Fiberglassing dash
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=80366
Printed Date: April 25, 2024 at 5:56 PM
Topic: Fiberglassing dash
Posted By: dan476
Subject: Fiberglassing dash
Date Posted: July 16, 2006 at 7:59 PM
hey guys, I got an old dash that is in pretty bad condition, got a lot of cracks and is a little bent because of cracks. could you tell me what would be the best way to fiberglass it? should i use some sort of foam to plug up the cracks and also when surface is uneven (one side looks like it has a dip in it) what should i do to even it out?
 ------------- ~Dan
Replies:
Posted By: smurphalurph
Date Posted: July 16, 2006 at 8:31 PM
poor dash.. must be getting old, its starting to sag.. if anything you could use something like bondo hair, tiger hair, ect. to fill in the cracks, sand it down, and glass over top. just make sure you prep first.
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When you do things right, people won't realize you've done anything at all.
Posted By: crazyoldcougar
Date Posted: July 16, 2006 at 8:39 PM
well that particular dash looks like it is vinyl over foam, in an older car it is most likey fused to a pressed cardboard armature...
you will have to strip the foam and vinyl off and from there it should be a pretty straight forward glassing project..
i have to tell you though there are always suprises and this may not be an easy task.. you will most likely have to temporaily reinforce the underside of the dash, especially the edges, as when you glass it and it cures, it will most likely twist, warp and shrink on you..
it may be easier to just build a fully new dash, with a wood skeleton and strech it with fabric...and there again that is no easy task either..
both task would most likely require you pulling the windshield, as there ia certain amount of work that will hae to be done in the car...
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Fiberglass Guru.
Posted By: dan476
Date Posted: July 16, 2006 at 10:06 PM
it is an older car and as far as i know dash consists of hard leather cover and foam underneath, I am not sure about anything else, but i'll check tomorrow when i pull the dash.
guys what should i do to level out sagging?
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~Dan
Posted By: lowriden_acura
Date Posted: July 17, 2006 at 10:24 AM
porsche 944? Mine was like that as well.
Posted By: Melted Fabric
Date Posted: July 17, 2006 at 12:38 PM
When you fiberglass it, how do you want it to look after you are done?
Will you be making a copy of your current dash and do it in fiberglass?
Are you making a fiberglass "cover" for your dash?
Or... Are you just trying to correct those cracks and keep your dash looking the same?
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I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best -- that is inspiration.
Posted By: dan476
Date Posted: July 17, 2006 at 3:29 PM
yeah it is a 944
i would like to keep that dash as stock as possible to the design, but i would like to fiberglass over it, then paint it and clear coat it.
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~Dan
Posted By: dan476
Date Posted: July 17, 2006 at 9:45 PM
guys what should i use to fill in the sagging? should i use a foam of some sort and then sand it down to a level? or should i use some sort of body filler? I am hoping there is some sort of foam.
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~Dan
Posted By: sawhit4
Date Posted: July 17, 2006 at 11:19 PM
Do you mean use foam on top of the dash to fill the gap? or spray under the dash to push it back up? I dont think you could use a foam on top of the dash to fill the gap, unless you were going to recover it in vinyl. Body filler might stick, but i dont know how good it would work. You might need to look for another one.
Posted By: dan476
Date Posted: July 18, 2006 at 5:24 AM
yes i mean foam on top of the dash, all i need is to make a form as in fill those gaps to level out the surface, then fleece it and glass over.
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~Dan
Posted By: Melted Fabric
Date Posted: July 18, 2006 at 10:19 AM
You can use one of the products below to fill in the cracks and crevices but be careful of your measurements, since it expands.
Hope this helps or is in the direction of what you are looking for.
Fibreglast Foam Products
Shopman Inc Foam Products
Also, I would try to use a body filler with say, fiberglass combined into it, I think someone mentioned Tiger Hair.
Tiger Hair LINK 01
Tiger Hair LINK 02
 ------------- I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best -- that is inspiration.
Posted By: dan476
Date Posted: July 18, 2006 at 6:53 PM
what type of adheasive will not fall apart once resin is applied?
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~Dan
Posted By: crazyoldcougar
Date Posted: July 18, 2006 at 9:04 PM
none of those products will fall appart once resined over...most adhesives will fall apart though..
i would take this as you will though...glassing directly over the leather with not be the best solution though..since it is leather i would scuff the hell out of it to open the pores up, this will allow the resin to soak into it and adhere better...
and one other thing clear coating you dash will be a very bad idea in my honest opinion..the glare while you are driving will be unbareable...i would paint it satin finish..
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Fiberglass Guru.
Posted By: dan476
Date Posted: July 18, 2006 at 9:08 PM
Thanks for info Cougar, do u know if there is any type of adhesive at all that i can use to spray under fleece?
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~Dan
Posted By: smurphalurph
Date Posted: July 19, 2006 at 4:44 AM
i believe 3m makes a high heat spray
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When you do things right, people won't realize you've done anything at all.
