Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Body/Appearance/Interior => Topic started by: 50tbrd88 on May 31, 2010, 02:07:10 PM

Title: New dashtop in
Post by: 50tbrd88 on May 31, 2010, 02:07:10 PM
Got my dash cover from dashtop.com in a few weeks ago.  Thought I'd post up some pics.  I had to do a bunch of tpuppies to get everything to fit the way I liked it, but the outcome is great.  There is one high spot by the heater vent above the instrument panel, guess I didn't get enough glue there.

(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/50tbrd88/car%20stuff/DSCF1918.jpg)
(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/50tbrd88/car%20stuff/DSCF1917.jpg)
(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/50tbrd88/car%20stuff/DSCF1919.jpg)
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: vinnietbird on May 31, 2010, 02:12:52 PM
Doesn't that make you feel a lot better?.LOL. Nice work.I've had mine for 3 years,and still haven't bonded it on yet.I need to do a little tpuppies then glue it.It's just resting on the dash right now,.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on May 31, 2010, 03:04:14 PM
That looks pretty sweet, the high spot makes it look factory lol
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: Cougar8775 on May 31, 2010, 03:26:45 PM
nice looks like i know what to add to my list of parts to get.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: Masejoer on May 31, 2010, 03:54:35 PM
Ewww - looks like the one I purchased. I hate the wrinkle look so much that I've refused to install it. I like my cracked dash a lot more than these dash caps. No one local on craigslist wants it for $50 :/

Yes, I'm apparently a perfectionist. I want a dash cap that is the exact same color as the stock one and has the same texture.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: thunderjet302 on May 31, 2010, 04:15:13 PM
Did you dye it or order it in that color? If you ordered it in that color what color is it?
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: fluke on May 31, 2010, 04:59:02 PM
Looks good! I don't notice anything odd about it looking at it. *shrug* Looks new :)
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: hwy73 on May 31, 2010, 06:30:44 PM
Looks good, where did you have to trim it ?
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: T-BirdX3 on May 31, 2010, 06:30:52 PM
Looks great!! An old cracked dash pad is sad looking.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: 50tbrd88 on May 31, 2010, 06:43:42 PM
Quote
Doesn't that make you feel a lot better?.LOL. Nice work.I've had mine for 3 years,and still haven't bonded it on yet.I need to do a little tpuppies then glue it.It's just resting on the dash right now,.

Yeah it made me feel awesome to get rid of that old cracked dash.  I made sure and put some extra cracks in it since I was covering it up (its kinda like popping bubble wrap, just feels cool for some reason).

Quote
That looks pretty sweet, the high spot makes it look factory lol


Yeah...I guess even factory '80's interior stuff was not perfect when new.  lol.

Quote
nice looks like i know what to add to my list of parts to get.


Its been on my list for awhile.  Especially after the repaint.  The shiny paint looks great but people kept saying "when you gonna get a new dash?"

Quote
Ewww - looks like the one I purchased. I hate the wrinkle look so much that I've refused to install it. I like my cracked dash a lot more than these dash caps. No one local on craigslist wants it for $50 :/

Yes, I'm apparently a perfectionist. I want a dash cap that is the exact same color as the stock one and has the same texture. 


Non-factory appearing dash > py looking cracked-to-hell dash, IMHO. 

Quote
Did you dye it or order it in that color? If you ordered it in that color what color is it?


That is how I ordered it.  It matches (I should say "goes with" not matches) the door panels perfectly but is a lot lighter color than what was factory.  Its not the perfect matching color but looks 10x better than all the cracks.  I think the color was "presidio grey" but I can't guarantee it...my parents actually bought me this for Xmas.

Quote
Looks good! I don't notice anything odd about it looking at it. *shrug* Looks new 


Thanks!!

Quote
Looks good, where did you have to trim it ?


I had to do A LOT of tpuppies around the (edit) vertical sections between the dash, door, and pillar on both sides.  Also had to trim quite a bit around the speaker covers.  I had quite the pile of shavings to shop-vac up when I was done.

