console/dash cap debate

[jbills]

howdy ya'll - my center console is cracking and ugly, but I've hit a crossroads where I'm stuck between either ordering a cap or a fiberglass replacement. I previously had tried to patch the cracks with some bondo and then a fresh coat of the vinyl paint from IAP, and it still just looks fugly.

so, what do you guys vote?

dash cap:
http://mrfiat.com/part.php?item=Cars/Fi ... apNew.html
http://mrfiat.com/part.php?item=Cars/Fi ... apNew.html


or fiberglass replacement?
http://www.allisonsautomotive.com/products.html
bottom of page.

I'm currently leaning towards the caps because I don't like the finish of the vinyl paint on my dash that I just did. looks cheap and very much "painted." so my guess is I'd be unhappy with the fiberglass replacement, since it only comes in black and would have to be painted the same way. plus I think the IAP paint is a bit light for our interior color.

anyone talk me out of the the dash cap combo? I know they have their own set of annoyances...

[124JOE]

for the money i would go for the fiberglass relacments,as you can paint everything
and caps have to be done right or they leave a gap looking shi%y

[vandor]

Just FYI, those caps are $15-20 cheaper form us...

[So Cal Mark]

don't use vinyl paint on the fiberglass. With Krylon or other good quality paint they look fantastic

[jbills]

csaba - thanks, if I go that route I'll get them from you. of course I went to AR first but didn't see the radio cap when I was looking, must not have searched for the right thing (think I was calling it upper or something)

http://stores.auto-ricambi.net/-strse-1 ... Detail.bok
http://stores.auto-ricambi.net/-strse-1 ... Detail.bok


mark - I like the idea of fiberglass and just replacing the whole thing, but honestly not down with the paint "finish." do you have a photo you might post of a beige one that turned out good, just so I can get a visual? you've probably put in a million of these...
(sorry to make you work for it but I'm still hesitant)

[bradartigue]

My .02 -

Make sure they are of a new design, the old ABS ones were awful and you had to cut all into them to make them fit.

Caps work well on the dashboard (the full caps, not the 1/2 cap) but I find look lousy on the center and radio console. The console seem to expand over the years and the caps don't cover that expansion well. I've found the only way to get a good look from the center and radio consoles is to send them to someone who can recap them. Alternatively you can go the LE route and have them covered in leather.

[jbills]

recovering them is actually a fantastic idea. I've always liked the look of the '81 LE interior, with the stitching. I think I'll get it priced out and might even do the top dash too, if it's reasonable.

[azygoustoyou]

I personally would stay away from the caps. So Cal Mark sells the fiberglass replacements. My buddy bought one from Germany and it doesn't fit right.

[jbills]

Has anyone tried to dye the fiberglass dashes rather than painting them? or, excuse my ignorance, but is that something that a shop might do? I'm not even sure where to start with that one... maybe the upholstery shops?

a dye job I might go for. just seems less prone to scratching and finish problems that paint would suffer from. seems like it would feel more "permanent" to me. but I'm still new to this stuff, I might be going down the wrong road. i guess dye jobs might have their own set of problems to watch out for. anyone with any experience?

[leftfield6]

My 83 Pininfarina dash is badly cracked. I may check into how much it would cost to have it repaired, I'm assuming fiberglass would be the way to go, and then have it covered in a black leather, or maybe a black suede like material.

[HuntingtonSpider]

I put on a dash cap about a year ago and was very happy with the results..... for about 3 months. After that the cap started popping up around the back edges and the heater vents. I was constantly pushing it down and squirting more adhesive in there to fix it for a week or two till it would pop up again. Now I don't even try. I'm planning on replacing mine with the one from mark as soon as I have some extra money.

[redek]

Has anyone tried to dye the fiberglass dashes rather than painting them? or, excuse my ignorance, but is that something that a shop might do? I'm not even sure where to start with that one... maybe the upholstery shops?

a dye job I might go for. just seems less prone to scratching and finish problems that paint would suffer from. seems like it would feel more "permanent" to me. but I'm still new to this stuff, I might be going down the wrong road. i guess dye jobs might have their own set of problems to watch out for. anyone with any experience?

My understanding is that a thick scratch resistant coating needs to be done in the mold, prior to placing the fiberglass. I assume a coating would remove any fine details.

[MrWampus]

My .02 -

Alternatively you can go the LE route and have them covered in leather.

Apparently, my '81 is an LE model. My center lower and upper consoles are upholstered (vinyl I think, not leather) and there is leather on the lower knee-roll (bottom curve of the upper dash unit) that looks really nice. Apparently there were not many made like that because mine is the only one I have ever seen. I'll post some pics soon.

[jbills]

if it's the limited edition champagne '81 model, there were 1000 made. look it up on any spider site... they were sweet versions of our car!

[fiat218]

I just bought a lower console from mark and i am going to get it sprayed olive green, i think it will be awesome, or possible just get it wrapped with leather, im just redoing all the interior any ways