Posted By: davedyer79
Date Posted: July 19, 2006 at 9:26 AM
MeltedFabric's selection of foam from Select Products won't fall apart when resin is applied,and I agree with crazyoldcougar, the clear on the dash will have a heck of a glare. If this is not a daily driver, then it should be okay. If you want as stock as possible, get some SEM texture, play around with it until you match the texture, then dye is back to the factory color. Also, to correct the dip just apply a layer of foam, then sand and use a level or your eye until the sag is gone. Then lay fabric over, resin, etc... Also, IMO, I would not use fleece on the dash because of its thickness. I would use t-shirt material or equivalent, something that will stretch and will not be so thick. You reall dont need a material to lay down unless you are building some sort of pod or something. If you are following the contours of the original dash, just scuff the heck out of the dash and start laying glass. Like stated above, be careful not to put too many layer on at once, or your dash will warp, twist, and go into strange shapes and you wont be able to screw it back in. Just couple of layers should do the trick. Good luck. ------------- davedyer79
Posted By: dan476
Date Posted: July 19, 2006 at 3:44 PM
Dave, are u saying i do not have to use any material to lay over the dash before the mat at all? i've never even thought about it, to tell you the truth. somehow i assumed that i had to fleece(or equivalent there of) before glassing over
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~Dan
Posted By: Melted Fabric
Date Posted: July 19, 2006 at 4:11 PM
Not to answer for Dave, but yea fleece is useful as a "guide" or if you doing custom curves and shapes. One thing my mind tells me to tell you is to strip that vinyl or leather off and then fiberglass on top of it, because unless you can the tools to scuff of that material like a knee cap sliding across a sidewalk of rough concrete.
The resin needs something to bite, cling, set, bind into. By scuffing, scraping, destroying, ...however you want to phrase it, the surface, it will allow such binding to take place.
Fiberglass on top of it, with however many layers you were intending, hopefully one is your minimum  and you will be good to go. ------------- I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best -- that is inspiration.
Posted By: dan476
Date Posted: July 19, 2006 at 4:25 PM
Hey, thanks for quick response, yeah i took vinyl off now and got a bunch of warped, cracked and sagged foam. I am going to try and find some polyurethane foam in my area to level out the top, the rest seems alright, then i am going to scuff up the rest of the foam and glass over it.
By the way anyone from Toronto area knows where to get Polyurethane pour foam locally?
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~Dan
Posted By: Melted Fabric
Date Posted: July 19, 2006 at 6:01 PM
Well, I am bored at work, I do not mind the giving quick responses at all hahaha.
Well, if you have the foam exposed now , you do not need to scuff it persay. Make sure it is in good condition, you know, usable and lay down foil over it (taping it at all seams so resin will not leak through) lay down resin and fiberglass on top of that.
The reason I suggested seperating it, is because you still most likely want the foam to do it's job of being a cushion, if you soak resin into it, it will harden.
Also, if you do not want foil stuck to the back of your fiberglass panel / dash top then read these Tips on using a Mold Release Agent
Mold Release Agent - a substance spread on your piece so resin does not stick and the piece can be removed from what it is on top of without tears and anger. ------------- I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best -- that is inspiration.
Posted By: dan476
Date Posted: July 19, 2006 at 7:58 PM
hey, i've never really given a thought about hard or soft foam, i really do not think it will make a difference underneath the fiberglass. Also I am not planning on separating dash and fg after i am done glassing
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~Dan
Posted By: dan476
Date Posted: July 19, 2006 at 8:43 PM
so what do u guys suggest for the painting part? What type of paint should i use and how should i finish it?
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~Dan
Posted By: silverfocuszx3
Date Posted: July 24, 2006 at 5:14 AM
I have been in a few cars with fully painted dashes. So its kind of like you need to decided how much are you going to be driving the car and if you are bothered by a reflection on the windshield. A white dash will have a very strong reflection and almost blinding. Drove a vehicle with a dash like this and it was hell in the daytime. There were times honestly where the image in the windshield was blending into things on the road. A friend has a car with a black dash painted and cleared dash and there is a reflection but it isnt bad. Like you see the outline of the dash in the windsheild but it isnt really blinding. You see it but after a bit of driving it seems to just disapear. I would compare it too driving a car with a LOT of armor all on the dash. So I think the darkness or lightness of the color will play a large roll. Even if you are thinking of doing a flat color with no gloss try putting something on your dash in the daylight and see how it is. Like put a white peice of paper on your dash and see if it reflects strongly and if it would bother you if you had a large reflection like this on the lower half of your windshield.
Posted By: Melted Fabric
Date Posted: July 24, 2006 at 11:09 AM
I'd recommend painting part of your dash but just laying down a non-gloss texture for the area that will reflect.
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I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best -- that is inspiration.
Posted By: dan476
Date Posted: August 13, 2006 at 9:48 PM
thanks for the info guys, I am about to start glassing this week. how many layers of fiberglass would you guys suggest?
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~Dan
Posted By: xtremekustomz
Date Posted: August 14, 2006 at 12:36 PM
I will be totally honest with you about trying to fix that dash. It will work for a little while fiberglassing over it.....but what the dash has is stress cracks. It will evenetually show back up. It may be a week ort may be a year...but it will eventually come back. Just giving you a heads up before you spend alot of time on it. It looks like the dash has the common foam/vinyl on the top. That layer will continue to expand and contract with the heat and if you have the fiberglass attached to it, it will pull the fiberglass apart. If I were you I would try to take the old layer of vinyl off and try to fix the plastic underneath then re-vinyl it. Paint causes a really bad glare and I would only recomment painting if it isn't a daily driver. Anyway...that was my 2 cents. Good luck though!
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