Technical Fiat 500 Riva crack in wood dash?

[LewisCinquecento91]

Hi, has anyone got any ideas on how I could repair a cracked Riva dash? The crack itself is not to the wood but the clear plastic on the surface.

You can see it in the photo, it runs along the teak stripe inlay between the mahogany. I don’t know if it is plastic or a lacquer over the wood, but I imagine it’s got something to do with the wood underneath expanding/contracting at different rates to the plastic/lacquer on top. I don’t know whether it could be repaired, or even removed to leave the wood finish?

I’ve seen a couple others with cracks in the dash, so I think it’s a design flaw, and I don’t know what to do. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks

 

[The Panda Nut]

Thats a shame. I think you might be best looking to a French Polishing specialist. It would be very easy to makethis much worse or spoil the dash completely.

 

[steveras57]

In my experience its virtually impossible to make a good diy repair in this situation! you will probably make things worse and then you cant stop looking at it and getting more P***ED off! in this instance id recommend seeking professional help to sort it properly!

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Panel off and take it to a specialist to strip & refinish. Who exactly that specialist is, not sure tbh.

 

[steveras57]

Panel off and take it to a specialist to strip & refinish. Who exactly that specialist is, not sure tbh.

If? its Genuine wood!- try googling Chapman &Cliff wood trim restoration services!.
You will get an astounding quality job!- It WILL be EXPENSIVE but once done you wont ever have to worry again!

 

[Bonefish Blues]

If? its Genuine wood!- try googling Chapman &Cliff wood trim restoration services!.
You will get an astounding quality job!- It WILL be EXPENSIVE but once done you wont ever have to worry again!

Did you just read my post incorrectly or were you replying to someone else?

 

[LewisCinquecento91]

In my experience its virtually impossible to make a good diy repair in this situation! you will probably make things worse and then you cant stop looking at it and getting more P***ED off! in this instance id recommend seeking professional help to sort it properly!

Yes I agree, I had ideas on filling it in with some sort of clear laquer or gel or something but that would be a terrible mistake!

 

[LewisCinquecento91]

Panel off and take it to a specialist to strip & refinish. Who exactly that specialist is, not sure tbh.

I see, this makes most sense, I’ll have to find out how easy it is to take those panels off! Thanks

 

[LewisCinquecento91]

If? its Genuine wood!- try googling Chapman &Cliff wood trim restoration services!.
You will get an astounding quality job!- It WILL be EXPENSIVE but once done you wont ever have to worry again!

Ok I’ll check them out, might be something worth considering later down the line!

 

[chris3234]

I see, this makes most sense, I’ll have to find out how easy it is to take those panels off! Thanks

Ask @typecastboy he will be able to tell you how that panels comes off
May even have a video of it on his channel

 

[steveras57]

Did you just read my post incorrectly or were you replying to someone else?

what do you mean?

 

[Bonefish Blues]

what do you mean?

What I wrote.

 

[steveras57]

What I wrote.

Well to clarify then !-ALL i was trying to do was let the OP know that if the dash is proper wood, then the company I suggested is a very well respected firm whom does excellent work at restoring /refinishing vehicle wood trim and might be able to help him!.

Your post appears? -to say that you do not know who any specialists in this field are! so in an effort to be helpful I was letting the OP know of one that i have had good service from!

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Well to clarify then !-ALL i was trying to do was let the OP know that if the dash is proper wood, then the company I suggested is a very well respected firm whom does excellent work at restoring /refinishing vehicle wood trim and might be able to help him!.

Your post appears? -to say that you do not know who any specialists in this field are! so in an effort to be helpful I was letting the OP know of one that i have had good service from!

For clarity, it's obvious it's wood, I didn't know a specialist, and was also saying to the OP, don't DIY.

You quoted my post, hence replying to me, saying:

If? its Genuine wood!- try googling Chapman &Cliff wood trim restoration services!.

That looks rude. I'm now clear it wasn't intended, but that was how I read it. Hope that clarifies.

 

[steveras57]

No offense takin

For clarity, it's obvious it's wood, I didn't know a specialist, and was also saying to the OP, don't DIY.

You quoted my post, hence replying to me, saying:

If? its Genuine wood!- try googling Chapman &Cliff wood trim restoration services!.

That looks rude. I'm now clear it wasn't intended, but that was how I read it. Hope that clarifies

 

[steveras57]

No offense taken or hopefully given? we are both trying to help the OP find a solution! lets hope they are successful!.

 

[typecastboy]

I don't have a video, but very easy to remove. You. need to take off the heater control panel (turn all knobs either all the way to the left or right but turn them all the same way and ensure they are still there when you put it back on again).

There are four screws underneath the panel on the "entrance" to the glove box. They are T30 Torx I believe (May be T25). One is hidden under the little drop down flap on the top. Once they are all out it just takes a bit of a tug and it will pull off.