Re: Recover Dash and instrument hood or buy NOS?

["therealdmcvegas" <DMCVegas@xxxx>]

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Dale Schaub" <DaleSchaub@xxxx> wrote:
<SNIP>
> I will not save any money by going with www.justdashes; however, I 
am just concerned about NOS. I haven't had much luck with NOS. I 
replaced my seat covers two years ago with NOS (someone out of Canada-
-not one of our suppliers) and a year later they looked worst then my 
original seats. That was $1,200 down the drain.
> 
> Has anyone replace their dashes and instrument hood with NOS?
> How are they wearing? In Arizona sun?
<SNIP>

I'm up here in Vegas, and I can tell you that in less than 3 years of 
being installed in my car, I ruined a 2nd binnacle. Everything was 
fine, and then on Friday afternoon, I noticed a small crack about an 
inch long in the center of the binnacle. By Monday morning, the dash 
was ruined. The crack had streched to both ends. And since then, even 
more cracks have spread out across the top. The dashboard however has 
pretty much retained it's color. I'm sure it's a bit faded, but with 
other interior trim components that already have UV damage, my POV 
could be swayed. The glovebox lid however looked fine at the time, so 
I didn't replace it. Needless to say, it has since become further 
damaged, and where as the dash and other trim peices have faded, the 
glovebox lid has fried to a golden brown.

Now for the past almost 3 years, my car was always parked in a garage 
when not in use, and not at work. Yeah, I'm sure that the sunscreen 
cover from DMC Houston would probably have helped, but it's just too 
much of a pain to get on. Especially durring a desert windstorm. And, 
I also do not nourish/treat the interior panels as much as I know I 
should. It's been a conbination of lazyness, and neglect since I plan 
on gutting/replacing/customizing the interior after my almost 
complete mechanical restoration is finished (inspired by a warped 
dashboard damaged durring installation, among other things).

So if you're going to replace/recover the dash, make sure that you 
include the glovebox lid as well. Regardless of how good a condition 
it may appear in. As for the binnacle, you may want to recover it in 
leather. I've no idea what the original is made from, but it has just 
become brittle as all get out. And if your're going to do the 
binnacle in leather, perhaps you should consider this for the 
dashboard as well.

Just Dashes look like they really do one helluva job going by their 
before/after pics in their online portfolio of work. But seeing as 
how the DeLorean dash is just a simple flat board with notches for 
the glovebox, binnacle, and defrost vents, as compared to the far 
more complicated (and rare) dashes that they repair, it doesn't seem 
worth the cost if it's going to be the same as just buying a new one. 
Plus, I also do not see any advantages with Just Dashes vs. OEM. No 
UV protection for the price. Color matching to "DeLorean Gray" 
shouldn't be a problem according to their website, but you still have 
whatever turn around time you need to wait for the completed 
dashboard to return to you.

As an alternative, try checking around your local area. I found a 
local shop the specializes in interior restorations. They were more 
than willing to answer all my questions, and were even able to show 
me their portfolio of past restorations. Everything from custom rods, 
to award-winning restos. Shop around and see what you can find. If 
the dash isn't physicly damaged or deformed, perhaps you could have 
it nicely recovered for a reasonable price?

That's just my .02¢, with interest! ;)

-Robert
vin 6585 "X"