Preventing cracked dash!

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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aevansgatech
Posts: 346
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2015 2:51 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000

Preventing cracked dash!

Postby aevansgatech » Mon Aug 07, 2017 2:51 pm

Does anyone have any tips for keeping an original, non-cracked dash from doing the inevitable??
1979 Spider 2000 (gone)
1984 Pininfarina Azzurra (for sale)
1982 Spider 2000 (here to stay)

samakijoe
Posts: 132
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2017 9:56 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Fiat 124
Location: Original Washington (1776) NC

Re: Preventing cracked dash!

Postby samakijoe » Mon Aug 07, 2017 4:46 pm

I use a product called "303". Comes in a spray plastic bottle.
Get it at any good boat supply store. Put a few coats on. The let the last coat dry for a "shiny look"
Wipe before dry for "matte" look..

If you spray it on the dash board you will get some on the glass. Not good. I spray some into a small container and use a small brush (we call them "chip brushes" ) to apply. This stuff is great for any Vinyl or plastic.

NB: Do not use "Armor All®" Real crap. But hey, that's just my opinion..

PS: I have no financial interest in Blah, Blah, well you know the rest..
SAMAKIJOE
AKA GRANDPA GRUMPYPANTS

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RRoller123
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Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Preventing cracked dash!

Postby RRoller123 » Sun Aug 13, 2017 6:32 am

Is the 303 a permanent, hard finish? After it dries, does it still feel a little greasy like Armor All and Mother's, etc products? Or does it dry fully?

just a side note: This season, I switched to Mother's "Protectant" : "Long lasting protection, rubber, vinyl, plastic" (red hand spray bottle). and it is far superior to Armor All, imho. I use it on the tires, the vinyl roof, interior, everywhere. It is matte if you wipe it off, or semi gloss if you just spread it around and wipe it off gently. It is the best thing I have found for the roof and the rear window to keep them looking brand new and resilient.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

DieselSpider
Posts: 2130
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel

Re: Preventing cracked dash!

Postby DieselSpider » Sun Aug 13, 2017 11:45 am

Don't apply Armor All and it should last for years. Most goop just ropes you into applying more goop afterwards and sucks the life out of the vinyl leaving it slimy and attracting more dirt.

That said I have been having better success with Rustoleum's Wipe New products as they are not oil or silicone goops.
http://www.wipenew.com/wipe-new-original/

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RRoller123
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Preventing cracked dash!

Postby RRoller123 » Sun Aug 13, 2017 12:20 pm

The Mother's dries completely, leaves no residue like the Armor-All does.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

brackie1
Posts: 523
Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2013 1:24 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 spider
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Re: Preventing cracked dash!

Postby brackie1 » Sun Aug 13, 2017 1:56 pm

Mine was already cracked when I bought and the PO had bought a cap. before installing it I called the manufacturer and asked them about cleaning it. They said to never put anything on the dash as all products will decrease the natural oils in the vinyl. They to just wipe the dash with a damp rag. Of course we were talking about the cap, it stands to reason the same would apply to the original dash as well.
Gene
North Carolina


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