Anyone whos been around the third gens knows that dash pad cracking is a common problem. Ive recently aquired one w/ that problem (and many other issues). Its cracked pretty bad, and i know i could just buy a new one and call it a day but this is a budget build ($600 car, looking to make a daily driver) and i want to find a way around this. Ive got two ideas in mind. The first is to simply wrap the dash pad in vinyl, which will most likely have creases but still not look too bad. The second is to repair the pad with a repair kit or possibly fiberglass repair and then spray with truck bed liner. Has anyone actually repaired one of the successfully? any ideas would be great. Also, none of the boneyards around here will sell me one for less than like 80 bucks cuz they're s**t heads and think everything they have is worth a million dollars. i wish it could be easy like that

 

That actually sounds like a half decent idea. I put a 4th gen dash in mine and am planning on wrapping the plastic "dash pad" in vinyl to get it to match the rest of the dash a little better. Give it a try and post pics.

It's simple supply and demand. I wouldn't sell you one for $20 either.

 

there all cracked!! thats why I have 3 of them, I saw that they cracked so easly that I stared buying them when they were cheap yet, but I have to say 80 clams is cheap, considering that there all cracked nowadays! and I would think that after the time and $ you put into repairing yours that 80 bucks would produce a better one!

 

For $23 + shipping on eBay you can get a carpet cover that actually looks pretty nice - I got one to cover the mint dash pad I paid hefty for in an attempt to keep it from cracking.

Also, if you ever get a mint pad, I'm told NEVER EVER put Armor All on it, or any other silcone cleaners - they fry the pads from the sunlight. Use a non-silcone containing cleaner.

 

I think $80 is reasonable, but only if they are not cracked. Not sure how many you will find NOT cracked in a junkyard. Every 3rd gen I see in junkyards around my area have cracked dash pads. All I can say is check Ebay, or here if someone is parting out a car. I bought a mint '82-'84 design for my '82 TA about a year or two ago for $80. I've seen them go as high as $120 on Ebay, but sometimes you can get lucky. An '82-'84 design sold recently for around $40 in pretty good shape (Not Cracked). Also, just an FYI, Camaro and Firebird dash pads DO NOT INTERCHANGE.

 

For a cheap build, the carpet cover might be the answer. $80 for a pristine pad is reasonable, I think.

JamesC

 

This is so true. There are many people on ebay that will sell you a Firebird pad for a Camaro (or visa versa) and tell you that they are interchangeable but they are not and you can't get your money back. That sucks.

This 82-84 design you mention, is that the one that looks like it has stitches around the edge? How is different form other years?

For my 92 I have a mint pad that I bought for $75. I also have the cracked one that I replaced it with. I filled the cracks with black silicone. My plan is to put the original one back on the car come mid Nov. and to take the mint one in the house where it is warm and store it in the back of a closet. My garage gets cold and it is my belief that Northern cold weather helps crack the pads too. Although I don't plan to drive my car in the winter, if I decide to move the car (for upgrades or whatever) I have a pretty decent looking pad on that I don't really care about and my mint one is tucked away until April 1st. I also don't use any thing on my dash pad. No armour all or whatever. I just wipe it down and keep it clean. Who needs the super glossy shine?

My 86 which is becoming a daily driver has a crack on the corner which I will silicone and call it a day. But should I get my hands on of another mint pad I will do the same thing as with my 92 - take it inside in the winter.

Don't waste your time looking in any junkyard in America for a mint pad. They don't exist. And I think $80 is a fair price considering the availability of good to mint pads that is not bad. Imagine the cost in 3-5 years.

 

One of my local junkyards has standard pricing base on what the parts are, not on what vehicle you got it out of. A perfect condition dash pad (from ANY car) is $7.50. I got a beautiful pad out of a 25 year old Ford that would have cost me $50 everywhere else for the same $7.50. I need to go there more often.

 

True, I bought the final one last summer for $50 (and the console pad for $15). They can be found, if you're lucky, and cheap, if you're lucky, if you're lucky, if you're....

JamesC

 

They also sell the plastic cap for around $100

 

wow, then I got a good deal on my crack-less dashpad last year. Paid $15 at the boneyard...irony is that now, that dashpad has two tiny cracks.... I've also thought about tightly wrapping the dashpad in vinyl and gluing/stapling the folded-over edges to the underside. The only concern with the Firebird dashpad is the speaker holes and defrost vents with vinyl...

 

My pad cracked in the summer, not the winter. I came out from work and there was a crack near the speaker in my previously mint pad. Because of this, I won't buy a used pad for what they're going for today- there's a pretty good chance it's going to crack like they all do. I'll just wait for someone to reproduce a nice quality pad.

