Recent Just Dashes or Dashboard Restorations Experiences?

[TVollnogle]

Hey Guys,

I'm close to needing to get my dash restored for reassembling my '70. I'm not finding any postings on recent vendor experience with either Just Dashes or Dashboard Restorations USA. Can anyone who has had a dash restored by either in the last year or so give a testimonial as to quality and satisfaction?

I stopped by Just Dashes a couple of years ago while in the Van Nuys area, and they appeared to do good work, although at the time they seemed expensive compared to Dashboard Restorations. That may have equalized some since I just got a quote from Dashboard Restorations for $850 which was Just Dashes price back then. Just Dashes hasn't responded to my inquiry yet, so maybe they've increased considerably also.

I know Will (hls30) had some minor issues on his dash done by Dashboard Restorations when they were just opening shop in the US. Wondered if those quality issues had improved.

Thanks for any input anyone can give.

Terry

Edited April 14, 2009 by TVollnogle

[Mike B]

Terry,

You might also call and get a quote from a place called Dash Specialists in Medford OR. I have attached an article about them from an old issue of Zcar Magazine (1994). They were called Dash Specialties back then, but it looks to be the same place (same address and phone number). I did an internet search and found this link http://www.musclecarsonline.com/Dash/index.htm. They also advertise in Hemmings. It looks like there may be a 10% discount if you tell them you saw them on musclecarsonline.

-Mike

Edited April 12, 2009 by Mike B

[TVollnogle]

Hey Mike,

Thanks for the info. I'll contact them and get a quote, then post the findings.

Terry

[26th-Z]

I did the Dashboard Restorations thing several years ago. If you do a search through the archives, there is a thread about the group buy with EricB and we all shipped our dashes to Australia. I didn't send my gauges and fit them myself with a hot-air gun when the dash came back. I am very satisfied. At the time there was a business in your part of the country, Mike, that was dealing through Dashboard Restorations that may have been Dash Specialties. They were actually shipping their Z-car work to Australia I think because Dashboard Restorations had the mold. Then I heard Dashboard Restorations set up a shop in America or Dash Specialties bought molds? something like that. We chose Dashboard Restorations because of price and the finish grain. We felt that Dashboard Restorations had a finish pattern / grain that was the closest to original. I think it was called "hair cell" or something.

But your'e going to be satisfied with any of the choices you mentioned. Just Dashes did the upholstry work for the Vintage Z program. Ask to look at grain patterns for the finish. The other major issue facing you, Terry, is shipping the dash. You will find that the size of the box is going to determine shipping cost. I forget what it cost me but it was a huge amount.

My restoration came with new foam and skin on the original frame. The new skin material is much thicker than the original. Easily twice the thickness. This makes fitting the gauges difficult and tight. Also, you will notice that the creases in the shape of the dash are not as clearly defined. Bescause the skin material is thicker, styling lines, creases, and edges are just a little softer. I recall one of my 'expert' friends remarking that the difference in a restored dash was easily noticable, however I never challenged him to it and I think he could only tell if a new and my restored dash sat side-by-side.

Edited April 12, 2009 by 26th-Z

[Duffman]

I used Dashboard Restorations in WA last year, was very pleased with quality of work. Nice people to talk to, very responsive to questions and concerns. Cost was $850 for early 70 240Z, I believe.

[mikemerkury]

My 73 dash was restore by http://dashboardrestorations.com in November of last year. It took 2 months and was delivered at the end of February 2009. The quality of the job was EXCELLENT. Keep in mind that my dash had major crack in it. Dashboardrestorations.com required that the dash be shipped with all the gauges in order to do a proper fit. Price was 850$ excluding shipping cost (in and out).

[TVollnogle]

Thanks to all for the input.

I have followed the dashboard forums over the last couple years and was aware of the Australian shipment. I was looking for some more recent observations by members to see if anything had changed with the US vendors. I got all of the info today that I had requested so I'll give a brief synopsis.

Just Dashes cost has increased to $1200. They're including a glovebox recover for free at the present time. If I understand their explanation correctly, they remove the old vinyl, repair the foam as needed, then add a complete new layer of foam on the top before putting the new vinyl on. This seems to be same process used by all 3 I checked with. The vinyl is haircell texture, which again is common to all 3. They don't require it, but you can send your gauges along for fitting. They also recover consoles for $450.

