Dash work

[Range_Uon84]

Hello, I have an 84 ford ranger and as you know with any older vehicle the dash has started cracking and dry rotting. I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a place online that might remanufature those model top padded dash's that screws to the metal dash frame with the vents in them and everything?

 

[Angie]

you can try lmc truck parts

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fr/full.aspx?Page=51

 

[Mark_88]

I recently was advised that the dash covers that LMC carries are designed to go over top of the original dash so it will hide any blemishes like cracks or faded vinyl. I had thought they were intended as replacement parts but not so...

They will look better than the older one for sure...

I took mine out and sanded it down then painted the metal with a matte finish paint...not hard to go that extra step if you want to and if the dash needs a touchup.

 

[Angie]

Hi Mark, wasn't aware that they were dash caps... thought maybe the whole thing was rebuilt.

If you google fixing dashes you might find a company that re-blow forms them... at a car show or some thing ( i can't remember now) i seen a place that was doing that... or was a website i stumbled into.

 

[Mark_88]

Hi Angie,

Yes, I was surprised when I learned that and it says so right on the LMC page but I never read it until this was pointed out.

I was fortunate to actually find a Gen I Ranger with a dash in near perfect condition aside from the rough looking paint. They can still be found if we search...only a matter of how much of our $$$$ we must part with to acquire those coveted parts...

 

[Shran]

The dash caps that LMC sells are not really ideal, often the dash under them has been deformed so much that they do not fit very well.

The ideal situation, I think, would be to sand down the cracked sections of the factory dash so that it's flat and then fiberglass over the whole thing. It wouldn't have the factory texture look but it would be a lot better than simply covering it up.

 

[fyre82]

I installed one of the caps on my '88 to cover the cracked dash pad. It painted up well and fit fine, but the pad wasn't warped, just cracked.

 

[straycat]

If the dash cap is not a good idea then just buy another dash. Get a great used one or buy another new one. Check Ebay for 84 dashes or see what years will replace yours. I know that a few years will work on yours.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The dash caps that LMC sells are not really ideal, often the dash under them has been deformed so much that they do not fit very well.

The ideal situation, I think, would be to sand down the cracked sections of the factory dash so that it's flat and then fiberglass over the whole thing. It wouldn't have the factory texture look but it would be a lot better than simply covering it up.

The covers don't really look bad, if someone isn't a RBV enthusiast they probably wouldn't know the difference.

 

[Shran]

The covers don't really look bad, if someone isn't a RBV enthusiast they probably wouldn't know the difference.

Probably true, just seems to be on the same level as riveting patch panels over rust holes without actually fixing the problem, to me anyway.

 

[Mark_88]

Probably true, just seems to be on the same level as riveting patch panels over rust holes without actually fixing the problem, to me anyway.

I've done that... and by the time I actually got around to replacing the whole panel it was time to replace the whole box...just one step ahead of me that rust was...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Probably true, just seems to be on the same level as riveting patch panels over rust holes without actually fixing the problem, to me anyway.

Filling in rust holes with bondo and fiberglass isn't much if any better.

The ideal fix is to replace the pad and I think everyone knows that... but good ones don't really grow on trees.

 

[Shran]

Filling in rust holes with bondo and fiberglass isn't much if any better.

The ideal fix is to replace the pad and I think everyone knows that... but good ones don't really grow on trees.

What about spray foam?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

What about spray foam?

Closed cell