For Dashboards needing repair

[RI Chevy Silveradoman]

1997-1999 Chevy/GMC C/K Pickup Suburban Yukon Tahoe Escalade Dash Cove

Fix or restore your cracked or worn dash with an ABS molded overlay cover from DashSkin. Mounts over your existing dash in 30 minutes or less.

dashskin.com

This was for certain model year. Be sure to hit home and choose your correct model year and application.

 

[Will L.]

I’m soon to order one for our 2013 tahoe (ex cop car). It needs a new blower motor and maybe sensor for auto headlights first. Debating dropping it at a shop rather than diy for the lights & blower. Found middle seats & center console but they and both front seats need recovering.
Too many irons and a bic lighter as the fire right now.

I never did a dash cover like this one but they are pretty simple.

 

[smokymtn65]

@Will L. Blower motor (front) isn't to bad to change. Typical GM 7mm is a spot or two that you have to get a bit creative.

 

[RI Chevy Silveradoman]

There are many companies selling nice leather seat covers that aren't too bad to install and look just as good if not better than factory.

 

[Will L.]

There are many companies selling nice leather seat covers that aren't too bad to install and look just as good if not better than factory.

Yeah, trying to look through them and determine best option.
I’m open to experience people have in different companies.

I used the “wetsuit” brand covers in the FJ Cruiser. They held up ok for a few years. The driver seat tore just like the gm ones do where you slide in past the edge. The look good but are obvious after market covers. For the tahoe I prefer to find something that either is actual upholstery or looks just like it rather than the loose fit slip cover look.

 

[RI Chevy Silveradoman]

There is some made of leather that are supposed to be the Cats A$$.

 

[SnowDrift]

Does anyone know if the '97+ dash cover fits the '95--'96 trucks?

 

[jrsavoie]

@Will L. Blower motor (front) isn't to bad to change. Typical GM 7mm is a spot or two that you have to get a bit creative.

I found uses for my little Craftsman battery 1/4" drive ratchet on that project as well

 

[Big T]

Want to confirm on this dash cover that it goes over your existing dash shell?

 

[dbrannon79]

Does anyone know if the '97+ dash cover fits the '95--'96 trucks?

IDK if there are any minor differences, but I think so long as it has the air bag raised portion it should be the same. 95 was a one off year where you could have a dash that had open cup holders in that area which would be completely different.

 

[Big T]

IDK if there are any minor differences, but I think so long as it has the air bag raised portion it should be the same. 95 was a one off year where you could have a dash that had open cup holders in that area which would be completely different.

I have two cracks. Their site says:

“If you have cracks you will be covering, we advise cleaning your original dashboard well with industrial degreaser and bracing any cracks using extra 100% silicone RTV adhesive to prevent further cracking or rattling.”

What do they mean by bracing? Just squirt a bunch of silicon RTV adhesive? How does that prevent rattling when the shell that you are attaching it to is rattling? Should you repair the crack with a piece of metal back held in place by screws?

 

[dbrannon79]

I have two cracks. Their site says:

“If you have cracks you will be covering, we advise cleaning your original dashboard well with industrial degreaser and bracing any cracks using extra 100% silicone RTV adhesive to prevent further cracking or rattling.”

What do they mean by bracing? Just squirt a bunch of silicon RTV adhesive? How does that prevent rattling when the shell that you are attaching it to is rattling? Should you repair the crack with a piece of metal back held in place by screws?

i would piece what you can together and use RTV or super glue on the cracks. then the RTV they are talking about is supposed to get sandwiched between the cover and the dash in various areas to hold it down but also on the cracked pieces to hold them into place so that they don't fall and rattle down inside the dash. bad part is later down the road when you decide to pull the cover off, it's gonna take a lot of the old dash out with it.

 

[Big T]

i would piece what you can together and use RTV or super glue on the cracks. then the RTV they are talking about is supposed to get sandwiched between the cover and the dash in various areas to hold it down but also on the cracked pieces to hold them into place so that they don't fall and rattle down inside the dash. bad part is later down the road when you decide to pull the cover off, it's gonna take a lot of the old dash out with it.

It is all one piece. Just the two cracks. I’ll take some pics.

 

[RI Chevy Silveradoman]

Want to confirm on this dash cover that it goes over your existing dash shell?

That was what it showed on the video.

 

[Big T]

Turns out I have one crack and at least one screw which has broken through on the upper left. Could use some of those tabs someone used to sell on here in the early days.

Also a hole bottom left side of the bezel, but I have located a clean one up in Montana.

 

[dbrannon79]

That's not bad at all. a clean wipe down with some rubbing alcohol in the area along with some super glue to hold the cracks together, then cover it. if there is a crack forming, get a tiny drill bit and put a hole at the ends of the cracks to stop it from cracking further. just go light on applying pressure else you'll have a big mess!!

edit: you can use a soldering iron too along with trying to plastic weld the cracks before installing the cover.

 

[Big T]

That's not bad at all. a clean wipe down with some rubbing alcohol in the area along with some super glue to hold the cracks together, then cover it. if there is a crack forming, get a tiny drill bit and put a hole at the ends of the cracks to stop it from cracking further. just go light on applying pressure else you'll have a big mess!!

edit: you can use a soldering iron too along with trying to plastic weld the cracks before installing the cover.

That was my next question: would plastic welding help here?

Plastic Welding Machine Car Bumper Repair Kit
https://a.co/d/i90KTr4

 

[ak diesel driver]

I've got one of those and it works awesome but I'm guessing that the plastic might be too thin for that

 

[Big T]

Upon further inspection, this dash is in a lot worse condition. Not sure what I can do here, but having all those vents there with the attaching screws was not a good design:

 

[Will L.]

Yeah- too thin for the repairs.
The glue on covers by for the top only are ok if you get the good ones, but it does nothing for the face. Then the problem comes in when you have to remove them for repairs to other components where removing is required.

Get a new dash, buy once cry once. Get a descent dash cover or do the clear windshield tint to stop the heat from cooking it- again the higher price stuff works way better for fighting heat & uv. The difference is are you selling it in a couple years or keeping it long term.