 

My thinking is, even though i could get lucky and find a pad on ebay in ok or better condition, it will eventually end up like what i have now. Using that i feel like it would be a temporary fix, and not solve the overall problem of 3rd gen f-bodys having poorly constructed dash pads. I think i might try the vinyl since it wont look as cheap as the carpet cover, but should outlast the car. Maybe a carpet cover if that comes out crappy. I'l post pictures of how it comes out

 

I think the reason they crack is they get dried out, then they get hard and the material cracks. Just my guess, not really sure. I know my stock one in the car that is cracked is as hard as a rock. They other one I got used, but not cracked is somewhat soft. However I did noticed the underside foam material getting a bit dried out. Looks like it's a pretty shoddy design actually. Not sure what the actual dash material is, if it is vinyl, or some kind of molded material. It looks to be one piece, and then some type of foam material on the bottom. I know that there is a metal "frame" in the center. I can kind of see it at the corners. I had mine in the garage for a while, wrapped up in bubble wrap...but I looked at it today and it's kind of warped. Looks like it is sagging in the middle a bit. I took it out and sprayed it down real good with silicone top and bottom. Hopefully this will keep it from drying out and more flexible. I have since brought it into the house. My concern now is that when I bolt it into the car, it's going to put stress in the middle...unless it flattens out back to it's normal shape.

I think when I get some time, I'll take my old cracked one out and attempt to repair it, and see what kind of results I get. Mine is cracked in 3 places, left, right, and center... so it might be a bit difficult.

 

The pad in my 87 is still perfect. It sees sunlight a whole lot, and the car sits outside most winters. Until recently. I try to put a sunshade up if Im getting out of the car for the day...like at work.

I also have an 86 with a perfect dash pad. However that car was garage kept and only has 44k on it. Im probably going to pull both pads for the winter and keep them inside under my bed. Since I wont really be driving them. And even if I do...the car will drive just fine without the cover on there. haha.

J.

 

Mine is cracked also and I was thinking if fiber glassing the whole thing then paint it...has anyone done this? If so do you have any pics?

 

Other than appearance-wise, what is the difference between a Camaro & Firebird dash pad? Will they not bolt on to the other car?

VFN Figerglass has a fiberglass dash. They list them for $259, but are more than happy to sell the pad seperately for $120.

Listed under Pontiacs, not the Camaros...VFN fiberglass.com


"Hello again Steve.
No part number for the pad. If you decide to order, please give us a call and let us know you want the pad only.
Thanks!
Jean

Steve wrote:

That's good news!

Do you have a part # that could be used, to order just the pad separately?

Steve


VFN FIBERGLASS wrote:
> Hi Steve. Thanks for your interest in our products!
> We do offer the face piece seperate. The price on this item is $120.00.
> We generally make them as ordered and currently we have a 4-5 week production time.
> Thanks again and have a great day!
> Jean
>
> Steve wrote:
>
> Is the dash top available separate, without the dash face? The stock
> dash tops are HORRIBLY known to crack from the sun, and lots of people
> would love to get a fiberglass one. Myself included.
>
> If this is possible, please let me know, at what price, and I'll be sure
> to pass it on.
>
> Thank you,
> Steve




JEAN - SALES
VFN FIBERGLASS INC.
501 W INTERSTATE RD
ADDISON IL 60101
P. (630)543-0232 Mon-Fri 8am - 4pm CST
F.(630)543-9877
Toll Free Order Line: (800)279-4209"

 

the dash pads bolt on to both application however from my experiences the speaker grills are different in a firebird app than a camaro app.

always see some on ebay and am like, "that looks kinda odd" then i realize its a firebird dashpad, lol.

 

So theres the 2 cracks i'l ad a pic when i do something about it. thinking i'm going to wrap it and see what happens

 

From what I understand, the Camaro dash is not as deep as a Firebird dash...so if you put a Camaro dash in a Firebird it wont hang over the instrument panel correctly. If anyone would like to confirm this, or if I'm wrong let me know.

As far as the Fiberglass dash, do you know if they make the '82-'84 style? It's the kind that has the 2 ridges that run along the front edge of the dash pad. They removed them in '85+

 

I covered mine with some stretchy fuzzy stuff from my local fabric store. Used some duct tape to hide the cracks and spray glue to hold it on. Molds well to the shape and looks good imo. Will post pics.

 

I have recovered them with vinyl,it's not too hard to do,if you have done it before.You have to do it out of 2 peices of vinyl with a seem.

 

They are different sizes. If you put a Firebird pad on a Camaro dash it is about 2 inches short near the windshield. There's no way it's bolting up. Perhaps the 82-84 style is the same as a Camaro, but the 85-89 and 90-92 ( slight bolt pattern differences ) Firebird pads are definitely shorter. I have 2 perfect ones in storage. I tried one on my Iroc when I bought since it had no pad, and it wasn't even close.

 

If your in the Maryland area I'm giving one away. Also some days you get lucky in the junkyards I found one that was absolutely perfect for $10 at a local yard.

