Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Here's what I've done in the past three days averaging 5 hours per day.
Found a donor dash and stripped the vinyl from it. Channel the cracked parts and fill with body filler. Glued the detached foam back onto the metal frame. Added a foundation for the thinnest part of the dash that is below the tach. Skim coated the entire dash. Sprayed two coats of primer. After sanding, sprayed truck bed coating Side by side comparison New gauges installed averaging $100 per gauge.
all were 3-3/8 inch so backing plate had to be glued. View of Installed dash. Another view of the dash with electronic gauges with lights on. Slight modification to accommodate the new gauges were made:
Quad/
-New fuel sending unit had to be shortened.
-Added new oil pressure switch
-Kept old temp sending switch yet temp show +20 degree Fahrenheit on gauge
-volt is from positive lead from vehicle's system
Tach/
-tach was a single negative lead to coil
Speedometer & Odometer
-GPS mounted to top of windshield pillar.

Improvement for the next time I do this would be to use a "matte" finish truck bed coating.
Fit the dash as in the final install it had bent the thinnest part next to the glove box door and caused a small crack but can be touched-up.
Figure a spot to install the turn signal bulbs. As of now I just rely on the flasher.

After two cans of primer, two cans of truck bed coating and one small can of bondo, I am quite pleased with the results.

It certainly looks good in your pictures, Nice work!!

Ray,
You preferred the bondo patching rather than using a foam spray product? I know others have used the foam and then sanded for smoothness. But perhaps the bondo is stronger and easier to work with? It looks good and you got a lot accomplished in 3 days!

Linda

That's an Amazing job Ray. I know you suggest you'd do flat next time but this is probably how they looked coming out of the production line. Maybe a little time and the gloss will dull a bit.
Honestly I think it looks great. A++. I'll send you some regular sized vent set along with the JustDashes sized vents when I send those out.

Solex68 wrote: Fri Dec 11, 2020 10:13 am That's an Amazing job Ray. I know you suggest you'd do flat next time but this is probably how they looked coming out of the production line. Maybe a little time and the gloss will dull a bit.
Honestly I think it looks great. A++. I'll send you some regular sized vent set along with the JustDashes sized vents when I send those out.

Hi Greg,
Thank you!
No rush on those vents.
Hope to see you OC guys at the next fun run!
Ray

Linda wrote: Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:48 am Ray,
You preferred the bondo patching rather than using a foam spray product? I know others have used the foam and then sanded for smoothness. But perhaps the bondo is stronger and easier to work with? It looks good and you got a lot accomplished in 3 days!

Linda

Thanks Linda.
I got tired of waiting for JD as the last one took just under six months.
Ray

Some of the bed liners chalk up and turn flat when exposed to UV for a certain amount of time.

Ray, That looks great. Is the texture as consistent in person as it is in the photos?
Also, how did you remove the plastic from the foam? Did you need to heat it?
When I get there, I'll probably use that Raptor Liner that I used on my pickup firewall and running boards. It's a 2 part and as I mentioned on our run it is easy to touch up if need be.

todd lorber wrote: Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:38 pm Ray, That looks great. Is the texture as consistent in person as it is in the photos?
Also, how did you remove the plastic from the foam? Did you need to heat it?
When I get there, I'll probably use that Raptor Liner that I used on my pickup firewall and running boards. It's a 2 part and as I mentioned on our run it is easy to touch up if need be.

Hi Todd,
The texture is as you see it in the photos and definitely hides the imperfections of my bondo work
The vinyl just peeled off and I guess I had help from the 50+ years it sat in the sun.
That's cool and I'll definitely want to check it out!
Ray

Nice work Ray!