Dash restoration

[Justin51982]

Last night I read a lot on the dashes and binnacle. The reviews on the replacement dash from DMCH was not making me all that excited.

On a couple old forums I was part of some people used a company called fibrenew to restore dashes. Seats, consoles, c-pillars, etc.

Anyway I called them up, explained my dash (cracked and heavily discolored), the car and they think they can do it and give me a quote. I'm going to snap some photos of the dash tonight and send them to him.

Has anyone else done or tried this?

I'll keep everyone posted on what I find out.

[Gfrank]

Couldn't comment on the people your talking about, but another good company is dashes direct. I'm sure they could help you out.

On that note, Im quite happy with my one dmch dash

[David T]

Another company that is very good but expensive is Just Dashes. If I were faced with a faded, cracked dash and binnacle and didn't care about originality I would see about having it all covered in leather. A really good local shop could do that. I would also have the console and door panels done to match and maybe the back panel for the package shelf.

[TTait]

Another company that is very good but expensive is Just Dashes. If I were faced with a faded, cracked dash and binnacle and didn't care about originality I would see about having it all covered in leather. A really good local shop could do that. I would also have the console and door panels done to match and maybe the back panel for the package shelf.

I had heard Just Dashes did a great job as well - they strip all the old rigid foam off and rebuild from the frame up. I went by their shop about 5 years ago. The right guy to give me a quote was not there, but they said it would probably be $750 to $1500. I just bought a Houston one at that point.

3238 came to me with a dash that had been quickly recovered by a vinyl guy. It looked acceptable, but I knew the foam underneath still had cracks, and the speaker holes did not line up perfectly. I was afraid that eventually the new vinyl on top might crack too. As I had to take the dash out anyway - I decided to replace it even though it was not bad. Again I put in a Houston dash as I am not unhappy with the results. Sold the recovered one.

I should note that I've never been thrilled with the color match of the grey between all the options that ended up going in either car - leather binnacle, Houston Dash, NOS glove box doors, Houston seat covers, Vintage knee pads, doors and center consoles, recovered A and B pillars, etc. For that reason I have always chosen to dye everything but the leather pieces (including the Houston plastic dashes) to get them to all match each other. The dye was a excellent match to some of those pieces, so now at least all the vinyl and plastic is the same color.

The budget dash recover I got with the car was a pretty good job - looked a lot better than a cracked and brown one, but it was still not as good looking as a Houston unit. I'd probably rate a concours original dash as an A+, guess that Just Dashes would give you an A (I assume there would be some minor fitment issues if they rebuilt all the foam without having a car to test fit it in), and Houston you get an A- to B depending on the care you take installing it and shimming it up properly to the defrost vents. The budget recover was a B. Cracked dashes would then fall in the C- to F range for me.

Hope that helps...?

[Gfrank]

Sorry, I was talking just dashes aswell not dashe direct
Must also note I dyed my dmch dash aswell apillars etc

[sdg3205]

I was quoted approximately $2,500 from just dashes for recovering the dash, binnacle and glove box lid.

Plus shipping those massive pieces. I've heard only good things. You get what you pay for.

[PJ Grady Inc.]

I was quoted approximately $2,500 from just dashes for recovering the dash, binnacle and glove box lid.

Plus shipping those massive pieces. I've heard only good things. You get what you pay for.

From what I can gather their pricing varies greatly depending on who you talk to and the time of day!

[TTait]

I was quoted approximately $2,500 from just dashes for recovering the dash, binnacle and glove box lid.

Plus shipping those massive pieces. I've heard only good things. You get what you pay for.

If the only thing stopping you is the shipping costs - I'll pick them up at the greyhound station and take them over to them, then ship them back same way. All in all though if you are up for the cost of the work, shipping is the least of your worries.

[sdg3205]

If the only thing stopping you is the shipping costs - I'll pick them up at the greyhound station and take them over to them, then ship them back same way. All in all though if you are up for the cost of the work, shipping is the least of your worries.

Its more the exchange rate for me these days. You have to factor in about an additional 20% above posted costs.

The other variable is priority - I'd rather invest in spec 1/2 upgrades first. My dash and binnacle aren't pretty, but not enough to bother me these days at 1,000 miles a year :)

[Justin51982]

Just Dashes called me and quoted me $2000.

I think that my plan is going to be just to buy the replacement from DMC, have the binnacle recovered (or even try to recover it myself?) and then have the glove box dyed to match.

Probably the best and most cost efficient way without getting ripped off.

Still scratching my head on what to do with my severely bent A-Pillars.

[alexwolf1216]

Just Dashes called me and quoted me $2000.

I think that my plan is going to be just to buy the replacement from DMC, have the binnacle recovered (or even try to recover it myself?) and then have the glove box dyed to match.

Probably the best and most cost efficient way without getting ripped off.

Still scratching my head on what to do with my severely bent A-Pillars.

Order new ones? $116 isnt awful. Or, look for a parts car where somoene has them in good shape.