Dash Cover

BSUspecial · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 6:25 am Post subject: Dash Cover

Hello, I am new to this forum and would like to ask a quick question.
I have a 1974 Super Beetle with a cracked dash, I noticed while looking through the JBugs website that they had a dash cover. Instead of spending 50 bucks and have it look like crap, I would rather ask the community for your opinion.
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1974 Super Beetle

jhicken · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 6:31 am Post subject:

If you take your time installing it, cutting away any curled vinyl around the cracks, making sure the surface is flat, rough up the surface with a 100 grit sand paper, and spread the glue evenly, they can look decent. You won't fool anyone that it's an original dash, but for the money, it's not a bad fix.

-jeffrey
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Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

BSUspecial · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 6:34 am Post subject:

Plastic or Carbon Fiber?
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1974 Super Beetle

Tim Donahoe · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 8:26 am Post subject:

I have one on my 1974 Super Beetle. It was installed by the PO in 2005. It still looks good.

Prepare the surface like jhicken said.

I've heard the fiberglass ones hold up better; but mine is ABS plastic, and as I said, it still looks good.

Tim

jhicken · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 8:44 am Post subject:

Use the ABS plastic. It looks more original.

-jeffrey
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Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

Sportbugger · Samba Member Joined: December 15, 2008 Posts: 216

Dwayne1m · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 4:25 pm Post subject:

BSUspecial · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 5:44 pm Post subject:

Thank you for all the great comments!
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1974 Super Beetle

Joel · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:33 pm Post subject:

I don't know what the climate is like where you are but I can tell you one thing,
unless you are into abstract art the ABS plastic ones definitely don't like Aussie summer time temps

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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Quick little bug, you got a Porsche motor in that?
1974 Germanlook 1303 2.5 Suba-Beetle

Dwayne1m · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 3:04 am Post subject:

I have to agree with Joel about the heat aspect. I put a plastic cap on my 78 convertible and if it is sitting out in the sun with the top down the plastic gets real hot. I don't know what the long term affects would be with that, so now if I have the car sitting out in the sun with the top down for an extended period of time, I throw a towel over the dash to keep the sun from beating on it to help keep the heat off of it. If you have a sedan it may not be as much of as issue but still something to be aware of depending where you live.

Dwayne1m · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:23 am Post subject:

Here is my dash with the plastic cover

jasonlcole

Hey Everybody,
I'm pretty much in the same boat with a 1974 Super Beetle. Years ago I ordered a ABS plastic cover, but I never installed it because it just didn't fit right. I just didn't seem to be formed correctly. Does anyone have the fiberglass cover available on JBugs and does fit well. I know the job is simple, I just want something to fit correctly. The plastic one I bought is an EMPI part, # 00-4447-0... and it sucks in my opinion.

Tim Donahoe · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 8:09 pm Post subject:

Here is a fairly recent picture of my dash. It has an ABS plastic cover that was installed by the PO around 2005.

I live in Redding, CA where the summer temperatures are only surpassed by Death Valley. 110F for many days on end. When my brother was visiting a few years back, I took him to see the dam. The temperature that day was 116. In other words, it gets hot here.

So what's your beef with your plactic topper?

Tim

jasonlcole · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 9:07 pm Post subject:

Tim Donahoe · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 9:29 am Post subject:

I didn't order it. The previous owner did.

I have the receipt, however; he purchased it from MidAmerica Motorworks. It was very cheap back when he bought it. The unit is still inexpensive.

Tim

Beeble1 · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 5:12 pm Post subject:

^^ that's where mine is from. I've been very happy with it and have no complaints.
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Beeble1, ‘73 Super (o\_|_/o) 1600cc w/ Dealer A/C
Beeble2, ‘13 Beetle 2.5L Daily Driver

Dealership items from Bishop-Wayne Volkswagen & Turner Volkswagen in Kankakee, IL wanted

Tuned Perfection · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 6:19 pm Post subject:

Is J-BUGS the only place that offers the fiberglass version? Seems like everyone else has the ABS one. I find it hard to comprehend that J-BUGS somehow has exclusivity on them.
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www.tunedperfection.com

jhicken · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 6:43 pm Post subject:

Looks like they offer both.

It's not unusual for a distributor to get an exclusive. EIS bought the entire stock of KSR's repro W decklids, which makes them the exclusive dealer of a very unique item offered by nobody else.

-jeffrey
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Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

green1303 · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 7:59 pm Post subject:

Empi, IAP, and JP Group all have a dash cover for 1973-1979 Supers in their wholesale catalogs, so those covers are available to any shop. I'm not sure if they all come from the same manufacturer. Mine is plastic from Empi and one of few non-stock parts that I am using, because I didn't want to spend $1,000 on a new dash. Maybe one day I will have a moment of weakness or find some reason to change my mind, but it hasn't happened yet.

http://www.kaeferland-shop.de/index.php?action=sho...6.07637048

http://www.kaeferland-shop.de/index.php?action=sho...6.07637048

Here's a fiberglass dash for 1973-up Super Beetles from CSP in Germany.

http://www.csp-shop.com/cgi-bin/cshop2/front/shop_...0&all=
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1973 green Super Beetle

emersonbiggins · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 8:43 pm Post subject:

I put one of the carpet covers on mine. It turned out good. I put a spot on the dash to hold some odds and ends.


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