TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:36 pm

Alright, I'm working on my first bus and am 16, so I dont know all that much about these things, but am learning :roll: , I just have one question, on the dash of a 73, can you pull the vinyl/plastic coating stuff off of there? is there metal underneath? I really havent looked and can't go look at my bus at the moment.

thanks!

colby

Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:56 pm

It is molded as a unit. You do not want to remove it!

Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:13 pm

out of curiosity...why do you want to take it off?

Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:22 pm

I figured that if it was all just 1 piece of metal I would just paint it the same color I am painting the exterior. I hate the black leathery looking stuff that came stock. I thougt it would look pretty cool, but if you cant take it off then never mind.

Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:25 pm

Well if it's any consolation all of us have the black dashes. Except for the Champagne owners...

I think there is vinyl paint available somewhere, but you might want to test painting a scrap dashboard or other vinyl before possibly ruining yours.

Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:31 pm

Before you are tempted, I have removed the vinyl from a dash, and it isn't suitable for painting. There are all sorts of holes in the metal, it isn't one flat piece.

Here's the sweet dash found in european buses from 68-72 (found in the Samba galleries...there are more there as well...)

Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:33 pm

i was talking about painting over the vinyl attached to the metal.

Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:38 pm

cr@M wrote: i was talking about painting over the vinyl attached to the metal.

I got what you were saying Cram, I was actually referring to the OP's post above yours...

c-mack wrote: I figured that if it was all just 1 piece of metal I would just paint it the same color I am painting the exterior.

Sorry for the confusion...

Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:44 pm

that dash looks amazing. I wish i could do that, but i know it's nowhere near worth the effort.

Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:04 pm

cr@M wrote: that dash looks amazing. I wish i could do that, but i know it's nowhere near worth the effort.

Dude, no effort required, other than finding someone willing to sell you one from Europe, shipping, priming, painting, installing, rewiring... :D

Still, it's tempting to try to find one before I paint my bus...it would look so nice...

Wed Jan 09, 2008 11:35 pm

glad somene else asked the questgion. I have been wanting to do that to my bus forever. anyone have pics of a dash w/ the molding pulled ofF? maybe i could weld something over it and reassemble...

but its still good to know its not easy before i dig in.

Wed Jan 09, 2008 11:35 pm

deleted
double post

Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:08 am

Rattle can black wrinkle paint was used on my '68 Westy's visible dash metal. That makes a nice contrast to reduce the 'all-the-same' look of the OG vinyl cow surfaces. It also provides less bright sun glare in the driver's eyes than the original shiny black paint on the dash top.

J.R.
68 Westy
(+ others)

Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:50 pm

This is out of the VW Heritage catalog I received about a year ago. Since it was a new item at the time, chances are they still sell them. G means genuine VW. With shipping and the exchange rate, it still won't be cheap, but maybe a better way to go than parting out a european model.

Chris (MiOdy81)

Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:39 pm

interesting....

it looks good. But how can the same dash be used for both "RHD and LHD"? I wonder if you have to drill the holes for the dash switches yourself.

Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:15 pm

BusBerd wrote: interesting....

it looks good. But how can the same dash be used for both "RHD and LHD"? I wonder if you have to drill the holes for the dash switches yourself.

Good question, Berd...still, I'm really surprised at how affordable it is...interesting...

BTW, here's the online source: http://www.vwheritage.com/vwh/VW-Camper-Van-Parts/...lateID=vwh

Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:20 pm

Thanks for posting that, MiOdy.. I'd been considering POR-15's claim of refinishing vinyl as well, but I feared shabby results, not to mention the radio hole edges are slightly crumbled anyhow...

That metal dash look is NICE. Plus I haven't painted my interior yet, so would be fairly simple while everything's out anyway to swap the dash & paint the whole deal.

Their online catalog says they stock left hand drive, which can be mod'ed for right-hand drive. Lucky for me no mods required, but I do fear the cost/risk of damage in shipping....

Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:09 am

I have a european 79 Double Cab with the metal dash. The dash itself is really sturdy. I wouldn't worry too much about damage during shipment. Someone would have to run over it with a truck to bend it up.

I am looking forward to stripping mine down and painting it up nice. It has a weird textured finish at the moment. I am not sure if that is original or not.

Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:39 am

autiger78 wrote: Before you are tempted, I have removed the vinyl from a dash, and it isn't suitable for painting. There are all sorts of holes in the metal, it isn't one flat piece.

Here's the sweet dash found in european buses from 68-72 (found in the Samba galleries...there are more there as well...)

that is SWEET!!! I assume thatit will fit my '72.

Definitely going this route.

thanks!!

anyone got any more pics??

johnny

Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:41 am

Both of the metal dash busses I've had had a kinda spattery texture paint on them, dark greyish back.