Why do our dashes crack?

[surfingfreeman]

Is it that the outer plastic becomes brittle and shrinks and gases build up from the soft foam center? What/where is the best place to get a replacement for an 82' spider? Autoricambi/mr.fiat/Vicks???...not interested in a "cap", "rug", "plugs" or other such facsimile, only the real deal! Thanks. And no offense to those follically challenged.
Mike

[azruss]

It is my understanding from talking to a plastics guy back in the day, that the dash is polyurethane foam. the outer layer is a more dense foam than the inner. They put UV stabilizer in the foam, but is only good for so long. I replaced mine with a plastic (PVC, i think) from Vicks. I went this way because it would be repairable in the future. It is not a "soft" dash, so sure wouldn't want to hit my head on it.

[SLOSpider]

Global warming is to blame. Any soft foam dash is going to crack due to age, heat, cold, derogation of the cellular lever within the foam atomic atom cores. I like the cap coverage as replacing it with another will on result in the same effect.

But if I were to spend the money I would go here :

http://www.justdashes.com/Products.htm

:

Why is a Just Dashes Restoration better then a good used or original (OEM) part?

A:

Just Dashes uses a closed cell high density polyethylene foam in combination with a thicker gauge (.045) vinyl that makes for a superior quality part, better then the original. It will withstand decades of harsh sun and blazing heat and will not crack. The reason being is that the new closed cell foam expands and contracts at the same rate as the new vinyl, which is formulated with modern day UV inhibitors. Original dash pad foam was porous and open cell causing it to expand and contract with temperature changes creating stress cracks when the surface of the vinyl skin became brittle.

[surfingfreeman]

Thanks Azruss!

[surfingfreeman]

SLOspider is that your final answer??????? A "Merkin" type device to mask the deficit and flaws? Hmmmmm.........

[surfingfreeman]

All joking aside thanks for the scientific explanation on the material differences. Will look into those types. Can you refer me to the link which discusses those most sweet scoops or NACA ducts on your fiat there? Very intriguing they are!

[SLOSpider]

These are NACA ducts


The fiat in my pic there is not mine just one I like that was floating around here. There are several post about the hood scoops but here is the latest one:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=21831

[surfingfreeman]

Nice ride! I just got my first issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic and there are actually a number of fiat references as well as an article on Chris Obert (santa Cruz, ca) fiat mechanic diehard. Anyways, there was also a section on turbo'd cars of the 80's and there was a Porsche 924 turbo, that they explained needed 4-nose vents as well as a NACA offset on the hood to deal with the high heat generation from the turbo.

[surfingfreeman]

Nice endorsement!

"38448 Thu 11th May 2000 09:04pm Re: Spider dash (bradley artigue (atlanta, georgia))
If you want a better-than-new dash, send an old one to just
dashes (http://www.justdashes.com) and pay them $500 to have it
redone. They do show-quality work and stand by it.

If you want to have a dash that looks recovered, then buy the
cover. I've never seen one that I like, even from guys who
claim to have mastered the art. They always look wrong for some
reason.

1980 Fiat Spider (Yellow)
1971 Fiat 850 Sport Spider (Blue)
1991 Alfa Romeo Spider (Black)
http://www.geocities.com/fiat_brad
Atlanta, Georgia"

[wikkid]

SLOspider, I think you posted the wrong ride up there, although I like the single-sided swingarm!

[SLOSpider]

SLOspider, I think you posted the wrong ride up there, although I like the single-sided swingarm!

Right picture, showing NACA ducts on my VFR.