I did the same thing, earlier this summer. Went with the plastic dash cover on my 80 Camaro. I choose not to glue it down as my dash fit pretty tight without glue. Should be easy to remove if I have to in the future. So far, its been great and cheap, easy fix for my old cracked dash.
best way to do these plastic covers is to trim your old one up so it fits tight, and use windshield urethane to glue it all over the middle, and around all sides. urethane stays flexible but holds super super strong
I had debated doing this and I believe I may have even mentioned it in the video. But I’ve seen multiple online stories of people doing this and experiencing warping or even cracking of the cover in cold climates. That’s why I chose not to apply any adhesive to the center areas and allow the cover to be able to expand and contact at its own rate independent of the original dash pad.
@@BadLuckGarage yeah im bot sure on the camaro, ive done a few squarebody truck dash covers with 3m windshield urethane and they never warped or cracked. Have to use good glue that flexes and allows for flex/expansion but doesnt hold so tight that it breaks the plastic
Seems some people have better luck with them than I did. I’m not sure if it’s because of different manufactures or just bad quality control so some fit great and others not so much.
@@jonathanlawson4667 I put glue in the very center but not out to the sides. I only put it in the center because the fitment was so bad I wasn’t sure if the glue at the back edge would hold. I’m pretty sure the glue in the center let go as soon as I picked it up anyway though. 🤦🏼♂️
I put a fabric dash protector mat on mine about 30 years ago. Still does the job. But doubtful anyone makes them these days. In doing so my dash has done very well over the years.
I built a sheet metal dash top for mine then put one of these covers on it. Works great and can't even tell its metal. The windshield in these cars works like a magnifying glass, superheating stuff underneath it. Tint the windshield (not a lot) and it'll really help keep cracks from forming in the vinyl/plastic. Just saying what worked for me. Keep up the great content brother!
I laughed 😂 when you mentioned dropping one of the dash screws and not being able to find it. I did the exact same thing and I’ve never found it! It ended up looking good- a big improvement. The cover on mine is a better fit, so good that I didn’t realize it had a cover on it for the first 5 years I owned the car 🤦
Do you think this could work if i got my old dash got rid of all the plastic used some foam to fill in the cracks, sand it down and THAN put on this cover ?
I’m sure it would, but be mindful of what I said in the video about this not being a good option for a driver. If you park outside in the sun this cover WILL buckle and look like shit!
Brother that turned out good! I'm so doing this. You're right, it gets annoying looking at the cracks..... Do you think if you had more adhesive it would stick better? Regardless, it looks multitudes better than before!
As I said in the video, I would try to stick with adhesive primarily around the edges, and I DONT recommend this cover if the cars going to be sitting outside in the sun. It’s pretty thin and I’d be willing to bet it would buckle with enough exposure to direct sunlight.
Hey badluck I did the dash in my 88 s10 the company is called coverlay they make a big difference for not alot of money put weight on top and let it sit for 24 hour
Wouldn't recommend that, the factory dash has a steel backer panel under the foam, better option is to use 50 grit on a sander and cut out the high spots, silicon the cover on, and rock on. The plastic by itself being screwed down is gonna vibrate and shake, and likely break at screws
100% would NOT recommend this for a daily driver. It’ll start to buckle the first time it’s left in the sun. This car is garage kept and the dash cover did great until I had to park the car outside for a couple days this summer while I worked in one of our other vehicles. Cover immediately buckled despite me even having a sunscreen in the windshield. As I said in the video, don’t use this product on anything that’s left in the sun at all.
I did the same thing, earlier this summer. Went with the plastic dash cover on my 80 Camaro. I choose not to glue it down as my dash fit pretty tight without glue. Should be easy to remove if I have to in the future. So far, its been great and cheap, easy fix for my old cracked dash.
best way to do these plastic covers is to trim your old one up so it fits tight, and use windshield urethane to glue it all over the middle, and around all sides. urethane stays flexible but holds super super strong
I had debated doing this and I believe I may have even mentioned it in the video. But I’ve seen multiple online stories of people doing this and experiencing warping or even cracking of the cover in cold climates. That’s why I chose not to apply any adhesive to the center areas and allow the cover to be able to expand and contact at its own rate independent of the original dash pad.
