help with dash pod mount on dashboard

fivespeedsteed

20+ Year Stangneter :roc</strong><span class=
Oct 17, 2003
748
22
69
Richmond, VA
so ive been busy at school but i need to start planning this one out. the dash tabs on the dashboard that hold the pod that goes around the cluster is broken.

Dash1-1.webp


those red circles are where the little clips go around the plastic and mine are both broken. ive used 2 part epoxy before with plastic scrap to re create these things but they have broken again. just one of them. im thinking im gonna get the old epoxy out, and get plastic that is the right thickness and use a healthy amount of superglue. any other ideas? anyone have the same problem.? i would just get a new dash but thats way too much work, then my vin is all messed up.
 
I would cut some plates out of sheet metal, bend them so you can mount them to a more secure part of the plastic, drill some holes and use U nuts. With plastic that thin, it will never be perfect with epoxy.
 
Yeah I have the same problem when the giant 25 foot tree branch fell and on my dash pod, I **** you not. It only broke my gauge lens, dash pod, and windshield of course. The gauges were unharmed, and the windshield was already cracked so no big loss there; but my upper mounting tabs were done for.

Since I knew it would never be right again I just I took a two pieces of plastic for each side and zip tied it to the dash and drilled holes for the screws; drilling up there is a lot easier without a windshield though. Replacing the dash is best option, which is what I'm going to do someday. And I think the VIN is on the dash frame so it shouldn't get changed.
 
mine are broken too. =[

gives me a reason to put a black interior in my car :D

but i was going to do some sheet metal as a temporary fix till i can find a nice donor interior.
 
I recently fixed a friends dash that was like this, put the cluster cover on the car, right where it meets the dash mark it and drill a tiny hole, then you can use a black zip tie to tighten it down to the dash. Believe it or not once you cut the excess tie off it isn't even that noticeable, I wish I had a pic.

Just an idea, nice quick inexpensive easy fix :nice: