewall.

 

Read online some where ( can't remember where ) ,they were restoring a jeep. The dash pad had a big crack in it.
They used fiberglass bondo to fill the crack the sanded down an painted it.Looked good

 

I've heard that bondo thing before. I am planning to do that to my dashpad as soon as I get a chance. I have to find out the paint code, I'm going to paint it red to match the bodycolor of my vert and do some other interior parts.

 

Besides, gives you more mounting points for the minicams, eh? LOL

 

I'm in the middle of getting the dash out, and it is a MF!!!!! Having problems getting the wiring harness off the back of it, that runs across the entire backside. Need more beer I guess.

 

This is when us club guys come in handy... (Points to my "Will Work For Beer" shirt)

 

for anyone considering the bondo fix, don't. i did exactly this to my car last summer, and it looked great, that is until it started to get colder outside.

the problem is the bondo will expand and contract differently then the vinyl on the dash pad, and what you end up with is yet another crack down your dash, this one exposing the color of the filler you used.

my dash is now wrapped in vinyl, which looks allright. i plan on getting a new shell for it in the long run tho, or a new pad alltogether

 

you guys are lucky where you live. If we even breathe on our dashboards **** will crack. Years of sun and fridgid cold have killed our dashes. Be happy.

 

Well, after 7 years it has been replaced. NEVER AGAIN!!!

 

I love the fact you took the time to find your thread and say you were finished. Most never do, and we are all left to wonder.

 

Now I'm affraid to pull ours to work on the gauges!!
JK...JK

New dashpad or a skin?

Looks like you have just a lil work yet to get 'er done!

 

No man the dash pad is gravy. I replaced the shell with a pristine 25th anniversary one. Installing the new one in was a bitch! Now i'm replacing the carpet, new dynamat, new wiring for a killer sound system!

Alpine CDA-105
CD, MP3, WMA Receiver with Built-in iPod/iPhone Controls
Alpine KCA-SC100 + SIRIUS SC-C1
SIRIUS SiriusConnect Adapter for Alpine + SIRIUS Connect Universal Tuner
MTX Audio JackHammer JH300
600W Max, Class D Monoblock Jack Hammer Series Amplifier
JBL P6462
(2) 4" x 6" 2-way Power Series Plate Speakers
Boston Acoustics SR95
(2) 6" x 9" SR Series 2-way Performance
MTX Audio JackHammer JH4512-04
(2) 500W Max, 12" Single 4 ohm Jack Hammer JH45 Series Subwoofer

 

I'm familiar with a couple brand names you use, but not ? does ? & whyhow!! LOL

Your interior & music will be great!! Envy over here!!
Good luck

 

Not sure how perfect you want to make the car. If you just want to fill the holes, check out an aircraft surplus store in your area. There is an item called caplugs that come in various sizes that snap into holes, they're black, plastic, and are grained very close to the dash texture.

 

Iwould just get a little bondo and fill the holes or easier buy little push in inserts with a round bunt end? doesn't look bad or put a plaque where they used the screw holes haha.

 

hey guys he's done he has the new dash installed already