Guanfy
Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2019
- Messages
- 221
- Reaction score
- 91
- Points
- 28
- Location
- Crawfordville, Florida
- Vehicle Year
- 1994
- Make / Model
- Mazda B3000
- Engine Type
- 3.0 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 2WD
- Total Lift
- Stock
- Total Drop
- Stock
- Tire Size
- 15in
I did a quick search and didn't see any threads so I thought I would post a quick installation guide and my thoughts after installing a Coverlay dashpad. The part is intended for the use case of a dash in decent condition except for a faded out and cracked top. You purchase a dash cap made of molded ABS plastic that you then glue over the top of the dash to give you a cleaner look.
Company website: https://coverlaymfg.com/
Part I used: 12-114-DGR
Total Prep and installation time: Around 2 hours
Tools Used: battery powered drill with drill bit kit, shop towels, cleaning alcohol, 1/4 drive rachet with 7mm socket, masking tape, utility knife, box of 9mm bullets, RTV
Notes on installation:
1. Despite what the website says, this part will work fine for a '94 B3000. I have no clue why they don't have the B3000 on the correct vehicle list.
2. If you give Coverlay a color code they will match your dash color perfectly. I didn't care and chose one of the default 15 colors, dark grey in this case.
3. Preparation is the key here. Make sure that your target dash surface has all raised edges from cracks cut out or smoothed out and has been cleaned throughly so there is no grease or oil that would mar adhesion of the RTV that is included with the part. I used cleaning alcohol to prep the surface. You must also clean the underside of the part so that any paint overspray gets cleaned up. I also suggest that you have the trim bezel that goes around the center dash and the instrument cluster out when you do this. This allows good access to where the dashpad will sit on the dash in the front so that you can tape it down later to have a firm adhesion.
4. If you haven't worked with RTV, then do a little reading before you crack the tube. RTV skins relatively quickly so you have to work fast once you open the tube and make your placement on the dash in one shot so you don't wind up with a giant mess to clean. RTV likes to go everywhere you don't want it to be so working fast and precise is the trick. Measure twice cut once no?
5. In the case of the older Rangers/B Series there are 4 screws on the top of the dash that hold things down nicely up near the windshield. Masking tape works fine to keep the sides of the dashpad in place but you will need some heavy objects to keep the border around the defrost vent from popping up. I used a box of 9mm bullets. Wedged nicely up against the windshield. You will need to drill out those screwholes in the dashpad before you place it.
6. After placement, taping and heavy objects I would suggest leaving the doors open on your vehicle as the included RTV smells to high heaven. Let dry for a day or so then check out your work. I had to go back and tack down a side of the dashpad as the RTV had smeared during placement and didn't take.
And you're done! I really like the results. I'll take some pictures tomorrow so I can add them to the thread. At a price of around 140 USD I found this to be a good compromise between doing nothing or tearing out the entire dash and replacing it with another used one. It also just so happens to match the new vinyl floor I just put in so pretty pumped about that. I will make a installation guide for that as well in a separate post.
Company website: https://coverlaymfg.com/
Part I used: 12-114-DGR
Total Prep and installation time: Around 2 hours
Tools Used: battery powered drill with drill bit kit, shop towels, cleaning alcohol, 1/4 drive rachet with 7mm socket, masking tape, utility knife, box of 9mm bullets, RTV
Notes on installation:
1. Despite what the website says, this part will work fine for a '94 B3000. I have no clue why they don't have the B3000 on the correct vehicle list.
2. If you give Coverlay a color code they will match your dash color perfectly. I didn't care and chose one of the default 15 colors, dark grey in this case.
3. Preparation is the key here. Make sure that your target dash surface has all raised edges from cracks cut out or smoothed out and has been cleaned throughly so there is no grease or oil that would mar adhesion of the RTV that is included with the part. I used cleaning alcohol to prep the surface. You must also clean the underside of the part so that any paint overspray gets cleaned up. I also suggest that you have the trim bezel that goes around the center dash and the instrument cluster out when you do this. This allows good access to where the dashpad will sit on the dash in the front so that you can tape it down later to have a firm adhesion.
4. If you haven't worked with RTV, then do a little reading before you crack the tube. RTV skins relatively quickly so you have to work fast once you open the tube and make your placement on the dash in one shot so you don't wind up with a giant mess to clean. RTV likes to go everywhere you don't want it to be so working fast and precise is the trick. Measure twice cut once no?
5. In the case of the older Rangers/B Series there are 4 screws on the top of the dash that hold things down nicely up near the windshield. Masking tape works fine to keep the sides of the dashpad in place but you will need some heavy objects to keep the border around the defrost vent from popping up. I used a box of 9mm bullets. Wedged nicely up against the windshield. You will need to drill out those screwholes in the dashpad before you place it.
6. After placement, taping and heavy objects I would suggest leaving the doors open on your vehicle as the included RTV smells to high heaven. Let dry for a day or so then check out your work. I had to go back and tack down a side of the dashpad as the RTV had smeared during placement and didn't take.
And you're done! I really like the results. I'll take some pictures tomorrow so I can add them to the thread. At a price of around 140 USD I found this to be a good compromise between doing nothing or tearing out the entire dash and replacing it with another used one. It also just so happens to match the new vinyl floor I just put in so pretty pumped about that. I will make a installation guide for that as well in a separate post.