Testing Durability of different dash pads. I just bought an OER (which arrived damaged...but thats another story) and wondering how long its gonna last. (Once they send out a new one) Post your dash pad replacement brand, Where you got it, how long youve had it, and the shape its in. Be honest!

 

Heres mine. OER Lasted 0 minutes...bad out of the box...lol

 

5 months & counting.

 

I bought a used original off craigslist - it's been in for 2 weeks.

Don't go crazy screwing it down - let it relax in there. You might get a squeak or two but it's better than cracks.

 

My dash used to be crack free until a friend of mine over tightened it. I told him to only do it hand tight but he used a ratchet instead. Never had any squeaks when hand tightened.

 

Ok where'd you get that? Looks custom.

I plan on recovering mine with vinyl. If that doesn't work out I guess I'll have to buy something. The only thing that concerns me with recovering is the speaker grills.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...-dash-pad.html

 

I think mine is oer, but not 100% sure. I got it back in 2010 on ebay ( the only place I could find a replacement at the time). It looks just like the oer ones anyway. It is still in perfect shape. My car is also garaged so no extended periods of the brutal summer sun on it (occasional work parking lot on weekend). I use meguires products on it for cleaning.

 

Ha, exactly what I plan on doing. I just need to find some speaker grills to use like you did. And apparently no one local sells vinyl. Good job, looks great.

 

I'm going on with 6 years and going on 7 from an original I bought on ebay. When it arrived all 1/16 inch cracks were repaired from ever running. Has survived 170 degree interior temperatures in South Texas sun. Thank Meguire's interior protectant for that.

 

28 years and counting. Using Autoglym vinyl and rubber care on it now. Looks new still!

 

Bought mine used 15 years ago. Drove it everyday for 5 years, and now it's a weekend warrior. I've used Meguiars as long as I can remember, and it's never dry. I detail the dashpad about 3 times I drive it. takes just a few seconds. ....also, I agree with not tightening it down. I tighten it to where I can just about see the screw touch, but no pressure at all beyond that.

I talk to it when I detail it too. I whisper sweet nothings to it......but I can't swear that has anything to do with it not cracking.

 

What year did they switch to fabric covering the speakers? IIRC, mine has grooves in the pad its self, with 1/8 holes drilled in the grooves.

 

I was wiping off the dash on the weekend, and caught myself talking to it like Pvt Pyle on full metal jacket "Perfect.... Smooth...." and then I felt really weird lol.

 

"WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION!?!?!!!"



Ermey wasn't supposed to be in that, he was just a consultant for the scene. But when he was trying to show the original actor how to do it they sacked the first guy and put him in the movie.

 

8 years on mine. still perfect

 

Has anyone tried the dash caps that are hard plastic on eBay? $130-170?

 

They literally warp any time the sun even remotely glances at them, it seems. Lots of people have bad luck with them.

 

Even when thoroughly glued down? If so , then thank you for saving me the money. I guess I’ll go with a carpet style dash cover.

 

I'm only aware of two different companies making the dash caps. I tried both, and glued the first one all over. They both warped instantly the first time the car saw sunlight, and I don't recommend them. I wrote up reviews of each in the product review forum.

 

NOOooo ! Don't turn it into an Austin Powers shaggy love machine , somehow , somewhere , there's gotta be a better way than a rug

 

has anyone tried a vinyl wrap of the dash pad?

I am considering getting a large / thin metal plate and just cutting it to fit over the vents and speakers, then paint it flat black. We have some extra 1/8 thick 2x6’ plates at work. It should be heavy enough to hold down the cracks, and can be screwed to the dash pad frame. A little steam punk dash infusion until I can get my hands on a new dash.

 

Vinyl wrap seems to thin.Wont hide any flaws/imperfections. Some nice alcantara, velour, (real) vinyl or leather is a better choice.

 

Covering the dash in leather is going to be the best solution after buying a new dash pad. Find a boat upholstery shop and ask for an estimate. If you want to try it yourself go on YouTube and search for the videos that Cechaflo makes. He has done hundreds of very good instructional upholstery videos... Prepare to be amazed at his work.

 

OER for almost a year, I replaced my original one in and around 2000 from one I found in a junkyard and that lasted until last year before my rear view mirror took a leap and cracked it. The first one from OER had a manufacturing defect (very small but at that price I had it replaced) the second one met quality checks. My car is 100% garage kept if I'm not out driving it at this point. Fit and finish is acceptable. They tend to have a few small imperfections but most seem to release after its heat cycled a few times. At least on the firebird they are now built with the metal plate like original, some of the early repos were missing that.

Dashfactory and a few other online places have rebuilt ones.

Those ABS covers is probably your cheapest option to avoid carpet covers.

 

I've had 2 originals in my 87 and both split when it got cold -20-30s in Texas never when in sun and I have 2 more uncracked originals and both cars need them still afraid to install them ?(they're still in my closet) cleaned and did baby oil on and stored them eventually I will install them. maybe someone will make a quality one by the time I need another. I don't think I will ever buy anything OER again

 

Got mine from the Dashpadfactory in Elpaso. First one was damaged in shipping. Spoke to them about padding better and second one showed up in great shape. Only drawback is that the vinyl is a shade lighter around the speaker grille area. They say it is due to the extra heat in that area to form into the grilles. I am very satisfied with the product and it was $350 shipped.

 

Did you have trouble with them communicating with you? I have had an order in with them for over a month and they will not answer emails and have only answered one Facebook message. Before I paid for it, they answered immediately.