How to Fiberglass an Eclipse's Dash
Modifying the dashboard in your Mitsubishi Eclipse will really make it stand out from the rest. Eclipses are a very popular car to modify, but most only concentrate on the outside surfaces, or perhaps coloring the interior. Fiberglassing the dash will take your ride to the next level. Applying fiberglass is not as difficult as you might think, and over the course of a weekend you can transform your Eclipse from stock to super custom.
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic sheeting
- Tape
- Sandpaper (various grits)
- Degreaser
- Utility knife
- Expanding foam spray
- Fiberglass cloth
- Paint brush
- Epoxy resin and hardener
- Body filler
- Rubber spatula
Instructions
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Tape off all the surfaces of your dash and interior you do not want to fiberglass, then lay a sheet of plastic over the surfaces of the interior you do not want to get dirty. Fiberglassing involves a significant amount of sanding which will create a lot of dust. Ensure all surfaces of the car are sufficiently covered before proceeding.
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Sand the surface of your dash that you plan to attach the fiberglass to using some 80 grit sand paper. Cut away any sections of the dash using a utility knife as necessary. Follow the sanding with a cleaning using a degreasing cleaning agent and a soft cloth. This will help the foam and epoxy to adhere to the dashboard.
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3
Apply a layer of expanding foam over the surfaces of the dashboard you wish to raise. Expanding foam will adhere to the dashboard vinyl, then harden, but can be easily shaped with sandpaper providing a perfect surface to apply fiberglass to.
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Shape the layer of expanded foam using some 80 grit sand paper. If you accidentally remove too much foam, just apply another layer, wait for it to harden, then re-shape.
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Lay sheets of fiberglass cloth over the hardened and shaped expanded foam, then mix your epoxy resin and hardener according to the manufacturers directions. Paint the epoxy onto the fiberglass cloth evenly, ensuring that the cloth is consistently wet and that all air bubbles are pushed out with the paint brush. Allow for 24 hours for the fiberglass and epoxy to cure and harden.
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Mix your body filler and activator according to the manufacturers directions. Apply the filler over the hardened fiberglass to smooth the surfaces of it, and into the surfaces of the dashboard. Body filler is much easier to shape than hardened fiberglass.
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Sand and smooth down the body filler using some 200 grit sand paper followed by some 440 grit paper to finish the surfaces of it. Cover the fiberglass sections with a new layer of vinyl or leather, or prime and paint as you wish.
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Tips & Warnings
Always wear eye and face protection when working with fiberglass, apply epoxy in a well ventilated area.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Scott Olson/Getty Images News/Getty Images
