Alright... so someone finally mentioned to me how cheap the hard plastic dash on my truck looks, and I'm tired of it.
Has anyone done their dash in leather? How would I go about doing that?

 

It's a truck. I wouldn't let that person ride with you again.


As for the leather that's a neat idea, however I can't see it holding up over the long term due to the direct sun. Good luck.

 

I was thinking about that... the sunlight. What do other cars with leather interior have on the dash? Maybe soft, padded vinyl.. so it doesn't have the cheap feel of the hard plastic.
Anyone have any ideas?

 

Do a search on 'Dash Mat'. Here's one site:
Dash Mat
I'm not recommending this site and I'm sure there are many others, so you'll have to search for the best price. This should get you started.

Dave...

 

Thanks,
But I wanted to stay away from the carpet dash things. Was looking for more of a leatherish type of thing.

 

I prefer stock.
Easy to clean
Looks nice
Maybe add the carbon fiber look inserts.

You can't get away from vinal now that Naga's have become an endangered species.

 

someone dissing the Lightning???

that means a direct Boot out of the truck and give them a bunch of rubber o nthe pavement to show them what a real truck iS

 

OK...I love Lightnings...

I'm about to get another one...(well actually I'm debating about whether to get an 04 or wait for the gen III ... but I'm not sure I like the gen III look)

anyway, as much as I love the truck, let's be honest...the interior is...oh, how can I put this kindly...seriously cheap.

Really, go up to the dash board...make a fit...knock on it.

IT'S HOLLOW CHEAP ABS PLASTIC!!!!!

I thought about having it padded and covered in leather (as well as have the seats done in leather), and it is something I am considering about doing to the 04 (the reason I don't rush into an 04 is the cheap interior)

In considering a way to upgrade the L I find myself turning to the Porsche 911 for inspiration.

As you can see in Fig. 1, the standard 911 dash is a molded soft plastic without leather:


Fig.1


Now look at Fig. 2 and you will note what the dash looks like with the leather upgrade. It's a padded dash covered in stitched leather. Since it is the same design as the standard 911 it leads me to believe it a premanufactured padding and cover over the standard dash...


Fig. 2

So, something like this could be made for the L, but it would have to be a serious custom job and would undoubtedly cost some serious bucks.

As for the leather and sun effects, I wouldn't really worry...the leather in my car (and all previous cars) has held up fine for many years...treat it if you feel so inclined.

And if any of my L breathern disagree and feel like flaming me for the sacrilege of believing the L's interior is cheap and cheesy....

may I introduce you to a REAL interior, the one in my car...


Fig. 3

Now THAT is what a well made interior is all about.
No cheap plastic.
Granted, I don't expect the L to have such an interior (although it would be nice) at it's price point, but Ford could do better than what they do.

 

Exactly. Even covered in the finest Corinthian leather, it will still be a big, ugly 10-year-old-design truck dash.

And anyone that puts one of those carpet mats on the dash should be taken into a field and shot immediately so as to not be allowed to pollute the gene pool.

 

Yes, but it would be the nicest looking 10-year-old-design-truck dash, and there probably aren't any other Ls with a padded leather dash (at least I haven't seen any on this board.)

And what's up with this Corinthian leather garbage...it's Connolly Leather or nothing...

I like it...someone who knows how to get things done.

 

Meanie Tim said:
Hey, my Yosemite Sam dash cover matches my mud flaps. I guess you don't like mud flaps either?

 

If I paid 60k for the truck then maybe I would care more... I personally like how easy it is to clean and the general look of it.... the dash isnt really something *normal* people notice... only crazy people....like us, but I can live with it. If you look at the Z06..its a 50+k vehicle... it has an all black leather/ABS interior...but no one cares because it runs 12s.... most all of those luxery cars cant do that... I will take speed over leather accents any day

I have seen our interior covered in tweed...if you like that sort of thing...it looks alright I guess...but its too old school for these trucks....that stuff belongs on older bagged chevys