Best method to fix cracks on dash?

[Brain75]

I know why you bought the paint, it isn't that you want it perfect, you just don't want to start in on the huge task of pulling the current one.

 

[jballard81]

I know why you bought the paint, it isn't that you want it perfect, you just don't want to start in on the huge task of pulling the current one.

You're not wrong...

 

[Brain75]

fwiw, I have a crack that is about 60% as bad as your new donor started out... I haven't done anything with it other than buy the materials.

 

[jballard81]

fwiw, I have a crack that is about 60% as bad as your new donor started out... I haven't done anything with it other than buy the materials.

Might see it in the background of some of my pics but I have new wheel bearings and ball joints waiting patiently to go in too

 

[IRKillroy]

I came here to say, this is what I will now do for My '88 Ranger dash pad. I don't want to go too crazy with fixing it, I plan to make it matte black (reduce glare) and I love the texture paint idea to hide the imperfections rather than playing around with all the other complex methods. I appreciate you posting this. I'll have to remember to post me repairing mine so there is more of these available!

 

[jballard81]

I came here to say, this is what I will now do for My '88 Ranger dash pad. I don't want to go too crazy with fixing it, I plan to make it matte black (reduce glare) and I love the texture paint idea to hide the imperfections rather than playing around with all the other complex methods. I appreciate you posting this. I'll have to remember to post me repairing mine so there is more of these available!

Saw it on a YouTube video somewhere. I have to say the texture has held up well. It's under a couple layers of paint. I was worried it might want to flake off at some point but it's well hardened up.

 

[IRKillroy]

Saw it on a YouTube video somewhere. I have to say the texture has held up well. It's under a couple layers of paint. I was worried it might want to flake off at some point but it's well hardened up.

I will say that I found some pour liquid foam instead of the spray in kind that I intend to use to fill the cracks. Seems to be the way JustDashes fills the cracks before they sand the rest of the old vinyl off (which I won't be doing). Just thought I'd come through to share that the 6lb density floatation foam is adequate density for a dash pad.

Obviously find a kit that fits your budget and there are other companies that have variable expansion formulas.

2-Part Polyurethane Expanding Marine Flotation Foam

2-part expanding polyurethane marine flotation foam for permanent flotation, insulation, and soundproofing. Cures to a 94% closed cell marine grade foam.

www.totalboat.com

 

[jballard81]

Wanted to make an update post. It's been about a year since I installed the refurb'd dash.

and... it's cracking again.

The failure point appears to be the super fine layer of body filler I put on top of the spray foam. I don't think it was strong enough to flex with the foam as the dash heats and cools throughout the day. On the bright side, the crack is super fine (so far...) and barely noticeable. It hasn't started to peel up like the vinyl did. Unless something drastic happens or I have WAY too much time on my hands, I don't plan on re-addressing this.

BUT, if i do and knowing what I do now about body filler (admittedly not much still), I would do some things differently. This was my first project using body filler, though I'm glad it was b/c the 2nd was body work and painting my truck lol.

For all the cracks, i would have still notched them out, but instead of using window spray foam, I would have used something like IRKillroy mentioned or fiberglass reinforced filler to get a stronger base in for the crack 'fix'. Then, finished it out with regular filler or spot putty. I'm still happy with the trunk bed texturing. I would have spent a bit more time/money to find a matte version of the paint i used as well. It gives an annoying glare onto the windshield when the sun is directly overhead.