Custom Dash for 99’ Ram
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Fiberglass, Fabrication, and Interiors
Forum Discription: Fiberglass Kick Panels, Subwoofer Enclosures, Plexiglas, Fabrics, Materials, Finishes, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=48766
Printed Date: April 28, 2024 at 8:50 AM
Topic: Custom Dash for 99’ Ram
Posted By: sykoaudio
Subject: Custom Dash for 99’ Ram
Date Posted: January 27, 2005 at 10:18 PM
Got a question.... I want to make a fiberglass dash for my Dad's truck. I want to know if there is any way that I can fiberglass over the original dash, if I can, how do I go about doing it. If I can't what other way's can I do it. Please help. By the way, this will be my first fiberglassing project, so the easier the better, but if not it will be well worth the experience. Thanks, Chris
Replies:
Posted By: Knownuser04
Date Posted: January 27, 2005 at 11:41 PM
Just my 2 cents, but a '99 dash is a very big project to start on. Not only is it going to be expensive to fix, but its going to be a bitch to get looking good as a first time project. Im not in any way trying to steer you away, but maybe you could start with a custom box first or somthing to get the basics down...unless of course you have access to people who are experienced. To answer your question though, it depends what you want to do. If you want to make a fiberglass dash, you could look into foam molds, im sure there are many other ways of going about making a new dash, but making a mold comes to mind first. If you do decide to make a mold of some sort, realize this is going to be much harder than just covering the existing dash. Im not sure if your after a full custom look, or just the look of a smooth painted surface. If you just want to get the look of fiberglass by either putting a few layers of fiberglass over the existing dash, that is also a possibility im sure. Im not sure what material is on the dash right now, but that will be one thing to consiter. Either route you choose is going to be a big learning experience as a first project. Im no fiberglass guru, and there are many people on this board who can answer your questions, this is just my opinion. If you do plan on tackling this project, i wish you the best of luck, and look forward to seeing pics of your project. Hope this helps. -------------
Posted By: realitycheck
Date Posted: January 28, 2005 at 7:57 AM
If you just want a painted surface you should be able to remove the dash, pull off all the vinyl and remove all the foam stuff thats on it. Then you should have a plastic mold underneath it and you just sand it down to about 320 make sure you sand all of it down smooth, start with like a 80 grit or something to get all the glue off, just dont go deep with it just get the glue off. Then work your way up in grits and go to about 320, then you should be good to go. Primer it, if you want an extremely smooth surface wet sand your primer, then primer again and paint.
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Learning the trade one fiberglass creation at a time!
Posted By: djdaveoc
Date Posted: January 29, 2005 at 4:20 AM
I'm going to make a glass dash for my 2000 Dakota. I had to take off the plastic dash cover pieces and I'm going to make an MDF frame like the Alpine guys did for the show car. Then I'll stretch fleece over it and glass that. Then I'll add a few more layers of glass on that. I'm also custom adding a 10" monitor and PS2 in the dash. I'll have pics up within a few weeks as I'm going to Vegas next weekend for a bachelor party. -------------  Plan, Research, Do
Posted By: Captanham
Date Posted: February 17, 2005 at 2:27 PM
yea i wanna see pics of that, i would be really interested dave, i just did a really minor dash on a 99 dakota, just a 7 incher in the dash, radio on the floor in a pod kinda deal, so i would like to see what this big project is gonna look like, you'll make me wish i did something crazy i'm sure, haha, good luck ------------- Bad Boys Customs
audio - video - security
If you use it. Suport it. Donate to the 12 volt!
Posted By: djdaveoc
Date Posted: February 17, 2005 at 4:47 PM
I'm a fiberglass virgin but I have lots of good info from this site. And my truck is already ripped up, so I can't back out now. I've been busy the past week interviewing for a new job since I'm out of work, so I haven't been able to do much, and now it's raining. So hopefully I'll progress soon. I'll post more pics when the time comes. ------------- Plan, Research, Do
Posted By: hzemall
Date Posted: February 18, 2005 at 7:59 PM
You can tape off your stock dash and pull a fiberglass mold off of it......................if you want to paint your stock dash, you don't have to strip the vinyl off, simply spray it with several coats of high build primer, the stuff I use, you can dig your nail into the vinyl and it won't crack.......................
If your going to be driving the truck lots, you should find out certain safety issues before you start incase you get pulled over...............a MDF dash will hurt like hell if your in a accident.........
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Tim Baillie
Installer/Designer/Fabricator
Certified Autosound & Security
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