Finally installed a new dash!, After 20 years of ownership.... Options

[oakdalecurtis]

I couldn't keep up covering the cracks with electrical tape in my original dash. I'd cover one crack and another just kept appearing. I finally broke down and ordered a 914Rubber replacement dash and I just finished installing it. It was about a half a day job. Yes, it was a PIA and my big hands are scraped up to prove it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hissyfit.gif)
If I could give Mark one tip on his dashes (like he needs my help), it would be to make the dash studs out of metal and the nuts out of nylon. The replacement dash comes with nylon studs molded in and metal nuts supplied. If you are not ever so careful, with your hands in the dash upside down and backwards, you can easily cross thread these nylon studs. Ask me how I know. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)
Even inserting the new dash into initial position can scrape the threads on the studs as they pass through the sheet metal dash support slots. If the studs were made of metal and the nuts were nylon, then if you cross thread, at worst you would just mess up a nylon nut. It would also be a lot easier to start the nuts properly on metal stud threads too. Just my two cents...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)

Old Dash:


New Dash:

[Tom_T]

Curtis,

Well now you can use the tape for your scraped knuckles, & enjoy a purdy crackless dash!

I should've known that you'd have a yellow shifter, Yellow steering wheels & a friggin' YELLOW radio Curtis! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) LOL

You & Andy T./SoCalAndy are the Yellow Kings!
He even did the Yellow Optima battery - which is their deep cycle RV battery IIRC - in his 72 914/4 & IIRC in the -6 now too!

Did you do the yellow battery thing too!? .... or did you miss that one? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

My question on the dash for Mark W/914Rubber is:
What is that line next to the instrument Pod on the right, looking like a belt of something?
... some sort of reinforcement under the skin??
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Mark W -
I'd also agree on the SS studs on the dash.
.... unless there's some overriding reason to stick with nylon?

Mark E -
I'd think that the studs are "Tee-topped with a flat plate - so not removable
... just like Mark did on his 1st bumper topper design (before he went with the full length stiffeners).

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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