 

Thered be a lot of money to be made if someone reproduced these. the pad in my 85 just started cracking now and the 90 is cracked to **** too

 

I already posted a fiberglass Pontiac one...Cover it with soft vinyl, and your done.

reply #17

 

I am so Spoiled with the local junk yard here, 80 dollars for ANY tranny, 100 for ANY engine, 60 for a rear end, 10 for seats. I've never prices a dash pad but would probably assume it was less than 30 bucks but, the problem, of course, is finding even a mildly good one. I'm lucky, mines not that bad.

 

$100 for any engine? Hell, I'd drive from Texas, to get a LS1 for $100...Gimme directions, and I'm on my way!

 

I'm with you on that, heck pick up 3 and pay for the gas, and vehicle

 

I'll max out all my credit cards on cash advances, and sell them! $2000-$3000 LS1s would go like crazy!

Any LS7s there, I keep! LOL

Even $100 LT1s aren't a bad deal.

 

one slight issue with all that... someone has to wreck a LS1 camaro, not know what they have, then give there car to the junk yard

THEN the guys who drain the fluids and pull the battery and get it ready for the yard have to keep the gruby hand off of it, too. THEN and ONLY then do you get the engine for a 100 bucks

Suffice it to say, LS1s, LT1s, T-56, and other thing of that nature are rare finds.

 

But if the insurance company totals the car, its not the persons anymore. It belongs to the insurance company.

 

well I don't know about all that. I don't know what insurance companies do with there cars they probably take them to the scrap yard.

 

Not really sure what the difference is between the 82-84 Camaro pad, and 85+?

When I did my dash swap and put the 92 dash in my 84, the 84 pad bolted right up, everything lined up just fine.

I've been lucky, my dashpad still looks brand new

 

And then the insurance company sells it off to the highest bidding junkyard, which is almost never a u-pull-it type yard

 

All camaro dash's are the same...it's when you try to interchange a Camaro dash with a Firebird dash...that is when you run into the differences.

 

Not all camaro dashes are the same (the dash itself). There were two different pads too, early cars had fake stitching on them. They are interchangeable though.

 

i've found about 4 non cracked pads at local yards over the past few years for $20-35 apeice. saved one for my car put the rest on ebay. one fetched $315, i guess someone really wanted one that day

 

well, just thought id add, was at the yard the other day. out of 3 t/as, 3 firebirds, and 4 camaros the dash pads were missing or ruined. im covering anyway..most economical way to go

 

my home job. not crazy about the wavy pattern, but it looks good from inside the car.

 

Strangely I bought a 86 Iroc for parts and the interior was so mint- no wear on the drivers seat or a single crack on the dash pad. The car sat for years with someone- luck of the draw and amount of sunlight I guess.

 

Anybody tried one of those aftermarket dash pad "caps" that simply cover the pad, supposed to be a good fit, etc. etc.? Also, you mentioned silicone repair. I have 2 one inch or so cracks in mine, otherwise it looks great. Repair tips? I figured like epoxy or something injected under the crack then held down in some way to not allow the glue to ooze out, maybe put something lubricating on the top surface to prevent any glue from sticking or something like that? What's the silicone fix? Thanks! John

 

i'm sure it's a lil late saying this, but i got my dash pad for only $10 ... but he's been a family friend for years and we always get good deals from him

 

I just followed one on Ebay, thought about it when it was $129, but it finally sold for $205, I think. No damage/cracks. Seems you can't get one mint for under $200, from what I've seen.

 

So this is some cheap material i bought from the walmart fabric department at $1 a sq yd a year ago, and thought i'd give it a try. I used it to cover the headliner for my pickup a while back. It a carpet like fabric that is soft, and dark blue with some gray strands if you cant see it. I also covered the rear speaker panels with this since mine looked like junk. The exterior of the car is blue and the interior is gray so i thought it would look nice in the car. So heres the repar taken from my crappy cell phone camera. It came out very nice using spray adheive from 3M and sits very well in the small defrost vents, the large vents in the center and fit well with the speaker covers. So total cost was very low since i used all stuff i had laying around. What do you think?

 

#1...I can't SEE the pics. Your links are asking me to log in,

#2...How old is your design? 1 week? 1 year? How will it/did it, hold up over time, between hot & cold weather cycling? Your dash gets WAY more direct light, than the rear speaker panels.

 

Does anyone have pictures of the fiberglass one installed? I'd love to see how it came out.

 

I found this doing a search, it looks awsome.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/sout...my#post1517284

 

OK, back to the cracking of the pad, I stripped a pad this weekend, don't know how many people have seen a pad like this before but here it is.

[IMG][/IMG]

It would seem to me as though it is not what you put on the pad itself, but the actual foam underneath that cracks which causes the top layer in turn to crack.

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

How would you renew the foam underneath or how would you keep it from cracking?

 

That's flat ugly. Did much of the foam come off with the strip?