NEW OE Dash - How do I prevent cracks?

[ck80]

My recipe: window shades, garaged when possible, and NO ARMORALL. Seriously, it's like turning the surface into a frying pan.

When I want it cleaned it's swiffer feather duster for dustyness and lint. Once a year or so a weak solution mild dawn dish soap.

Never had a dash cracking in a car I was driving.

 

[LeftLaneOnly]

Ding ding ding we have a winner

 

[57 Handyman]

All plastics continually "off gas" which means they are drying out. I was once told the white substance that accumulates on the inside of your vehicle glass is that residue. Like others have stated, the culprits are UV, heat, and climate/environment. I have also heard the warnings about Armour All.

 

[joesregalproject]

passengers dont care much for it

You don't know that, maybe they are into that kinda stuff...

 

[pagrunt]

Some dash materials are pretty good in today's cars, but I can tell you the 2007-2013 GMC/Chevy trucks all had a dash crack problem that was rampant.

Never had that issue in my POS '08 Silverado, it spent too much time in a mechanics garage cause it was a poster child for POS trucks.

 

[Ribbedroof]

My highly unscientific 3 decade research says Pontiac dashes are most durable, Buick/Olds are about even,but less durable than Pontiac, and Chevrolets remind me of a concrete contractor i once worked for. Had "guaranteed to crack" printed right in his contracts.

 

[UC645]

My GP is original from Florida and since I have owned it I don't cover the dash or hide it from the sun and there is no cracks in it. It could be the GP is a higher quality than the run of mill G bodies....

Can confirm the spot welds are of a higher quality. They actually hold the GPs together!

 

[CopperNick]

Ah, one other option commended itself to my attention in connection with storage and that is those collapsible storage/vehicle canopy sheds that use a plastic or steel tube frame that supports a cover or canopy of fiber re-inforced poly-plastic. They kind of look like a Quonset hut and come in various heights and lengths. I've seem them large enough to cover a motor abode so definitely would shelter a G-Body. There are kits to add the sides to close it in and that gets you an all weather enclosure. Once I figured out how to keep the wind from trying to steal it, mine worked just fine even in the rain. Made things interesting if welding was involved and it was wet out, but it did keep the sun off. Just be careful because seeing it will give your significant other all kinds of ideas that usually end up with all her stuff under the canopy and your car out in the wet and cold and nasty again. But Honeey...………………. Meh.

Nick

 

[Jorge1958]

Try not to leave it out in the sun to much. Use a sunshade when u do. Keep it parked under cover if u can. My dash is original and in pristine condition.

 

[Supa.Slo.SS]

Thanks everyone for the answers. Luckily the car will be garage kept, away from direct sunlight but when on the road I'll be selective on parking and what not. I was thinking of attempting to repair my old one with fiberglass as a side project, worst case scenario I will have an extra dash to put in if the new one cracks.