Quote
Looks great!! An old cracked dash pad is sad looking.

I agree...
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: RunninWild on May 31, 2010, 08:37:48 PM
I'm glad to know this is made. My dash looks like  and is covered with a black carpet cover deal. Doesn't look terrible, but this is waaay nicer looking.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: daminc on May 31, 2010, 08:57:28 PM
I like it...If I had to make a choice between a cracked dash and that cover, I would have the cover installed as soon as I could get it delivered.... Fortunately, my dash is still good. Although I have the famous factory hump on the front edge. lol
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: Masejoer on May 31, 2010, 09:11:06 PM
Eh - if I have to put something on there that looks out of place (the texture is completely different from the rest of the interior panels and existing dash), I may as well just fiberglass the entire thing lightly and build in some tweeter pods.

The pre-dyed red ones look nothing like the stock color. It's all brown-ish. If the colors were closer to the stock, or even the rest of the interior, my opinion may be slightly different.

Do you guys think this looks "alright"? In the sun, the entire thing looks even more odd than the bottom picture.
(http://home.comcast.net/~seekproj/dash1.jpg)
(http://home.comcast.net/~seekproj/dash3.jpg)
(http://home.comcast.net/~seekproj/dash2.jpg)
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: Masejoer on May 31, 2010, 09:13:17 PM
Oh, and the nasty coating on the existing dash is dirt and grime from over the years, plus a r134 canister exploding in the car. It comes off of everything with some elbow grease and cleanser.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: 50tbrd88 on June 01, 2010, 09:58:22 AM
Well now that red top does look like shiznit.... the red/maroon contrast is not working at all.  However I think mine looks great.

I don't get what you are saying about the texture.  Its a little off from original but compared to the texture on the door panels, is very close.  Just my opinion though.

Again, I thought mine looked 10x better than the cracked to hell stocker.  I've had plenty of people ride in my car since I have put it in and I have to mention it before they even notice that its not stock.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: Masejoer on June 01, 2010, 01:49:54 PM
Quote from: 50tbrd88;323920
Well now that red top does look like shiznit.... the red/maroon contrast is not working at all.  However I think mine looks great.


What color interior? Keep in mind that these have the two tone dashes, including the red. Even the top of the stock red two tone looks fairly poor imo and I would have stuck with a single color if I knew the colors would be matched perfectly (and they're far from that).

The pad looks very out of place in my car so I never installed it. I'm curious if any other dash caps out there have a grain closer to the factory - I never got a final response on that in a past thread.

I think you're right about the door texture though - it my be close enough to that.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: Watchdevil on June 01, 2010, 06:38:33 PM
Quote from: 20thanniver-ls;323793
That looks pretty sweet, the high spot makes it look factory lol


:rollin: That is the truth! I would think something is wrong if I found one that was not warped somewhere!

Well it's no secret now what my solution was for a cracked dash! I am actually surprised my transplanted 95 Mustang dash has survived completely intact, especially since the top is black. The injection molded material must be advanced compared to what had been used on earlier Fords.

I think that if I was not able to make the 95 Mustang dash work for me I would have considered just throwing in a 79-96 Mustang style dash simply because you can still get reproduction dash pads and other parts for it and it would look prefect althought not correct nor necessarily the most attractive for the vehicle.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: daminc on June 01, 2010, 06:54:48 PM
Quote from: 50tbrd88;323920
Well now that red top does look like shiznit.... the red/maroon contrast is not working at all.
That's the way they rolled out of the factory
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/cougar%20before/IMG_2833.jpg)
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: 50tbrd88 on June 01, 2010, 09:28:53 PM
Quote from: daminc;323948
That's the way they rolled out of the factory
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/cougar%20before/IMG_2833.jpg)


Oops sorry...no offense guys.  I've never really been in too many fox birds/cougars other than mine.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: daminc on June 01, 2010, 09:46:38 PM
Think they did it with the blue too. The 80s were pretty wild
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: fluke on June 01, 2010, 11:16:33 PM
Quote from: daminc;323969
Think they did it with the blue too. The 80s were pretty wild

