Why the Hell does the Dash Crack??
it's funny though that on my car i park outside all the time in the texas weather which is childs play to these immortal like interior peices and i dont have a crack on my dash impacting what-ever-the-fkk-you-wanna-call-it pad with the defrostor vent. but on my friends car he has the crack all the way down to the windshield and always garage parks it 
and to answer your question as to why the dash cracks, it's one of GM's evil jokes, they know you have to look right over that and see it driving people insane1!!
and to answer your question as to why the dash cracks, it's one of GM's evil jokes, they know you have to look right over that and see it driving people insane1!!
ok some more day one stuff but i have a few opinions....LOL even my 94 dash looks brand new and has been outside since 1994 90% of the time...... keep it clean and treat it every few months with a protectant and if yout are gonna leave it outside for a long period of time like for vacation and ect put a inside windsheild thermal cover to protect the whole car from high temp not just the dash
I must be one of the lucky ones. My 95 still has the original dash pad with no cracks at all. Only thing I ever do to it is wipe it down with a damp rag every now and then to clean it off. Never even use a sun shade to cover it up either.
Well my car is an '01 and it sits in the sun a lot, I always use my sun visor and have had no problems, stays pretty freakin cool if you ask me, plus my side windows are tinted so I am sure that must help
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (32)
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,179
Likes: 2
From: Southside Chicago
Ok, my garaged 2002 TA has no cracks in it whatsoever. I'm guessin' it's the tinted front windshield that I have. I'm pretty sure it's jus' 35% too.
My 1996 Firebird has no cracks in it either and that is parked outside with no tint or sun visor and is subjected to the extreme cold and extreme heat of Chicago.
I guess it's a hit or miss type thing. My door panel cracked in my Trans Am. I stored it for winter and when I took it out the passenger side was cracked.
My 1996 Firebird has no cracks in it either and that is parked outside with no tint or sun visor and is subjected to the extreme cold and extreme heat of Chicago.
I guess it's a hit or miss type thing. My door panel cracked in my Trans Am. I stored it for winter and when I took it out the passenger side was cracked.
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On The Tree
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 153
Likes: 1
I had mine sanded smooth and painted with an automotive base/clear, charcoal color. Super glossy, got a big glare when driving. 3 days of sitting in the sun and the clear spider cracked across the entire piece.
Round 2- had the entire piece sanded down again and wrapped it in high quality black vinyl. I cut out the cross bars in the vent and sanded the edge of that entire opening. Took some black speaker cover material, stretched it and glued into place on the underside of the dash piece over that opening.
Looks awesome and zero problems. No I don't have pics and I'm not taking any.
Round 2- had the entire piece sanded down again and wrapped it in high quality black vinyl. I cut out the cross bars in the vent and sanded the edge of that entire opening. Took some black speaker cover material, stretched it and glued into place on the underside of the dash piece over that opening.
Looks awesome and zero problems. No I don't have pics and I'm not taking any.
Also another idea to prevent damage is to invest in a car cover, most take about 30 seconds to throw on and off so if it is going to sit for a long time then throw it on.
I plan on wrapping/covering my dash in black leather or something similar as I've seen pictures of someone doing this to their Firebird.
This guy wrapped his dash in vinyl:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/882312-dash-recovered-black-vinyl-pics.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/882312-dash-recovered-black-vinyl-pics.html
More details on this please...
Also another idea to prevent damage is to invest in a car cover, most take about 30 seconds to throw on and off so if it is going to sit for a long time then throw it on.
I plan on wrapping/covering my dash in black leather or something similar as I've seen pictures of someone doing this to their Firebird.
Also another idea to prevent damage is to invest in a car cover, most take about 30 seconds to throw on and off so if it is going to sit for a long time then throw it on.
I plan on wrapping/covering my dash in black leather or something similar as I've seen pictures of someone doing this to their Firebird.
http://www.uv-shield.com/car.htm
3M Crystalline Films
* Ultraviolet Radiation reduced 99.9%
* Infrared Radiation reduced 97—99%
* Visible Light transmitted 40—70%
* Total Solar Energy Rejected 50—66%
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...beT4DCJBL6BVgl
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
From: Burkesville,Kentucky
I think cold weather makes it more brital than heat. I replaced the dash pad in my 91 camaro twice and it always cracked during the winter. When i would pull in drive ways and stuff you could hear it squeek and pop as it flexed. I think the coldness mad it less flexible.
Back when I had my LT1 trans am I had that piece replaced twice! Granted, both pieces were used, but in great shape! I ended up getting a dashmat for it on the last piece I replaced.... why? I did it so I wouldn't crack once more.....