Thread: 94 1500

Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

did you only use one layer of mat over the wood?

the reason for it cracking would seem to be the joints you have made with the wood.

if they aren't real secure and extremely sturdy, when you start to flex the dash piece, it will crack on you.

especially if you only did one or two layers of mat.

it also looks like you worked too long with the bondo. It looks as if it started to kick but you still spread it on. This will cause the pinholes you mentioned, and will make sanding to get a smooth surface that much more difficult.

No, I did 2 layers of mat over the wood, but it didnt crack til I put water on it.

Yes, I didnt know how to fill the little holes so I kept on going, I had no idea that there was this neato stuff called glazing putty.

Originally Posted by Furevo

i like the location for the monitor.
where are you going to mount the hvac controls?

To be extremely honest I do not know. I have thought about it, and was considering being extremely cliche and sticking it in the console ( I have two captian chairs and a center console). Or maybe even under the dash, where I can feel the buttons but it wouldnt be visible. I don't really use my A/C that often at all. I could almost count the number of times that I have used it (not counting when I'm on a date or something) on both of my hands.

Originally Posted by Das

No, I did 2 layers of mat over the wood, but it didnt crack til I put water on it.

water?

on what?

of course it's going to crack if the wood gets wet. Wood expands when it gets wet if it's not sealed.

Yes, I didnt know how to fill the little holes so I kept on going, I had no idea that there was this neato stuff called glazing putty.

I only mentioned it as a tip for next time. Ideally you shouldn't even have to use the putty if it's a high quality filler and it's applied correctly. and even if you do have to use it, you shoulnd't have to apply it all over the surface, only in small areas a bit at a time.

When the filler starts to clump, STOP. That means it's kicking, and if you keep appling it you will make more work for yourself. The best thing to do at that point is to put the spreader down, and pick up some heavy grit sane paper and start lightly sanding while it's still kicking on the piece. This will knock off the larger chunks of stuff and will make your life easier. Just don't go too much and don't use the large grit stuff once it's completely hardened, else you will put gouges into the finish. Once it's hardened you make the switch to a finer grit.

I hope that all makes sense..it's hard to type, but easy to show.

I could almost count the number of times that I have used it (not counting when I'm on a date or something) on both of my hands.

This isn't a daily driver in Texas is it?

Well when you say it like that, I really feel like a dumbass.
I left it outside so it would dry last night so i could try and paint the wood, and it rained. So I have had more bad luck than legless Ethiopian watching a doughnut roll down a hill.

I am also not so sure that this was really expensive filler, I got it at Autozone. I was really tired of trying to sand out the little holes, so for the sake of me not breaking my screen in a rage, I am extremely glad I bought the glazing putty.

As I'll mention again, this is my first time doing anything like this before. The first time I saw bondo was when I opened the can myself.


Yeah, it was like 100 all last week and felt like 85 at night, but in Austin with the humidity as it is, going fast with the windows down is not that bad . I have never spent the summer in dallas, but I can only imagine its not quite like Austin or College Station.

Thank you all again for all of the advice and helpful little tips that are making this so much easier, and as Red said:

I hope that all makes sense..it's hard to type, but easy to show.

^^My appreciation.

dallas isn't as bad as college station or houston....but it's not nice either....lol

grew up in houston, spent 5.5 years in college station, and now i'm up here....have yet to fully experience the summers up here...lol

first time, no biggie, I'm just giving some pointers is all.

I really wanted to see your car when you lived in CS, never got around to it though, considering you were not there second semester. I regret that. Hopefully you will be at the Austin meet in a couple days with DP? If not I'll see you in Dallas.

nope- not in college station, got the hell outta there when I graduated...lol

not going ot be at this austin meet either, but I am planning on being here for the dallas meet on sunday!

Sanded it and this is what it looked like after primer.


Glazed some more

Finally finished!

nice. be sure to post some installed pics. you're making me miss my 91 1500

I cant seem to get all the freaking ribbon cables back in place where the screen works. It is making me crazy.