I would test it first before tossing money at it but That's just me

 

it seems to me that that is my problem seeing i have no broken lines or parts. And the fact only 2 positions other than off work vent and defrost makes it point at that part. Also I am having headlight switch issues. When I pull the *** for the headlights they come on but I have no markers or tail lights and my gauge light don't come on. I have to jiggle the switch or turn the *** all the way to the right for them to come on and then very lightly turn it right so they stay on. Also the switch is flopping so I probably should replace that to.

 

you will probably need to replace the Pig Tail too.

 

we will find out. Now for the fun part of not braking plastic parts

 

True Dat been there done that.... Plastic hates UV

 

its made with soy beans if I remember correctly

 

maybe in Recent times but not 30 years ago when these trucks were made... of course soy has been used in experimental plastics since at least in the mid 40's but always had issues....
Today Soybean oil is used more often as we have newer manufacturing methods.

 

Henry Ford used it as far back as 1939 in the 9N tractor.. Ford has used it in wiring for years too.

 

Why do you think rats love chewing on it?

 

actually he was using a bushel of soybeans in every car he made by 1935.... that's not the point .... your Dash panels were not made with soybean oil at the time of production
I think you will find that they are ABS and is derived from natural gas and petroleum, not soybean.

 

Is that why it seems these older dashes last yet the newer ones don't?

Of course excluding my bullnose one that was some sort of foam/vinyl mix

 

I was really talking specifically about "Bezels" UV eventually makes em hard and brittle ...when they get old they don't flex well and you know that story.
in reality ASA plastic would have been a better choice as it is more UV resistant.

As far as those other dash parts that seem to be Foam coated with vinyl... it seems they shrink and crack from the sun ...heat and UV just bad for plastics.
more and more today plastics are being made to be biodegradable so it's probably "Planned Obsolescence" ....we have proven we can make light bulbs last 100 years but there is no Profit in it.

I haven't studied much of todays plastics other than what I use for FDM...corn and soy are being used a lot more today than in the past.

 

Well darn, was thinking if I was stranded in BFE I could chew on my Dash to survive. LOL

I remember reading when I was a kid and interested in trains.
Read where Pullman (that made the Pullman Coaches) made the wheel centers out of
compressed paper with a steel rim. Don`t know how long he did it, just remember
reading about it.

Charlie

 

ya.. pretty cool https://www.midcontinent.org/rolling...aperwheels.htm

 

lol I would not eat soy beans ever they taste nasty