Popular Post icerockt Posted December 18, 2012 Popular Post Report Posted December 18, 2012 While Frankensteining a junkyard dash and my old one I decided to fix some of the common problems the 850 interior has. I removed all of the better upholstered parts to the grey vinyl to black. All of the plastic is extremely fragile. (I also reinforced the typical mounts with metal rivetted and epoxied into place) Using parts of the junked dash I cut out side caps to cover the common de-laminated vinyl on the sides of the dash. once you peel the old vinyl off of theses caps you are left with a rough surface that can then be sanded and painted with SEM Landau Black to create an OEM looking piece for both sides. I added hex screws to complete the look but just attaching them with epoxy or 3M tape should be sufficient. If you leave a lip on the front edge of theses pieces they fit nicely between the dash and door weatherstripping. The next issue is the top plastic portion of the dash that cracks from the sun or trying to remove the dash pad. Even the best dashboard I could find in the junkyard had some cracks, and even if you manage to find a perfect one its only a matter of time until it breaks. I created a template of this portion and a Rhino/CAD file for laser-cutting. I can upload the file if someone else wants to attempt to do this, but there is one curve I would probably tweak If I were to do this again. I was advised against making this part from PVC and chose lexan. It maintains all of the defrost holes, VIN and climate sensor windows, and even an R logo for posing. Again this was painted with SEM Landau Black and then attached to the dash with plastic weld epoxy. Make sure to glue every little portion! There were a couple small spots I missed and If I left the car out in the sun the lexan started to warp upwards in these spots. I snuck in some plastic weld after and it has been fine since, Its just much easier to do right the first time around. The portion that flares up near the windshield was covered in an adhesive black weatherstripping from Home Depot. The last part involves the shifter boot for an M56 swap. Initially I combined a leather MOMO Endurance boot with the stock boot hidden underneath it, but it never looked perfect and was coming undone. I then decided to go a different route and separated the rubber bellows out from the OEM manual boot and cut out a black PVC sheet to hold the bellows down. The plastic "clip" thing originally between the volvo boot and knob was separated and reinstalled on the shifter rod under the rubber bellows to hold it in place up top. After conditioning the rubber it cleaned up nicely and looks pretty stock. For the knob I used a MOMO automatico and removed the button and replaced it with a shaved down shift pattern from a M56 Volvo knob. Combined with some heavy washers under the pattern cap and Momo's black endurance adapter, It makes a very nice weighted shift knob. This was version 1.0: (You can see the black dash panels here) Sorry for the awful pictures, and will try to post better ones when I get a chance. 20 Quote
Oreo931 Posted December 18, 2012 Report Posted December 18, 2012 Wow. That is very cool. Shift knob looks like it could be OEM. Awesome work on the upper plastic dash trim piece. I'm sure you could sell a good number of those if you made some more. I would be interested in one Quote
V55 CS Posted December 18, 2012 Report Posted December 18, 2012 Nice job, do you have pics of your lateral repair in place ? Quote
maximumbuckeye Posted December 18, 2012 Report Posted December 18, 2012 Looks awesome. I would definitely buy the upper dash trim piece if you made more. Good work. Quote
goldponcho Posted December 18, 2012 Report Posted December 18, 2012 Great work! I love the R detail on the upper dash piece. I'd also probably be in line for a pair of them, if you decide on a group buy. Quote
corivus Posted December 19, 2012 Report Posted December 19, 2012 I am with everyone else, I would be down for that piece as I haven't found this one in good condition, I actually am going to pull my dash in the next month or so to address a few creaking points in it. and I still have whats left of my old dash but that's pretty much dead. Quote
matt b Posted December 19, 2012 Report Posted December 19, 2012 You need to make that top piece and sell some, I'd have bought one in a heart beat when I had the wagon. Nice work, clean and tasteful, I like it. Quote
prasamin Posted December 19, 2012 Report Posted December 19, 2012 i want to buy one of those lexan top pieces for my dash....matt will go down on you if you sell me one Quote
dougy Posted December 19, 2012 Report Posted December 19, 2012 nice! upper dash piece...you know you wana sell those babies ...you will sell at least 100 - 300 easy on eghay...that is before china gets of one to copy and makes it for half price. i want to buy one of those lexan top pieces for my dash....matt will go down on you if you sell me one lolol...what in tha world, offering others services. Quote
icerockt Posted December 19, 2012 Author Report Posted December 19, 2012 lol i want to buy one of those lexan top pieces for my dash....matt will go down on you if you sell me one I will look into getting more of them made or seeing if a vendor is interested. Installation with 3M tape could also be possible to make it easier with the dash in the car. I'll get some more photos of the final installed part since you all seem interested. Quote
prasamin Posted December 19, 2012 Report Posted December 19, 2012 lol I will look into getting more of them made or seeing if a vendor is interested. Installation with 3M tape could also be possible to make it easier with the dash in the car. I'll get some more photos of the final installed part since you all seem interested. THIS. Matt will also tickle your butthole if you can make it happen with the 3M tape 1 Quote
matt b Posted December 20, 2012 Report Posted December 20, 2012 THIS. Matt will also tickle your butthole if you can make it happen with the 3M tape If by Matt you mean me, I'm coming for you Pras. Quote
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