[BDD]

After a few years of looking around and wieghing the various options, I have bought a replacement dashpad for my GT. It looks great with no visible cracks. The problem is that the seller failed to tell me (Ebay purchase) that the part of the dashpad that goes in front of the shift console and up to the steering column had been separated from the rest of the dash.
I have two options, I can Install it as is and the break will never be seen because it is hidden behind the right front corner of the shift console....but it might not properly support the instrument dash panel if installed that way. The instrument panel would be supporting the left part of the dashpad (the part that ends at the steering column and which is under the instrument dash.

Or I could somehow reattach the two parts of the dashpad before I install it in the car. I have a possible way to do this which would make the two parts act as one structurally. I don't want to do this though unless I really have to. Opinions?

 

[Jim Branham]

That piece holds the hood release right? Thing is, if after the dash and gauge panel are installed and it's not held in place good enough, you'll have to take the dash back out to repair it, that sounds like too much work to go through. An ounce of prevention at this point could save a pound of cure later.

 

[BDD]

Jim:
Yes, this is the small part of the dashpad that the hood release goes through. It is kind of minimally "tied" to the rest of the dashpad in the first place. It has been separated at the lower right corner of the dashpad, the part that is right behind the front right corner of the shift console when installed. The problem if trying to reattach this part is how can a strong enough joint be made? There's just a little foam there and a thin vinyl skin. Not enough to just glue in place.

Possibly a metal L-shaped bracket could be made and the foam carved out (at the back of this part of the dashpad) to receive it. That bracket could be epoxied into place and would form the structural splice between the two parts. It should be stronger than the original that way.

Another possibility would be to make a razor sawcut higher up on the dashpad but still kind of out of sight. the corresponding piece from another dash (but cracked elsewhere and otherwise useless) could then be epoxy spliced onto the dashpad to be installed. This would give more glue area and would form a good joint. The problem is: how could someone make an exactly identical sawcut on two dashes and join them so that the geometry of the dashpad would be like the original and which would install into the car properly. The only way to do this with all the curves of the dash, etc. in that area would be to make up a saw guide that would fit into the round access opening at the lower passenger side of the dashpad. If the sawing jig would plug into that opening and align exactly with the mounting hole on one of the mounting brackets that are cast into the dashpad, the sawcut should be exactly the same on each dashpad.

Of course, the first option above is simpler. The geometry of the final joint would still be an issue but maybe there's enough flex possible with this part of the dashpad that this isn't a major issue.

Any other suggestions?

BDD