@@BadLuckGarage yeah im bot sure on the camaro, ive done a few squarebody truck dash covers with 3m windshield urethane and they never warped or cracked. Have to use good glue that flexes and allows for flex/expansion but doesnt hold so tight that it breaks the plastic
This was good of you to share so "we" could see the trials and tribulations of using one of these covers, I had thought they fit better, not so I see.
Seems some people have better luck with them than I did. I’m not sure if it’s because of different manufactures or just bad quality control so some fit great and others not so much.
It wasn't the best option....but it was good enough for who its for!
That's the dash cap I used and mine is 3yr old and still looks like brand new
Yes do not glue the middle because it will wrinkle up 🤣🤣🤣 I just let mine free float on there with only glue being around my vents on each side
@@jonathanlawson4667 I put glue in the very center but not out to the sides. I only put it in the center because the fitment was so bad I wasn’t sure if the glue at the back edge would hold. I’m pretty sure the glue in the center let go as soon as I picked it up anyway though. 🤦🏼♂️
I put a fabric dash protector mat on mine about 30 years ago. Still does the job. But doubtful anyone makes them these days. In doing so my dash has done very well over the years.
They still make them. They’re around $30 on eBay. Just not the look I wanted.
I built a sheet metal dash top for mine then put one of these covers on it. Works great and can't even tell its metal. The windshield in these cars works like a magnifying glass, superheating stuff underneath it. Tint the windshield (not a lot) and it'll really help keep cracks from forming in the vinyl/plastic. Just saying what worked for me. Keep up the great content brother!
I’m actually thinking about doing something similar down the road depending on how well this holds up.
Turned out great especially for a racecar.
I laughed 😂 when you mentioned dropping one of the dash screws and not being able to find it. I did the exact same thing and I’ve never found it! It ended up looking good- a big improvement. The cover on mine is a better fit, so good that I didn’t realize it had a cover on it for the first 5 years I owned the car 🤦
Lol. Imma have to find one. Just knowing it’s missing is gonna drive me crazy. 🤣
#615 I i have a 86 firebird. Great info and a New subscriber.
I put one in my 84 Firebird and it actually looks great.
Yea I’m pretty happy with it in the end. Long term will be the test.
This is how I’m doing mine after seeing this. I’m happy with this to save $400
turned out pretty dag um good buddy !
Do you think this could work if i got my old dash got rid of all the plastic used some foam to fill in the cracks, sand it down and THAN put on this cover ?
I’m sure it would, but be mindful of what I said in the video about this not being a good option for a driver. If you park outside in the sun this cover WILL buckle and look like shit!
@@BadLuckGarage ill take your word for it and save the money haha i think ill just try to leather wrap it instead thanks for the advice man
Brother that turned out good! I'm so doing this. You're right, it gets annoying looking at the cracks..... Do you think if you had more adhesive it would stick better? Regardless, it looks multitudes better than before!
As I said in the video, I would try to stick with adhesive primarily around the edges, and I DONT recommend this cover if the cars going to be sitting outside in the sun. It’s pretty thin and I’d be willing to bet it would buckle with enough exposure to direct sunlight.
Looks good!
I’m pretty happy with it for what it is.
Hey badluck I did the dash in my 88 s10 the company is called coverlay they make a big difference for not alot of money put weight on top and let it sit for 24 hour
Yea this isn’t even branded. Just a cheap China knockoff.
when did you get the 4" hood?
Couple months after I got the car. I just usually don’t run it. Lol.
How is this holding up
Fine so far
Nothing wrong with it. Looks decent.
FYI, There now $50 with free shipping on ebay and I'm just going to install it without the old pad on a 82 trans am that I'm flipping lol
I’m about to do the same thing but I’m gonna throw the cracked dash in the trash and screw the cover down 🤷🏽♂️
Wouldn't recommend that, the factory dash has a steel backer panel under the foam, better option is to use 50 grit on a sander and cut out the high spots, silicon the cover on, and rock on. The plastic by itself being screwed down is gonna vibrate and shake, and likely break at screws
👍👍
2 months later: How did it go?
Fine so far
Nothing wrong with it it's a driver not meant to be perfect
100% would NOT recommend this for a daily driver. It’ll start to buckle the first time it’s left in the sun. This car is garage kept and the dash cover did great until I had to park the car outside for a couple days this summer while I worked in one of our other vehicles. Cover immediately buckled despite me even having a sunscreen in the windshield. As I said in the video, don’t use this product on anything that’s left in the sun at all.