what do you use to keep the cracks from getting worse? i know i am not alone with this problem.

 

good question...

 

a buddy of mine who has another 1st gen uses coco cream (not butter) which is some industrial moistorizer and it keep the cracks from continueing. You just spread it on the dash and it keeps it protected, not to mention shiny.

 

Dashcaps.com

 

i have a dash mat i am trying to get rid of i almost threw it away

 

Thats how I fix dash cracks too!

 

$100.00 after freight and color other than black. i think i will do some research and experiment. i have to build a bumper and a roof rack before i can buy a dashcap. thanks for the help..

 

One thing that might help is to loosen the nut on the underside holding the dash down.
Notice how all the dashes crack in the same place? Guess where that nut is.

If you loosen (or remove) just that one, it should allow enough flex in the dash to prevent cracking, but the remaining bolts will hold it in OK.
That's just a bet. Mine has a big-ol crack that's been steadily getting longer.
But i acquired one of those cheap black plastic covers free, so someday I'll just cover it up...

 

I used a flat screwdriver and filled mine in with some gray Permatex RTV. It matches pretty good.

Rob

 

i ended up paying $50 for a used one with a couple cracks and id like to find some way to prevent it from cracking further as well. I threw a black dashmat on it as well to protect it some.

 

How do you get to that nut to loosen it? Is it best just to loosen it a little, or just remove it altogether?

 

after some research here is what i found out.
vaseline helps prevent the cracks and keeps then form getting worse
GE Silicone II fills the cracks and keeps them from getting bigger.
vinyl paint for touch up, hell i might even paint my dash red
i will be the fool and try the above this weekend.

 

Try PC7. It's used to repair steering wheel cracks.

 

what is it, and where do you get it?

 

PC7 is an epoxy putty/glue

Hardware store has it

 

thanks ewong

 

x2. i have much worse cracks than yours. i have few cross over the whole dash, the heat from the california sunshine doesn't help either. good thing about the epoxy putty is it's very cheap, easy to use and resistant to heat.

cover the edges with masking tape, fill the crack with putty, brush over some touch up paint. you will be done in few minutes.

i bought a Coverking dash mat for $30 from autoanything.com. it fits like a glove. more importantly i used to have a lot of glares on the windsheild from the shinny surface of the dash, but now i got none because of the dashmat.

 

I don't know if this will help much (its really for cosmetic purposes) but I used to work in a body shop and when the interior repair guy would come in to repair broken glass related cuts in dashboards and leatherette seats, he would lay a piece of grainy leather over the repaired area to to imprint/recreate the grainy texture of the original dash surface. I can't recall what type of product he used to fill the cracks/cuts though.

 

yes it helps. i am going to do both the silicone and pc7, one for each crack and see which one works better. texturing will help it blend in for sure. thanks

 

I have heard people using Herculiner when they do their floor or bed. I am thinking I might do this with mine. It would create a great non slip surface and match the lower half of my exterior. I am also toying with the possibly of buying a coverlay dash if I can afford it. They are about $120.

http://www.coverlaymfg.com/index.php...on=show_detail