How-to: Fill in the speaker holes/cracks in your dash

[LNF150]

Some motarded PO cut out the inside door panels on my truck (in front of where the original speakers were) and mounted little pioneer speakers on the panel itself. Makes the interior look like something out of the movie 'Deliverance'. Now, I might be able to take those panels and cover those areas flush and paint them smooth. Because my speakers are 6x9's behind the seat in boxes, so I don't nessessarly need holes in my door panels. Again excellent idea, Em!

[horsepuller]

Very clever and resourceful, Em! A link to this thread belongs in our tech sticky.

Don't be stingy with those reputation points now, guys. Em certainly deserves it for sharing her project with us. Rep points can be accessed by clicking this little icon in the colored banner above someones's posts.

[uncle.stosh]

Originally Posted by horsepuller

Don't be stingy with those reputation points now, guys. Em certainly deserves it for sharing her project with us.

Yeah, just don't be a dipstick and select the wrong button by "accident" and give negative rep points instead of the default positive.

[Virto]

Repped. Awesome write-up.

[LNF150]

Originally Posted by Silver Streak
You're having problems because some butthole put the wrong one on your truck

Schincter, say what?!?!

[300/6 Freak]

Good job ob that. looks amazing over the nice rotted look

[Stockdale Dave]

Em...you are the queen. A most excellent idea. Too bad mine is way past repair. 102F in the shade today. 25 years of that and there isn't much left to build on.

[forrd]

Let me add to the chorus of praise for "girlwithatruck"! What a great idea! My dash was trashed, I was going to buy a dashmat or something to cover up the rot.

I hadn't considered repairing it, but this thread tempted me to try.

My dash was so rotten, I cut out all the perforated material, and was left with a big, 8-sided speaker hole. One place where I diverged slightly, was to trowel a layer of fiberglass window screen inside the expando-foam layer, hopefully to give more structural strength. I also used cheap Valspar "plastic spray paint", from Lowes. (Supposed to bond with plastic, no primer or prep needed?)

I'm repainting all the interior trim, door panels, etc.

Well, I started last night, and just finished buttoning up the dash. That includes painting about a dozen trim pieces, and replacing all the instrument panel lights (while I had it out). A warm sunny day, the spray paint dries in about 15 minutes. What an outstanding one-day project!

I took a few pictures, but can't seem to find my camera cable .

Thanks again for a great idea! This is an easy job that yields a big improvement in looks for your truck interior!

[SCRWDRVR]

Thats a great idea, I covered my whole pad with tweed. I think I'll have to pick up another pad and try this out.......

[forrd]

I found my camera cable, created an album showing various steps. Hope this works...

Before:


After:

[uncle.stosh]

Why didn't you fill that big split in the front while you were at it?

[forrd]

My bad. Good eye. Yeah, I should've. I figgered that front edge would be hidden by the windshield adhesive goop. Looking at it now, its not obvious, but is visible. What I get for rushing.

[girlwithatruck]

that looks great forrd! Pretty soon we'll all have the nicest dashes on the forums. It's funny, right before i went MIA i pulled out all my plastic trim to paint it to match my dash too but i havent had a day to get back to it. Glad you had good results with doing that.

[300/6 Freak]

I can wait to get my truck running so I too can start cosmetic fixes LOL

[juggernaut239]

Fan-freakin-tastic, this was exactly what i was looking for about a month ago. I did see the tweed on the right hand drive truck that looks sweet too but this takes the cake. Has anyone done other parts and has pictures I would like too see more before I attempt at my own.