Repairing GTS dash fascia

**Absinth** · 15-05-2010, 08:20 PM

Well I didn't do anything on the black HJ fascia as after cutting the radio section out of the HZ fascia I noticed the round raised sections at the back of the knob holes have been ground down. Bugger.....

I am after some HJ< HX and HZ Holden or Kingswood dash fascia's that haven't had the radio mount section butchered.... don't care if they are broken elsewhere and don't want to pay much for them as they are to be cut up.... any help appreciated.

Anyway, I did start repairs on a HJ Monaro Fascia I have that is broken, had several holes drilled in it and broken edges.

Broken right through the idiot lights to the clock.

Tied in with wire to hold the the break together and clamped flush.

back section welded together.

Front section welded up.

Tidied up and strong as new.

Demister switch hole filled.

Will try and finish the repairs to this fascia tomorrow and may get it painted.... we'll see how it goes... stay tuned for the rest.

It takes a fair bit of prep work and then time consuming welding and sanding back. Not that hard once you master plastic welding but probably not something you will do yourself is you only want to restore one dash.

I have a quality plastic welder with several attachments and a selection of different welding rods.... the welder plus attachments is $700, welding rods $45 a packet, dremmel tool is $180 and cutting grinding consumables kit was $42. There are cheap plastic welders available on Ebay for around $200, I don't know what they are like but may be Ok for limited work on dash repairs.

**Absinth** · 15-05-2010, 10:39 PM

Did a bit more tonight.

A piece was broken out along the top edge.

Much better now.

Filled in the choke hole.

Still got the radio cutout and bottom mounting lug to repair.

**Absinth** · 17-05-2010, 01:35 AM

I cut a mounting lug from another fascia to replace the broken one.

Also cut the original radio hole section from a standard dash and fitted it in.

Radio section all welded in.

The radio fits perfectly.

I give the fascia a wash and wet sanded back the face ready for painting. Here it is all masked up just before painting.

Sprayed silver.

The finished product.

**stickthis** · 17-05-2010, 08:10 AM

looks great well done. Wack it on ebay and get 500 bux for it now haha.

**Sndman77** · 17-05-2010, 09:40 AM

I have been watching the process, you repairing the dash fascia. Great outcome and wonderful job.
Is their a certain silver paint you used????
Is plastic welding similar to metal welding?????

Great job and demonstration.

**Absinth** · 17-05-2010, 01:57 PM

I had the paint mixed in quick dry enamel and colour matched to an original fascia. Welding plastic is like oxy welding but instead of a flame it is very hot air that melts the plastic welding rod.

Like oxy welding, too much heat will warp the plastic you are trying to weld so once the rod starts to melt you have to weld quickly.

Jason, considering GTS fascia's are selling for between $80 to $160 on Ebay with most being broken or cut up and the one I just did wasn't that badly butchered but still took a full weekend to repair I wouldn't want to be doing them for a living.

I doubt people would be prepared to pay $500 for one even though there is $300 to $400 worth of labour and materials in repairing one. We'll see however as I don't need this one and will probably stick it on Ebay.

**Sndman77** · 17-05-2010, 07:49 PM

[QUOTE=Absinth;2868]I had the paint mixed in quick dry enamel and colour matched to an original fascia. Welding plastic is like oxy welding but instead of a flame it is very hot air that melts the plastic welding rod.

Like oxy welding, too much heat will warp the plastic you are trying to weld so once the rod starts to melt you have to weld quickly.

I'm have done plenty of oxy welding and mig/stick/tig, never done any plastic welding.
I must give it a go.
Thanks for your advice.

Bill