300D dash was cracking so I thought "how about fiberglass?"
Used a heat gun and removed vinyl, filled in cracked and damaged areas with marine epoxy and filler, layered fiberglass fabric with many coats of marine epoxy resin, then after coating and sanding between coats down to 400 grit.
used 3 coats of Awlgrip Industrial marine paint applied with a cheapo high density foam roller. also roller painted the whole car with same method and Awlgrip
I have posted some pictures.

Attached Thumbnails

       

I'm impressed. I reckon it was worth the effort to a fiberglass man.

__________________
84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

Thank you,
Yep takes lots of time.
I like the look of the classic painted steel dashes in the 50's, had that in mind, when I started this. I started another dash in my 240D. Also painting dash and car the same color with Awlgrip.
Hope it doesn't crack like the vinyl ones do

I like it. Eventually I'd love to do something similar with all my cars. I just never have much luck with the vinyl dashes. Good opportunity to customize it so real speakers could fit too.

-Rog

Very impressive work. I wouldn't have the patience when a dash cover is available. Have you crash-tested it with a dummy?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I did install a dash cover before, but it didn't last a year in the hot sun.
I don't know how long the fiberglass will hold up, seems to do good on boats.
I already have all the qualifications for a good crash dummy.

It does hold up on boats but it typically has gelcoat which protects the glass from UV light. Is the Awlgrip a UV damage preventer? I once owned a Sawyer Charger kevlar canoe without gelcoat. It had a short life.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

If Awlgrip does not have UV protection, a good two part clearcoat as used on automotive exteriors would do the job.

__________________
Current Stable

• 380SL (diesel)
• Corvette C5
• Manx
• Baja Bug
• F350 Powerstroke
• Auburn Boattail Speedster replica

It depends what your canoe was finished with.
Gelcoat is a polyester resin that is hard but brittle, needs waxing and buffing every year, maybe would crack done over the foam dash.
Fiberglass with epoxy and Awlgrip is a little more flexible. and definitely UV and chemical resistant.
I painted my car with Awlgrip over a year and never wash it, so far still shines like new!
So this is just an experiment, and see how it does over 10 years, maybe it will be all cracked up again.

I believe the canoe was either kevlar and epoxy resin or kevlar and vinylester resin.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Just wanted to also share a few pictures of the DIY Awlgrip "Roll and Tip" paint

Attached Thumbnails

       

Did you wet sand and polish it after the paint?

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

No need for waxing or polishing after its painted, its not like automotive paint where they go down to fine polishing grits. I don't even need to wash the cars,
after a rainy day they shine again.
Crazy huh?

This is too good to be true!! Details!?!?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

X2!

__________________

All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html