Dash Specialists, which is the Oregon company Mike mentioned, charges $1000 for a Z dash. Their process is the same and also don't require gauges to be sent but will accept them for fitting.

Dashboard Restorations USA charges $850, as mikemerkury and duffman said. Process is the same. They want you to send all 5 of your gauges, the two air vents on each end, and the glovebox door so that fit can be properly done. They also clean and paint the glovebox door to match the dash. They recover consoles for $195.

All 3 vendors were courteous and helpful when I talked with them. My impression is the same as what Chris stated: you probably will get a good job by any of them. I think my choice is gong to be Dashboard Restorations based on the good experiences of others stated here, price, and when talking with Pete there, he went the extra mile to make me comfortable with what I would get.

Hope this info is helpful. Thanks again for everyone's input.

Terry

Edited April 13, 2009 by TVollnogle

[TVollnogle]

Update on my dash. Pete has it at Dashboard Restorations. He called and said everything looked good; no problems anticipated. He'll work it into the schedule and get it back to me. I'll give another update with pics when I get it back; probably close to 2 months out though.

Terry

[Richard Oben]

Well I guess I will be the voice of dissent. I sent my dash series one (HLS30- 009070) to Dashboard restorations. The did a lot, I mean a lot of stuff wrong. The lighter hole not used in the 70 dash was made a lighter hole and looked like crap. Duh, it was set to be a hole where there did not used to be a hole, no texture in the bottom and stretched very thin. The leading edge by the defrost vents is not the right shape and the glove box would not close. The bad part is I sent all the hardware and all the fittings and all of it came back in a bag less the fasteners of course. Had they tried to fit anything but the gauges none of it would have fit.

Pete sent us a mold to try and fix the new lighter hole that project failed miserably and I have really good guys working on the project. So I had to send it back, Pete did pay to ship it back and back to me and do the repairs. I thought it would be a good outcome. At his instruction I took masking tape and put on every complaint I had about the dash and sent it back. I sent pictures of the other series one car I have (cracked but the parts that need to be made to look right on my dash look good on it). I insisted Pete send pix of the repairs BEFORE shipping back to me for approval. This would gaurantee no more issues. What I wanted was a restored dash, nothing more. No pix were sent and the repairs are less than acceptable. I had not problem paying but not getting what I paid for is not acceptable

I am now almost a year out from the time I sent it in the first time, with all the shipping waiting, shipping, frustration, waiting and shipping. I am out over $1,000, yep a thousand bucks with the shipping and $850 and I am still not even close to happy. I left him another voice mail and have sent pictures of the old dash the restored dash and the parts car dash. Still no response. Nothing since last Thursday. My wife who is easy to please (married me ) is not happy and the 6 or so people who know cars all feel it is sub standard. So again it is not just me.

In my opinoin his first attempt was poor, his first restoration was slow and not very good, like I said lots of mistakes The repair attempt was half hearted at best and his failure to send pix as requested was a outright ploy to not have to fix the problems he knew were still there. I will never send anything to him again and would never recommend his service to anyone.

Poor communication and poor follow up were just an add on to a poor job done in the first place. I have pix and if anyone wants them I will send them along. My next step is to get my money back and try to find someone who can do the job right and start over. I am considering using the other series one dash I have and have it done. Very unhappy and very dissapointed. Let me be clear, I paid with a check to save him the credit card fees and I really wanted this to all work out for the best but it is apparent that is not going to happen. It has nothing to do with the money, it is about doing what you say and doing it right. I run my own business and if I treated people like this I would have been out of business years ago. HTH, Richard Oben, owner north racecars inc.

www.northracecars.com (not a solicitaion, just verifying who I am)

[cbudvet]

Oh crap,

They have my dashboard right now! I hope that I have a better experience than you did (no offense). I guess it can't be much worse. I am sorry that things did not go well for you.

carl

[Rich1]

My dash is there as well.

Sorry to hear about your experience. Rob Fuller of Z Car garage uses them and recommends them highly. I'm hoping for the best, but it is taking longer than I thought it would.

Rich

[ChrisZ]

Richard Oben, why don't you put some photos up on your posting, i think many other than me, would like to see the work that have been done.

Chris