How to Form the Fiberglass Dash

A fiberglass coating can change the appearance of a dashboard.

A fiberglass dashboard is not made from fiberglass alone. It is a dashboard with a hard fiberglass coating. Some people use this method to modify the shape of the dashboard as they add the fiberglass, and some add fiberglass to the dashboard to change the appearance and texture of the dashboard. The least complicated way to change the dashboard is to remove th e original dashboard from the vehicle and use that as the base for the fiberglass dash.

Print this article

Screwdriver
Crowbar
Putty knife
200-grit sandpaper
Soft cloths
Work gloves
Fiberglass mat
Scissors
Fiberglass resin
Paintbrush
Metal roller

Instructions

- 1
  
  Disconnect the battery under the car’s hood by removing the negative cable and then the positive cable. Disconnect all wires leading from the car battery to the dashboard.
- 2
  
  Remove any screws holding the dashboard in place. Unscrew the steering wheel from the vehicle. Remove the dashboard from the car by gently prying it away from the body of the car with a crowbar.
- 3
  
  Remove any existing cover from the dashboard with a metal putty knife. Sand the dashboard with 200-grit sandpaper. Wipe away the dust with a soft cloth.
- 4
  
  Put on work gloves. Place the fiberglass sheets over the dashboard. Overlap the edges by about one-half inch between sheets. Cut the fiberglass with scissors to fit the contours of the dashboard. Remove the fiberglass and set it aside.
- 5
  
  Coat the dashboard with a coating of resin. Place the fiberglass sheets over the dash. Roll a metal roller over the fiberglass sheets to eliminate any air bubbles.
- 6
  
  Wet the top of the fiberglass with another coating of resin. Allow the resin to dry for two hours. Place a third coating of resin over the second coating. Allow the resin to dry for 24 hours. Place a second layer of matting over the first by following steps 4 through 6.