So here's an interesting one...the previous owners updated the stereo and of course had to enlarge the hole in the dashboard. The problem is that they did such a poor job. The cut is jagged, there are cut marks down the dash and it's got surface rust where it's just been left. I've filed it as smooth as it can go and tried to sand the rust off but there is still a section below the stereo which is unsightly. Any ideas on how to hide the mess? I was thinking of a larger stereo surround. Or maybe iust tape it? Thanks
I've got a similar problem but the PO went one step further and riveted a square piece of chequer plate over the gashed up hole with a cut out for the stereo. It looks chavvy hideous, a kind sole on here donated a piece of Ali to me which I'm going to cut a hole for the stereo and the paint it black and attach to the dash. It's not perfect but won't be that noticeable if done correctly and won't look chavvy
sadly the std size of radios changed after our vans were built. You think you have problems? I have a padded dash about 10mm thick and the po must have gouged it out with a blunt chisel.
what about if you remove the entire dash.. cut out the Marmite metal and replace with new flat stuff, skim with filler then paint? or too much work? if not.. maybe a big sticker?
I'll try and get a picture up tomorrow when it's light. Yes I'm trying to think of what they must have used to cut the metal so badly. I think ideally I'd want to put a bit of filler on and sand it smooth again. (I think they must have hauled and yanked at it because metal is horribly twisted and pitted and mangled). But then I have the problem of painting it to blend it in...and then I'd think to get the best result I'd need to paint the entire dash. How easy is it to remove the whole dash? PS - I cant do any welding - so it would have to be all filler...
you should be able to straighten it out with a hammer and dolly, or 2 hammers if you dont have a dolly.
Yes I was thinking about how to straighten it out (I'm not overly knowledgable about this stuff, so just sort of muddling along as I go). So a couple of hammers should do the trick?
It can't be any worse than the dash butchery by the PO of my van. He made two saw cuts down the sides of the slot, then just bent everything down, bending the lower dash in the process. The real fix is to take the whole dash out (not difficult), knock the dents out with a hammer and dolly, then respray it. Mines textured - the kind of "bitty" texturing VW used. I sprayed bald bits with a can of aerosol texture paint, the kind of thing you use for making metal look like stone. Works a treat. Then 3 coats of Halford matt black and it was sorted. The dash looks like new. You can't tell where the bodgery is any more. I've got some pics somewhere, if I can find them.
Mine looked like it had been done with a chisel also It also had lots of little holes (like on the right) Now it looks like this Just needs weld to fill in if you want original size or dolly, grind and fill. Time is the issue :
Mines been hacked aswell Im going for a large square cut out with an alloy plate that fastens over the top This should give me space for the radio 3 gauges and a switch or two Plus it means i only have to undo four screws and i can gain acess to a lot of stuff behind the dash
Yeh mines textured as well. So the answer really is it take the whole thing out, give it a good clean up respray the whole lot and fill the bodged bit. Funny how the little jobs seem to somehow get bigger and bigger lol
You can pick up a straight bay dash for around £40 (I won one for £20 on ebay) and it takes no time replace.
Yeh thanks Snotty I might have a look at that. It all needs a good scrub and tidy up anyway. And while it's out it'll give me better access to the fuse box so I can see why my indicators no longer flash.
They're all like this because peeps don't pay a garage to fit a stereo. They get back from Halfords and look in the shed where they find a hand drill, a junior hacksaw, a pair of crappy pliars, raw plugs and some fuse wire. BUT they wanna fit the stereo and hear the sounds - NOW. 8) Neds solution wins. Buy one for £20-40 on Ebay, take your time fitting it for a std unit and when it's ready replace the whole thing and sell yours on ebay for a little less. 8)
