Cracking Dash

[Chris Smith]

This qusestion has probably been asked before, but...

My 95 Chim has a walnut veneer dash which has a few cracks in it. I understand this is a common problem since the veneer is laminated onto a metal dash and they expand and contract at different rates, causing the cracking. (I also found that giving the car to a main dealer for 7 weeks to make a half-hearted attempt to fix a speedo problem also adds a few cracks to an otherwise respectable dash - thanks!). I saw a nice Leven aluminium dash on this gassing station recently. However, I want to keep the original finish. Whilst there is lots of PH advice on recovering the dash, does anybody know if someone makes a solid wooded dash for the car that (I presume), will stop the cracking problem for good?

Thanks.

[Tiger]

London Carriage Craft restore these to what I belive is better than new although never seem one or had it done just seen posts about it.

They advertise on PH so have a dig around for there number

[Pies]

DIY and save some money

www.pixeltechnology.co.uk/wedge/maint_veneering.html

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=11&t=207676

[Pies]

Tiger said:

London Carriage Craft restore these to what I belive is better than new although never seem one or had it done just seen posts about it. They advertise on PH so have a dig around for there number

Mine lasted 15 months then peeled straight off

[Chris Smith]

Thanks Pies - that link is a really good one.

[chassis 33]

Have a full dash going spare, putting it on PH classifieds/eBay shortly, can put the veneer and gauges to one side if you want. Its from a 95 car.

Regards
Iain

[cerby4.5]

What about junking the veneer dash and going stainless??? Have a look at pics on profile for details. IMHO much better than wood and matches all the other ally in the car!! Cerby.

[Podie]

cerby4.5 said:

What about junking the veneer dash and going stainless??? Have a look at pics on profile for details. IMHO much better than wood and matches all the other ally in the car!! Cerby.

Stainless looks great on the right interior... Cerby's looks fab IMO... quite fancy getting mine done... but the veneer is still OK...

Give Leven a call if you're going stainless.

[Chris Smith]

Granted, the stainless looks great. It's just I want to keep the original traditional look.

[Chris Smith]

chassis 33 said:

Have a full dash going spare, putting it on PH classifieds/eBay shortly, can put the veneer and gauges to one side if you want. Its from a 95 car. Regards Iain

Is the veneer on the dash at the mo? Is it a solid sheet, or pre-cut, ready to go? How much is the veneer worth? etc etc. Ta.

[aaandy]

There was also a guy at the Middx TVR Meet at the Ace Cafe, they had been working on some carbon fibre dashboards.

Believe that they were selling them for around £250ish and remember that the finish looked excellent. Think they intended to visit the meet regularly, should have their business card knocking around at home. But as per earlier posts, guess this would need to match teh interior of your car.

[Chris Smith]

Thanks aaandy. Yeah, trying to keep the original look. Hence the original question - if people have made aluminium ones and carbon fibre ones, does anyone make a decent wood one?

How do 'prestige' manufacturers construct their veneer dashboards?

[Hughesie2]

Podie said:

Give Leven a call if you're going stainless.

Or burn off the wood veneer and polish up the stainless underneath, i did on myine and its looks great, keep sanding in the same direction though and you get a nice Brushed ally look...

You retain the radio mounts this was as weel which is a bonus i can tell you !!

Justin

[everitj]

Did mine myself, Put the swirls on with a cut off bit of broom handle in the piller drill with a bit of wet and dry stuck on the end...