Hello I'm new to this forum I'm in ca and I finly found me a 85 brat it in good shape but the dash and vents are shot . Has anyone ever changed there dash and where do you find one. In ca old subaru parts are hard to find .

Welcome!

Rather than New, is Easier to Find a Good Replacement in a Junk Yard...

Kind Regards.

i had a 79 that i pulled sanded "filled" painted then covered with fabric. it was really nice..

I saw someone on here rinohide their dash but I don't remember if it was cracked up or not. If my Brat was in better shape I'd do that.

Best option is to find a good one in a junkyard and swap it. If you have never pulled a dash before plan to spend over an hour.

Hello I'm new to this forum I'm in ca and I finly found me a 85 brat it in good shape but the dash and vents are shot . Has anyone ever changed there dash and where do you find one. In ca old subaru parts are hard to find .

Find one in a junkyard. If I'm not mistaken, the dash from an '84 GL wagon or '85 to '87 EA81 hatch is the same. It is difficult to replace. If you have a pull a part yard in your area, practice on one with a crappy dash so you don't ruin the good one you want to buy.

Wow thanks for the info . I will just keep looking for a dash in the junk yard .I think it's a good idea to try to pull a dash from a junk car frist then when I find the right dash I can take my time to do it right .

I think it's a good idea to try to pull a dash from a junk car frist then when I find the right dash I can take my time to do it right .

I've learned lots of "what not to do" at the local pull a part.

I had the same problem in my 85 BRAT. I was fortunate enough to find a very good replacement in a JY and I pulled it. I have heard from a few people who have done it before that the "new" dash will eventually crack as well from different stresses than it had on it in the previous vehicle and that it is better to have the one you have Reupholstered if you can do it reasonably cheap.

 

For point of reference, my JY Dash cost me about $90 and 1.5 hours to pull.

 

In hindsight when I removed the dash from my Brat, I should have labeled the electrical connections so that I knew what everything would connect to.

 

It is MUCH easier if you can remove the windshield, BUT it is not impossible to do it without it just more difficult.

do it yourself

 

(pull it, level out the cracks, "prep" it)

 

then take it to line-x

 

line-x has a huge variety of options

 

flats

gloss

metallic's

all colors

 

grit and smooth finnish

Peice of hide and some spray adhesive:brow:

 

Jk, sort of, what would you do to stop the foam from moving? I'm all for garage sale curtains and all, but, I still want a good job.