Pretty much:

(http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/2898/interiorfrontx.jpg)

The trim and the main dash are two different shades - as well as the glove box, speaker covers, etc.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: Masejoer on June 02, 2010, 10:03:34 PM
Quote from: daminc;323948

(http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/2898/interiorfrontx.jpg)


Your mirror looks like mine.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: daminc on June 02, 2010, 10:16:56 PM
My mirror is starting to do that too
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: fluke on June 02, 2010, 10:23:58 PM
Yeah, it drives me nuts, lol. Hard to see. I'd stick my ricer looking mirror cover back on there (can see great!) but it looks funny and I'm sure I'd never hear the end of it. :rollin:
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: daminc on June 02, 2010, 10:30:29 PM
I got a new mirror for my car.. just have to do some wiring for it.

Here's the dash color combo for the vert.
I really like it. if my 87 ever needs a new top, I'm going with this combo.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5602.jpg)
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: 50tbrd88 on June 02, 2010, 10:44:16 PM
My rearview mirror is doing the exact same thing.  Wierd.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: thunderjet302 on June 02, 2010, 10:58:22 PM
Quote from: 50tbrd88;324099
My rearview mirror is doing the exact same thing.  Wierd.


So is mine. It must be a common problem.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: Masejoer on June 02, 2010, 11:05:54 PM
Mine's been like that for some 10 years. I have a replacement to use though that is mint. I think it's identical but I don't think it came off a tbird. Did Mustangs use the same rear view and if so, what years? I picked it up from a part pile from a guy who parted many Mustangs.

I think I'm actually liking the black dash pad on the red dash. I thought it'd look worse. Does that even have any dye? Where'd you get it from and what texture does it have?
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: daminc on June 02, 2010, 11:18:56 PM
I think all Fords had those mirrors. My 88 E-250 had the exact same mirror too
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: daminc on June 02, 2010, 11:25:27 PM
The vert has a charcoal dash, just like all the plastic dash parts in the car. and I believe it's original to the car
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: EricCoolCats on June 02, 2010, 11:36:44 PM
Yes Jerry, that was factory for 1985-86 cars with the Canyon Red interior.
The 1987-88 cars with the Scarlet interior had a Dark Scarlet top.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: Whiteboy on June 03, 2010, 12:11:24 AM
So you just put it on the old cracked dash? mine is BBBAAADDD! i was wondering if you have to do anything else but glue it on the original cover? and trim it a bit.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: Masejoer on June 03, 2010, 02:12:44 AM
Quote from: Whiteboy;324123
So you just put it on the old cracked dash? mine is BBBAAADDD! i was wondering if you have to do anything else but glue it on the original cover? and trim it a bit.


Tpuppies and glue - color dye if you get one that isn't dyed. Some require pretty much no tpuppies while others need a bit more.
http://www.coolcats.net/modifying/dashtop.html

I didn't realize at first that that grey dash on the of the red was stock. Even if I could get and replace all the plastic pieces, I think some areas of red might still throw through from the dash itself. I really don't mind the look of the red/grey (or black) combo. I like it better than the solid (minus the two tone dash) red interior.
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: daddybair7 on June 03, 2010, 08:46:05 AM
My mirror is the same way except for the crack in it from my boxer hitting his head on it jumping in the car wanting a ride. I dont mind the diffrent texture its still 100% better than a cracked one .
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: Whiteboy on June 04, 2010, 01:20:18 AM
yeah you should see mine, its so horrible..... lol I cant stand how i can barely touch it and it just cracks more and more....
Title: New dashtop in
Post by: sarjxxx on June 04, 2010, 07:19:35 PM
WOW!!! Thats good to know! I always thought someone had painted mine before I got it!

And yeah, I cant wait till I get a hard cover. Anything looks better than this warped, faded, fugly toupee.

The last picture is how it sits normally :yuck:

P.S. (ignore the stereo wires under the dash lol)