LMC Truck Coverlay Dash Covers for first gen Rangers any good?

[RayInStl]

The dash in my 83 Ranger is terribly cracked/damaged. I see LMC truck has Coverlay molded dash covers for $132.95. Has anyone tried these? If you have, can you post some pictures of the results? I tried searching the forums but only found references to them, but nobody that showed how they look.

These are what I'm talking about: https://www.lmctruck.com/new-products/fr-1983-88-molded-plastic-dash-covers

Thanks!

 

[4x4junkie]

I have a Coverlay on my 1990.

The end result I'm quite happy with, but it did require a bit of trimming and figuring out ways to get the vent registers to fit and look correct. Not sure if the same would be the case on your '83 ('83-'88). Overall I would recommend it.

 

[RayInStl]

Thanks! That's a good looking dash. I think I'm gonna do it once I finish the engine swap. Appreciate the feedback.

 

[svtcards]

I bought 1 for my 87 and it started cracking and bubbling in the summer sun. There's really no other option unless u found a OEM dash to replace it with in really good condition.

 

[RayInStl]

Hmmm. Maybe I'll try recovering my original, and get a cover if that turns out poorly, then. Thanks for letting me know about the issues you had.

 

[SenorNoob]

IF you try to recover yourself and it goes poorly it could fitting the Coverlay part harder.

 

[4x4junkie]

I bought 1 for my 87 and it started cracking and bubbling in the summer sun. There's really no other option unless u found a OEM dash to replace it with in really good condition.

Do you have a pic?
It almost sounds like you got a defective part... Mines been parked in the So. California summer sun on 110°F days and so far it's been good. This last summer was the third one for it.

 

[superj]

When we moved to texas from socal, i learned something about the sun that i would never have thought about.

In socal, i would always put cassette tapes on the center console and dash of my car, never thought anything about it and they never had trouble. The first summer we moved to south texas, i came out from school and jumped in the car and a cassette tape to pop in and play and it melted and was curved to match where it was sitting on the dash. All my tapes that were not in the carrier but were laying in the sun had melted.


So it might be the state that other overlay lives in could just have a more direct shot of sun, too

 

[4x4junkie]

His profile shows he's in Maine.

 

[svtcards]

Do you have a pic?
It almost sounds like you got a defective part... Mines been parked in the So. California summer sun on 110°F days and so far it's been good. This last summer was the third one for it.

I had 1 in my 83 ranger many yrs B4 this truck and had same issue. Also the plastic is painted/ dyed to color. Its not different colored plastics fyi.

 

[4x4junkie]

Wow, that is something... It kindof looks like a concentration of sunlight must've hit it (maybe from a reflection off the glass or something you were parked next to). It being black probably also contributed. Yeah they need to use more heat-resistant plastic, especially if they're going to offer them in black.

I'll need to keep an eye on mine then... We did have another near-all-time record-breaker again one day this last Sept. where I'm at (119°F). Fortunately it was parked in the shade that day.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I installed one on a 1984 Ford Bronco II XLS and it turned out great.

1984 Ford Bronco II XLS B2 Marauder - Bronco Corral

 

[svtcards]

I installed one on a 1984 Ford Bronco II XLS and it turned out great.

1984 Ford Bronco II XLS B2 Marauder - Bronco Corral

Give it time

 

[superj]

I use a dash carpet instead od those

 

[RayInStl]

It has one of those on it now. It looks ok, but id rather fix the dash.