How to Fiberglass a Dash Panel

You can recover an old dashboard with fiberglass.

One way to enhance the appearance of an old, ugly dashboard involves removing the old cover on the dashboard and replacing it with a fiberglass coating. A fiberglass dashboard has a smooth finish and looks good with most vehicles and interiors. Adding the fiberglass takes several days and requires a great deal of patience. Work slowly when completing this project for a more professional look.

Things You'll Need

• Pry bar
• Screwdriver
• Hammer
• Chisel
• Rough-grit sandpaper
• Towel
• Fiberglass matting
• Scissors
• Work gloves
• Eye protection
• Fiberglass polyester resin
• Paintbrush
• Fiberglass roller
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Automotive spray primer
• Automotive spray paint

Instructions

1. Disconnect the negative side of the car's battery. Remove the dash from the car by breaking the seal between the dash and the car with a small pry bar. Unscrew any screws holding the dashboard in place, and disconnect all console wires. Set the dashboard on a flat work surface.

2. Remove the cover from the dashboard with a hammer and chisel or putty knife. Pull the cover off a little at a time until you have removed it completely from the dashboard.

3. Sand the dashboard base with rough-grit sandpaper to prepare it for the fiberglass resin. Wipe the surface with a damp towel to remove sawdust particles.

4. Wear work gloves and eye protection when working with fiberglass. Lay the fiberglass sheets over the dashboard to test the fit. Cut the basic outline of the fiberglass with scissors; you will make final adjustments later. Leave enough matting to overlap the edges of the dashboard slightly.

5. Paint the entire dashboard with a thin coating of resin. Press the matting sheets into the resin. Overlap each piece of matting by about 1/4 inch. Cover all edges of the dashboard. Eliminate air bubbles from under the matting with a fiberglass roller.

6. Paint another coat of resin over the matting. Allow the resin to dry for 24 hours.

7. Sand the dashboard with a fine-grit sandpaper, and wipe it clean with a damp towel. Coat the dashboard with another coating of resin and matting. Cover the matting with another coat of fiberglass. Allow the layer to dry for 24 hours.

8. Add one final coat of fiberglass to the dashboard for a total of three coats. Sand the resin one final time with fine-grit sandpaper, and wipe it clean.

9. Spray an automotive primer over the dashboard, and allow it to dry for two hours. Follow with two coats of colored paint to match the rest of the interior, allowing each coat to dry for two hours.

10. Reinstall the dashboard inside the vehicle and connect all wires. Don't forget to reconnect the battery.

References

• Custom Classic Trucks: Fiberglass a Dashboard