Vinyl/Dash Repair San Antonio Area?

[retmil46]

I'm seriously thinking of having my 87 300D finally moved down here to Texas from NC. One thing that will have to be done is replacement of the vacuum pods in the dash for working A/C. While that is being done, the dash cover needs serious attention -

It has a blue leather interior and a blue dash. Someone in the past put a plastic dash cover over it to cover a large crack over the glovebox. Only thing, they attempted to anchor it down with two large puddles of RTV above the glovebox and instrument cluster. Later on, someone attempted to remove said cover, and the RTV yanked two large circles of vinyl, approx 4" diameter, right off of the foam base.

Two options I can see - while the dash is out, give it to someone specializing in vinyl repair and have it redone - or find a replacement used/salvaged dash in good condition, either blue or black, on car-part.com or elsewhere.

So, two questions essentially - First, is there a reputable business in the San Antonio area that does this type of vinyl repair? Second, if I go the replacement dash route, what would be a fair price for a dash panel in good condition with no cracks?

[Dee8go]

Sounds like finding a replacement dash may be the cheaper route if the damage is that severe. Texas might not be the best place to find one of those in a pick-n-pull, though.

[retmil46]

So far, it's a toss-up. One place that came up on Google for vinyl/leather repair replied via e-mail - based on my description sight unseen, they quoted 175 to 200 if I delivered the dash to them - probably quite a bit more if they have to do it in the car.

On car-part.com, average asking price looks to be anywhere from 150 to 250. There are some lower prices on there, but no real descriptions of the condition and NO PICTURES whatsoever for any of the listings. For the lower priced ones, I could end up with something even worse than what I have.

That's the kicker - the wrecked 87 back in NC still has a perfect black dash, and all-new vacuum pods just replaced last year - but down here I've no place to even store it, much less strip parts off of it, without someone raising h### about having a "junk" car parked in the vicinity.

If the cost ends up being a wash, then the best option may be getting the original dash repaired locally - at least that way I'll be able to see what I'm getting for my money.

[oldsinner111]

they have a kit at most autoparts to fill cracks. I bought a cloth cover,but next time will get the real dash caps.

[oldsinner111]

I hope one day to have Texas tags on my SD.