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BSUspecial Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2014 Posts: 3 Location: United States
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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 6:25 am Post subject: Dash Cover |
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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. _________________ 1974 Super Beetle |
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jhicken Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2003 Posts: 9466 Location: Fallbrook, CA
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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 6:31 am Post subject: |
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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 _________________ Der Kleiner Kampfwagens |
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BSUspecial Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2014 Posts: 3 Location: United States
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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 6:34 am Post subject: |
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Plastic or Carbon Fiber? _________________ 1974 Super Beetle |
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Tim Donahoe Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012 Posts: 11740 Location: Redding, CA
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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 8:26 am Post subject: |
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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 |
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jhicken Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2003 Posts: 9466 Location: Fallbrook, CA
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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 8:44 am Post subject: |
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Use the ABS plastic. It looks more original.
-jeffrey _________________ Der Kleiner Kampfwagens |
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Sportbugger Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2008 Posts: 216
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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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jhicken wrote: |
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 |
That's exactly what I did..mine installed and lots great |
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Dwayne1m Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2011 Posts: 3538 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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jhicken wrote: |
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 |
X2. There is a "sticky" on here about doing the job. Just follow that and you won't have any problems. It helps to have 2 people to lay it in there just right. |
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BSUspecial Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2014 Posts: 3 Location: United States
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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for all the great comments! _________________ 1974 Super Beetle |
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Joel Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2006 Posts: 11099 Location: NSW Australia
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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:33 pm Post subject: |
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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
_________________ Quick little bug, you got a Porsche motor in that?
1974 Germanlook 1303 2.5 Suba-Beetle |
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Dwayne1m Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2011 Posts: 3538 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 3:04 am Post subject: |
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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. |
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Dwayne1m Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2011 Posts: 3538 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:23 am Post subject: |
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Here is my dash with the plastic cover |
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jasonlcole Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2010 Posts: 13 Location: Monroe, WA
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Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 5:42 pm Post subject: Best Fitting Dash Cover for 1974 Super |
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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. |
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Tim Donahoe Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012 Posts: 11740 Location: Redding, CA
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Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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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 |
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jasonlcole Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2010 Posts: 13 Location: Monroe, WA
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Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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Tim Donahoe wrote: |
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 |
Where did you order it and what brand is it? ...if you don't mind me asking |
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Tim Donahoe Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012 Posts: 11740 Location: Redding, CA
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 9:29 am Post subject: |
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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 |
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Beeble1 Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2012 Posts: 578 Location: Manteno, Illinois
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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^^ that's where mine is from. I've been very happy with it and have no complaints. _________________ 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 |
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Tuned Perfection Samba Member
Joined: December 10, 2003 Posts: 263 Location: Port Colborne, ON, Canada
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Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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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. _________________ www.tunedperfection.com |
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jhicken Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2003 Posts: 9466 Location: Fallbrook, CA
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Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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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 _________________ Der Kleiner Kampfwagens |
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green1303 Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2014 Posts: 748 Location: Alexandria, VA
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emersonbiggins Samba Member
Joined: February 18, 2003 Posts: 1681 Location: Nebraska
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Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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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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