It’s not uncommon to find an older model Porsche that has been left outside and exposed to the sun with a cracked dashboard. Even a small crack in a dashboard can really detract from the overall appearance and value of a vehicle.
If you’re restoring a Porsche and want to fix a cracked dash, you can go on the hunt for a genuine dashboard in perfect condition, but that’s likely to be hard to find and prove expensive. Another affordable alternative is to repair the crack using vinyl welding. This option if undertaken by an experienced welder can achieve a great result….. see below for before and after pics. (Note – you can go on line and purchase a DIY welding kit but we suggest you leave the vinyl welding to the experts!)
Cracked dash before pic
Cracked dash after vinyl weld
Once repaired the life of dashboard is dependent on its future exposure to the sun…… if your Porsche sit’s outside in the sun for long periods the vinyl dashboard is likely to become brittle and once again crack. To look after your dash it’s also important to always gently clean it and thus preserve the top coat of the dashboard. When cleaning a dashboard firstly rinse the surface with plain warm water, then clean the dash with a soft rag and mild soapy water and allow the surface to dry.
Vinyl welding can also be used for nicks in upholstery as can be seen in these before and after shots of a rear parcel shelf.
Before
After
If you have a Porsche that could benefit from some vinyl welding TLC please get in touch, we can assess the suitability and likely cost dependent on the size of the repair. To give you a rough guide of costs, the dashboard crack shown above cost $170 to repair, and the rear parcel nick repair also cost $170.
Braden Bills says
I thought that I was hopeless when I noticed a crack on my dashboard. I didn’t realize that they could be welded shut! I always thought that welding was only for metal materials, but it looks like I’m wrong!