Are there any products out there that will help to prevent the dash from cracking? The crack free '84 dash I put into my '78 cracked over the winter :x Theres got to be something more effective than Armor-All :?

dash pad :?:

There's a dash cover (rug) on my dash, original owner put it there. I bought the car from his son. His dad told him NEVER take that dash cover off, its still there. Guess what, no cracks. Does Armor All really protect from those harmful UV rays? Then why don't we gearheads use it instead of sunbloc when we go to the beach? Excuse me, gotta go work on my tan! (spritz spritz spritz) :lol:

Vinylex, made by Summit Industries. It somewhat restores the evaporated plasticizers and includes a UV protectant. The product description is at:

http://www.lexol.com/vinindex.html

I've found it from time to time at the local Pep Boys. You can also order it from Eastwood. Cheap too! Not a miracle product, mind you, but seems to do better than Armor All. The companion Lexol product for leather also works well (I use it on my other car).

However, it's still a good idea to throw a towel or two on it any time you are going to be sitting parked out in the sun. Plastic will be plastic...

Are there any products out there that will help to prevent the dash from cracking?

Yes. It's called a dash cover. However, you need to use it prior to getting any cracks. There isn't any product on the market that can fix cracks in a plastic dash.

Vinylex, made by Summit Industries. It somewhat restores the evaporated plasticizers and includes a UV protectant.

What the heck are evaporated plasticizers http://elcaminocentral.com/users/elcamino/conf.gif

:mrgreen:

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The chemicals that make plastic materials flexible are (as a group) commonly called plasticizers. Over time (and helped by heat), they actually evaporate from within the material, causing it to get more brittle, making it much more prone to crack any place there is some stress (like around/between the speaker holes). This, plus UV damage if exposed to the sun, is most of why old plastic parts are so fragile.
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So... restoring some of these to the material reduces it's cracking rate, or, if it's not yet cracked can help prevent them in the first place.

But, of course, as you state, once cracked it's cracked. I have been told there are games you can play with RTV silicone to try and stabilize an existing crack if it's not too bad, but it's really not worth it to mess with because it will never look right, and it's waaay too easy to get the stuff on more dash than you intended. If there's anything worse than a cracked dash it's a cracked dash covered by shiny 'spiderwebs' :D .

Vinylex and a cover together are the best protection I know of for keeping an uncracked dash intact. I would especially recommend using something like Vinylex when using a salvage yard replacement, since it will probably be well down the road to it's own cracking (as CHVYPWR found). It's not a guarentee, but at $10 for a bottle it's cheap insurance.

Now, if a recent lottery winner, for a few hundred bucks and a few weeks wait, you can have the pad professionally restored with new grain-matched material (that will take a long time to begin to crack). I got a quote for my '73 a year or two back and it was something like $600 8O (I laughed, cried, and deleted, so I don't have the exact number any more...).

Thanks for the info on the Vinylex, I'll give it a try. I just put this newer dash in, so I really dont want to do it again. I just need to try to keep this thing from getting worse!

Have you ever been in a junk yard and grabbed a sticky steering wheel? Thats evaporated plastisizers.

As a Detailer for 5 years I have tried numerous products. Hands down I would highly recommend 303 products. A bit pricey but so is a new or reconditioned dash!

Gimme more info on the "303 products". The who,whats, and wheres :D

Hmmmm. I'd never heard of them before, but they have a website...

http://www.303products.com/main.php

I would guess eighty3elky is referring to the '303 Aerospace Protectant' product. They have a 'click here for free samples link' that can get you a sample of the Aerospace Protectant for totally free or for $5 2-oz samplers of 3 of their products plus what looks like an applicator pad.

Free samples are always interesting! :D

I think the dash restoration companies e-mail address is www.justdashes.com Hope this helps

I have beem using Meguiars vinal protectant and has done a good job.If you car sets outside a lot then a sunshade in the windshield is a good and cheap investment not to mention tinted windows. 8)

My Grandpa Says that rubbing baby oil on it helps keep it from cracking. :D

Antioxidants also go into the plastic when it is made, along with the plasticizers. Sadly, once the antioxidants are used up, cracking and discoloration begin to happen. (Ever wonder why cheap plastic toys and lawn furniture crack up quicker than more expensive ones? Less antioxidants and plasticizers!) This is also why Just Dashes reformed dashes last a long time, they use a very thick good grade of vinyl in their process. (And no, I am not connected with them in any way, they are also too expensive for me on my meager Chemical Engineer salary. I would have to be a plumber or doctor to afford them!) :P

My Grandpa Says that rubbing baby oil on it helps keep it from cracking. :D

That is not true. Baby Oil will speed up the process of it cracking. Baby oil will remove the oils that are in the plastic. So will Armor-All. I woldn't use Armor-All on anything its got to be the worst product on the market.