So after getting fed up with the puzzle-piece pattern of my aging dash pad, I recently swung by a couple of local salvage yards and managed to find a pristine replacement that they gave me for $30.

Now before I go and replace my current one, I'd like to know if there is any way that I could possibly sun-proof the new piece. Maybe some kind of spray-on that makes the plastic more heat/crack resistant? Perhaps wrapping it in vinyl or leather? I'm fine with sticking it in there as-is, but I'd really like to know if there's anything I can do to keep the plastic from cracking again in a few years.

Thanks in advance!

 

I've heard it's not the heat, but something to do with how the dash is set up that causes the cracks.

 

Yeah, I sort of suspected that too. When my shocks started going out the car got a lot more vibration through everything, and I think that really contributed to the problem. I keep it in a garage and whenever I park in a lot I use sunshades religiously.

Well, I'm still open to ideas. I'd love to wrap it in something more aesthetic like leather or vinyl. Has anyone here done that successfully?

 

Spray the underside with a good brand of rubberized undercoating. Its flexible enough to give a little bit, but also durable enough to keep it from cracking.

 

Excellent! Any particular brand you would recommend, CamaroFan?

 

3M part # 08883

 

Found that too! Thanks everyone!

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...gl19MNFMCQP3bl

 

Well, seems to me you have two options.

The reason the plastic cracks is because plastic degrades in sunlight from the UV radiation--and the intense heat from hours in the sun doesn't help either. It may take plastic thousands of years to biodegrade in a landfill, but it doesn't take too long supposedly for it to degrade enough to weaken. Have you ever seen a soda bottle that has obviously been in the sun for about a decade? The plastic turns yellow and crunchy to the extent that you can crack it.

You could try to find some sort of UV coating you could spray on it, similar to using sunscreen on your body.

Or, what I would do, is just start using a windshield shade. You can get one for about $5 at a dollar store or walmart, or go all out and get expensive ones with the CAMARO logo.

http://www.lmcoolshades.com/ct_PR179813327.htm

I've never purchased from that site, but it was the first result on google for Camaro windshield shade.

 

Well, like I said, I have been using a sunshade religiously whenever the car is parked outside. And I never seemed to have any cracks until the vibration got really bad from the failing shocks, which seems to indicate that sheering forces have more to do with it than sun exposure. Furthermore, the dash pad that I recovered from the junk yard recently had been in constant sunlight for years and did not crack when we removed it from the old car.

I'm thinking the undercoating will do the best to reinforce the plastic, but I will definitely continue to use the sunshade.

 

here is how i crack proofed mine. looking good for 6 months now. even on the hottest summer days..
http://home.comcast.net/~nstama/dashpad.htm

 

SIckss's idea is what i plan on. Thanks for the tip.

 

Very nice... Didnt think about that one... Another project....Yeaaaahhhhh..

 

Ya I just bought a new dash pad so thanks for all the news. My worries are breaking this new one... I thought about replacing the window anyhow so it would be easy to put in that way.

 

Dash mat:

 

You're good with your hands! that looks really good!