1973-79 Super Beetle Dash Board

[1973Sport]

Hi everyone! I was recently looking at a 1973 Super Beetle. It seems the dash was cracked and a prior owner installed a plastic dash cover over the factory dash. It looks like the original dash, but it is just a thin plastic cover. The replacement cover has warped from heat. Does anyone have experience with these plastic covers and can share any tips on removal of the old and installation of the new cover. I know empi sells the plastic (ABS) cover. Before I make an offer I would like to know what is involved. Thanks in advance !

[H2OSB]

In all honesty, if it was done correctly, that cover should be nearly impossible to remove. The factory dash has a lot of complex curvature so for a cover to adhere properly, there must be adhesive on every surface with a curve.

You could try a heat gun in the hopes of softening the glue or, perhaps, slipping some thin knife blade between the cover and dash and working it off that way.

I once bought a used dash with a poorly glued cover that felt loose enough to pull off. When I did, where there WAS adhesive, chunks of dash came up with it. I ended up stripping off all of off the dash padding...which was also not an easy task.

The issue causing cracks is VW used materials(under padding and vinyl covering...what was available at the time) that expand at different rates when exposed to the sun. Any curved window Super that is parked in the sun for an extended period of time is going to have a cracked. So just as alternative suggestions, there's a company in SoCal, I'm sorry I can't recall the name, but they restore old dashes using modern materials that expand together at the same rate. But it's expensive, as you'd imagine. Cry once for a one and done. If you really like the factory dash.

Alternatively you could find an uncovered stock dash(with cracks, it SHOULDN'T be too expensive), and then install your empi cover. You could find a crack free dash from anything from '73-'79, and forgo the cover altogether. Any dash from 73-79 would work, although there are minor differences after '74, however, these tend to be expensive. Kerscher in Germany, as well as Just Dashes in SoCal have a fiberglass Porsche style dash that has room for additional guages. JD actually has a couple different styles of dash to suit the curved window Super.

Sorry, that's a long winded way to say there's not a lot you can do.

H2OSB
_________________
(o\_i_/o) I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals, I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants.

[creative native]

I’ve contacted Just Dashes before and I thought their prices were expensive. However, we have few options. I am pretty sure the price was around $1,400 (plus delivery there and back) and a three month turn around time. I've not made contact with another dash repair company to compare prices. It may just be a case of paying the price and consider it a worthwhile investment.

The previous owner of my Sun Bug installed the thin plastic dash cap, which cracked at the common spot on the right side of the instrument cluster. That was disappointing. They also sell the dash caps in fiberglass, which I expect are more durable and only cost a little more. The plastic or fiberglass dash caps do provide the illusion of a fine dash, but knowing of the ugly underneath makes me uneasy.

Best of luck and keep us updated on how you proceed, please.

_________________
"The holy land is everywhere." ~ Black Elk
1979 Westfalia P27, California FI emissions spec. 100% VW fleet: '79 Westfalia, 2013 Touareg Lux (Toffee Brown/Cornsilk Beige), 2005 Passat GLX.

[H2OSB]

Lol, Just Dashes! I inadvertently remembered the name of dash restoration people. I MEANT Glass Action for the fiberglass dash options. Sorry for any confusion.

Yes, Just Dashes is very expensive. Glass Action has a nice fiberglass Porsche 911 style dash that is quite reasonable...$269 I believe, with an occasional sales for $239.

H2OSB
_________________
(o\_i_/o) I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals, I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants.

[OTTO 1303]

Probably would not let the dash be a deal breaker, unless completely ratted out or unsightly fiberglass/Bondo repair.
Almost ALL 73+ Super dashboards will either have some cracks, a plastic cover over the cracks, or a cracked plastic cover over the cracks.

As stated above, a heat gun used properly may help this situation with a new plastic cover applied, it may even help remove the current warpage.

Then again, you could always do this:
https://youtu.be/Jn7kaLdNeeA

Good Luck
_________________
74 Super Sun Bug - OTTO
74 Super - DANZIG
74 Super - HERZOG

[1973Sport]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I really appreciate it. The dash is important to me. Other then the windshield it is the part of the car I would be looking at the most when driving.

The other issue with the car is the infamous foam insulation in the rear of the cabin behind the rear side windows. It has failed and is bulging out the headliner. Also on the exterior there is paint bubbles near the vent where in the "c" pillar, right near the exterior vent. It is a shame because the car is really nice outside of these issues. For all those reasons I am tempted to pay up for a better example that needs less work.

Perhaps with Super Beetle prices climbing some company will make a replacement dash in the near future. Thanks again for the responses and I will update you all.

[jinx758]

Two members of my car club had me "fix" their cracked SB dashes.

I used 3M headliner glue and premium non backed speaker cabinet fabric. One was gray & the other was black. They both came out nice & had 2 very satisfied customers.
I used the dog grooming clippers to shave down the pile of the black one cuz it was hard to keep clean.

I tend to think outside the box.

Best luck ... stay safe

jinx

PS :
Rust &/or systems are important but my ride is a 100 footer.
_________________
" It's not valuable unless you learn something from an experience. " Henry Ford

It's not unlike the same difference

You can't push a rope


VALVES (cold)
POINTS
TIMING
CARB (fully warmed engine)

SCRAPE ALL GROUNDS

My Craigslist rescued 100 footer :
1971 Standard Bug
1776cc dual port
034 distributor
38mm EGAS Carburetor

[Buggeee]

[jinx758]

@ Buggeee ...

I used to build & install high end automotive sound systems starting in about 2000. This includes custom built subwoofer boxes using Theile/Small parameters. I'm talking stoopid loud yet clear ; booming lows, accurate mids, & crisp highs. They were tailored for the type of music - rock, rap, country, etc.

I mostly used speaker carpet from "parts express dot com" & came in red, blue, camel, light/dark gray, & black. I found it a better quality than what I found in the stereo shops as it would confirm to complex surfaces with minimal stretching or wrinkling. The secret is to mist on the adhesive & allow to tack up then a medium coat then put on surface & poke or stretch. I used a J-roller for the flats & a combination of plastic trim dollies, empty cigar tubes, & assorted stuff ... all with rounded corners. I only applied the adhesive to the carpet, not the box. One of my "go-tos" was an empty bubble blowing solution tube from the toy section at Wally World. Lol.
My most popular was a plastic skull that looked like it was pushing out of the sub box with LED lights in the eye sockets - very difficult to make the carpet conform to the contours but looked kool.
Always cut with a new razor.

Sorry for long response ... practice on something & it'll come together.

Best of luck ... stay safe

jinx

Short answer :
Use premium carpet, mist coat & let it tack up, spray medium coat (only to carpet) & apply to surface either stretching or rubbing with rounded plastic applicators.
_________________
" It's not valuable unless you learn something from an experience. " Henry Ford

It's not unlike the same difference

You can't push a rope


VALVES (cold)
POINTS
TIMING
CARB (fully warmed engine)

SCRAPE ALL GROUNDS

My Craigslist rescued 100 footer :
1971 Standard Bug
1776cc dual port
034 distributor
38mm EGAS Carburetor

[rlutterb]

[1973Sport]

Here is a photo, not sure why it is sideways, of the rust under the C pillar which is making the paint bubble on an otherwise nice car. The foam is also bulging behind it through the liner on the inside of the car on both sides (driver and passenger). I am concerned how bad this could be as this is part of the structure of the car. I feel it may reach a point where I might be underwater on this car quickly as the selling price is near full book value.


Thanks in advance for any advice.

[rlutterb]

[1973Sport]

Thanks. I appreciate the advice. One has to be cautious with a 50 year old car.