Woeful Deterioration of 1997 Dodge Plastic

[Mike Ellis]

I still have my '97 dually, drive it only occasionally but despite very careful maintenance and keeping it bone stock all these years, the interior plastics are failing at a rapid pace. This weekend I finally got fed up with the dash rattling and hunks of plastic falling out, so I started taking it apart and to my vast disgust just about every piece of plastic in the dash innards is as brittle and weak as a saltine cracker.

I'm dreading the idea of spending a couple of days in 100+ heat at a wrecking yard trying to disassemble a donor dash that will probably be just as brittle and weak. Have any of you folks found a decent aftermarket / OEM source of the lower parts of dash? I need the main part that supports the gauges, radio, air vents etc - not the top surface part (had that replaced some years back).

 

[DavidC]

No help here but I sure wish someone would start making the interior plastic parts. These interior parts are not getting any better. I sure miss the days of metal dashes and vinyl covered door panels.

 

[KATOOM]

Depending on where you live, the plastics can dry out more quickly. Plastics will off-gas in the heat which is the smell you find when you get in a vehicle which has been parked in hot sun for awhile. The oils evap and then they get brittle. Where I live tends to be warm and dry and anything rubber I keep in the garage wont last long...
So park in the shade or the garage or use something to help keep those things from drying out.

 

[Timd32]

Wonder how those 3D printer places work?

They have really come down on price, and the plastics are pretty slick looking for the parts I have seen available for the electrical industry.

 

[gcorron]

Geno's was selling a dash that was made with MUCH more stout materials than the stock. I've heard nothing bad about them. I have trusted Geno's for most everything else. Just a suggestion.

Now, anyone have a line on the overhead console?? Mine fell apart and everytime I try to epoxy, more breaks off. Long gone Sally!

George

 

[Mike Ellis]

I have seen the Geno's upper dash, but not the lower part. I tried to patch the lower dash with epoxy and some wire mesh backing, but just like you when I touch it more breaks off. I finally gave up and went to the RV store and got some of that black Eternabond-style tape that is used for patching RV roofs and windows. I just patchwork taped the entire crumbling mess together, by the time I was done and ran long strips it looked better than I expected. Worked pretty good for a temporary fix.

Yeah it looks like something Jed Clampett and Jethro would do to their old truck, but at least I can stop worrying about having my throat cut by shards of shrapnel from the dash exploding some random spot every time I hit a bump. When the weather cools off it's time for a dash transplant...

 

[Joe Mc]

but at least I can stop worrying about having my throat cut by shards of shrapnel from the dash exploding some random spot every time I hit a bump.
LMAO thanks I needed that

 

[DavidC]

Everytime I remember "The Graduate" and I believe it was Dustin Hoffman stating "Plastic is the future" I get P****d off.

 

[Mike Ellis]

The tape worked far better than I had hoped, eliminated the horrible noises going over bumps and the constant cacophony of chattering squeaking squealing plastic. The miserably worthless cupholder / launcher assembly appears to have been a major source, should have removed it and set it on fire years ago.

 

[gcorron]

Hmm, first thing I bought from Geno's was the console cup/change holder. It works great and 22 years later, still works great!

Agree completely with the factory 'cup holder/launcher'! I'm a ham, and have a radio that separates with the radio behind the seat, and the control unit faceplate detaches to mount anywhere you can. I used double sided tape to secure it to the face of the cup holder, so for 22 years, it has pretty much been glued shut! MUCH safer that way. I normally forget it is even there.

George

 

[Regcabguy]

I rugged up from new my 98.5 and never had a crack in the seven yrs I owned it.
I did the same with my 2007.
Our Honda Pilot's dash has been cooking in the sun since 2005,no rug. They must have spec'd it out with higher quality plastic.

 

[JMcCoy]

I purchased the molded dash mat from Geno's. Looks really good and you can't hardly tell the dash is basically nonexistent. My dash carrier is also brittle and cracking. I will have my hands full if the evaporator goes out. The whole thing will likely crumble apart. I blocked off the heater core almost 10 years ago (Florida). I've had a couple long drives where it dipped into the 20's and 30's. My lips were blue. Lol!

I wish someone would make one.

 

[RVTRKN]

http://www.lmctruck.com/features/de/DE_6.htm

Does this link work for you?

 

[JMcCoy]

It may help some. I need the plastic subframe that attaches to the metal frame. I also need the dash parts you posted.

 

[DavidC]

You can find the dash top and bezel at quite a few places. The cup holder i guess at geno's. It's all the other parts you can't find like the glove box that's prone to cracking, the knee bolster etc.. What I do not understand is geno's is the most expensive for the bezel but i do not know the particulars of why.

 

[JMalik]

Try EBay I purchased the lower dash from them. On the cup holder I welded a bracket which I attached to the metal dash core immediately behind the cup holder. The cup holder is now solid and no problem.

 

[DavidC]

Don't need a toilet seat but a 2nd gen Dodge truck dash would be nice.
Travis Air Force Base produces first certified 3D-printed aircraft parts
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Don’t drop that mug of Joe, it’s worth its weight in gold
The Air Force has some of the most expensive coffee cups in the world ― and they break, a lot.

By: Victoria Leoni
The Federal Aviation Administration and the Air Force Advanced Technology and Training Center certified the device, and technicians now can access blueprints for parts from an online database approved by the University of Dayton Research Institute.

The academic institution was also responsible for training and certifying the three airmen selected by the 60th Maintenance Squadron to undergo the training. Altogether, the process of meeting facility and certification requirements, and installing the printer took eight months, the Air Force said.

 

[RustyRam]

I used the Genos top half dashboard. It is made of much better/heavier plastic than the original. Royal PIA to replace. I think I used every screwdriver I own. I had to replace top because I removed a large copperhead from my dash with a hatchet. It rattled a bit more on the trip home. Replacement was a pain but worth it.

 

[Mike Ellis]

I forgot to update the thread on the tape. I kept the tape fix on for a few months, but a cycle of cool weather followed by a hot fall day made the tape just give up the ghost -- it sagged and drooped away from the dash. Held up great during hot summer days but the temp cycle was too much for it I guess.

Trying to replace the tape was a cluster flugen because it would no longer stick to the dash plastic but was super sticky on my hands. Peeling it off broke off more plastic and by the time I was done it was beyond all hope and my hands were gumballs of tape residue. I finally gave up and paid a shop to find me one at a wrecking yard and replace it for me. They asked me why it had fist-shaped holes in it and I told them it was because I couldn't get a good angle for a kick.

By the time it was all said and done it cost me nearly $2 grand and much of my remaining sanity...

 

[gcorron]

Hard to get over that Chrysler can't make any more of these things. Also hard to believe that some enterprising rascal with a 3D printer hasn't realized there's a heck of a market out there! Once you get the patterns, if you only make 10 a year, it's pretty easy money in the bank.

Sorry to hear about that, Mike! I have too much arthritis for that, everyone would be asking me where the .45 holes came from!

Oh well,

George