I don't really like the big flat one. Plus rock chips you know...
Same reason I like mine the way it is...
Rocket Man's 2008 Bagged CC Silverado Build AKA "THE MACHINE"
- Thread starter Rocket Man
- Start date
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Same reason I like mine the way it is...
OP
OP
I got the flat piece today and decided to have a look at the truck to see if there were any loose ends before I install it tomorrow. So I'm looking through the windshield and said out loud 'what the hell?". More cracks in the dash by the instrument cluster area. I opened the door and reached in to push on it and see if the two halves were still glued together and a small piece just fell off. The plastic is just shit, it's so brittle it's falling apart. The Cali sun didn't help I'm sure, but it's ridiculous. Anyway my hand is played, there's no getting around a new dash. I'm glad I didn't go to all the trouble of filling, sanding and texturing the whole thing because it would have just started cracking everywhere. Or fiberglassing it. The base material is just crap. I wonder if GM just had a bad formula when they made that plastic on these years. I've never seen something so weak and brittle. I guess it's time to break out some more cash. Dammit.
Tonyrodz
Resident Resident
Just wanted to show this to you. Pretty cool how they just utilize the space. It's in a dodge 1500, under the rear seat. It's not a full size seat. Think it was a cc.
OP
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I've checked mine, and as it folds/unfolds the bottom part of the seat swings to within an inch of the floor so it's a no-go under or behind the seat. There's enough width with the seats folded up for a couple 8's side-by-side but like I said, as the seat bottom folds it comes too close to the floor. Once the seat is folded there's probably 6" height but that problem of doing the folding makes it impossible. It needs room to swing down. I'm OK with an under-seat sub in the front.
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I found an online parts place, gmpartsclub.com, that sold me the dash for $402 shipped which is $150 less than my local dealer. I talked to them this morning to make sure they were actually going to ship it for 86.50 minus the 25% off promo which makes it 64.75 and they told me they would just drop ship it from GM locally since that's way cheaper than shipping from them in Texas. I hope it works out since most places wanted $200 or more to ship. I was looking on Ebay and the 2012-2013's are $250-300 shipped for the same dash, with free shipping. Except it's not the exact same dash because it says it won't fit the 08-11's. I looked on Ebay for this part, 19331340, and there's one for 353.71 local pickup only in Texas or another one for 666.19 plus 12.78 shipping. WTF.
OP
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Me too. Probably something small, they sure look alike but the pictures aren't that great. Must not be interchangeable though since all the parts sites say they aren't.
kbuskill
***CAUTION*** I do my own stunts!
Weird.... the world may never know.
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I big 'ol FedEx truck showed up today.
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I pulled the old dash out and prepped the new one for install. Tomorrow I'll put it in. The old one cracked where I didn't add steel and epoxy.
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And after only $680 in parts, the dash drama is over. Thank God. I'm so glad to get this done, it looks so much better. Now for that windshield...
iamdub
Full Access Member
Did you reinforce the new one?
Tonyrodz
Resident Resident
Ooooo, good question.
OP
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Top 2 pics in post #831. So yes! As I was destroying the old one today I could see that the reinforcing wouldn't have kept it from cracking anyway. It was so brittle from the sun beating down on it plus the fact it's probably half recycled plastic that it just shattered as I was breaking it up, until I got to the part that wasn't exposed to the heat and it wouldn't break without cutting it. That stuff on top was toast.
iamdub
Full Access Member
Now that I took a closer look, I can see the difference in the dashes. Good move.
Also, good info comparing the UV and/or heat-exposed part of the dash to the non-exposed part. This confirms suspicions of people that keep their GMT-900s in a garage have better dashes. Personally, I believe it's more UV-related than high temps. Screw it- I'm gonna cover all bases when I replace my dash: I'll reinforce it, wrap it, tint the windshield and (continue to) park it in the shop and try to park under trees with the front facing away from the sun when away from home.
OP
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One of the problems I see with wrapping it is the same problem I was thinking of when I tried retexturing the front piece by the windshield- the dash is just one part of a whole bunch of pieces that have the same texture and all adjoin each other, like the main dash, the front part by the windshield, the airbag which is right in the middle of the main dash, and on mine at least I have the upper glove box, lower glove box, center bolster, left knee bolster, the IC hood, the left fuse cover, right electrical cover, and then it all ties into my door panels. I wouldn't want part of it to look different. The airbag right in the middle is the biggest problem. I plan on tinting my windshield after I get it replaced to cut down on some UV and heat.
iamdub
Full Access Member
Believe me- I've noticed that and know I'd end up wrapping everything or nothing. I found material that looked to have the same or very similar grain, but I doubt it would be a close enough match grain- and color-wise to not bother me. Since I can't wrap the door panels due to the cubby/cup holder lower portion, I'd have to spray dye everything to get the color to match. That's IF the grain of the dash vinyl is a satisfactory match.
*sigh* I need to take the Mark route and be more rational about these things.
OP
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LMAO. I was in the process yesterday of the install and I got the airbag in and noticed it was quite a bit darker than the new dash. I started thinking noooooo not after all this money and effort, please tell me shit's not going to match. (that's about the same time I was noticing how many pieces all touch each other and how they all need to be the same) I had to stop right there and get my Silk Shine and wipe down the new dash and the airbag to see what it was going to look like and it was fine, I think it was just manufacturing deposits on it. Whew. Then I got back to finishing things.
OP
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Well I figured I've spent enough of my cash on GM stuff and I've been reading that Wall Street is looking favorably on The Company as of late so I figured why not buy some stock. It went up 1.36% today. Hope it continues.
