View Full Version : Dash top and reflection on the windshield???
mkassab
01-15-2025, 03:48 PM
As I'm approaching paint, and my dash in particular, I'm concerned about the dash reflection on the windshield while driving.
I have 2 questions:
1: what color is your dash
2: do you have any issues or reflection off the windshield. And, if yes, how bad is it on a scale of 1 to 3 (1no issue, 2 not too bad/doesn't bother you and 3 it's an issue and does bother you.)
I'm thinking/hoping that since the windshield is pretty much vertical (almost 90* off the dash top) any reflection won't be an issue.
Any insight, thoughts or experiences most welcome.
Thanks Mark
jts359
01-15-2025, 05:10 PM
I have got used to it But once my wife made pull over and check to make sure the car wasn't on fire , My car is a medium metallic blue , Ed
edwardb
01-15-2025, 09:05 PM
My truck was bright red with the dash shiny like all the paint. Reflection onto the windshield wasn't an issue. Occasionally you'd see the reflection depending on lighting conditions (shade vs. sunlight, etc.) but I typically didn't notice it. This is a couple minute video with my wife holding my phone when we left home for a cruise. Just to prove we actually drove it. :cool: You can see a little reflection right at first. But mostly nothing the whole time. That was typical of my experience.
https://youtu.be/8akqTeVlDPs
Sbda4
01-17-2025, 11:06 PM
I painted by dash body color (medium blue), but the top of the dash is flat black. My painter recommended flat black on the top of the dash to minimize glare.
mkassab
01-18-2025, 06:12 AM
Sbda4.... thanks for your post. Can you send a pic of your dash? I'd like to see the separation line from flat black to the blue.
Thx Mark
Dgc333
01-18-2025, 06:16 AM
My 33 Speedstar is a bright orange pearl. The dash is painted the same color. I was concerned about glare but it has been a non issue.
Sbda4
01-19-2025, 07:34 PM
Mkassab, 2 pictures of my dash are included here to show the paint separation line. As you can see, there are reflections everywhere in this cab, except on the flat black.
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Bronco Mike
01-19-2025, 08:28 PM
My car is silver. There was a few times on cloudy days that I swore I saw a puff of smoke rise up out of the hood scoop as I was driving. I would pull over and check everything and find nothing. After a few more times including passengers seeing this I realized it was a reflection on the dash and I windshield. So yes it happens.
Nigel Allen
01-19-2025, 09:51 PM
My car is silver. There was a few times on cloudy days that I swore I saw a puff of smoke rise up out of the hood scoop as I was driving. I would pull over and check everything and find nothing. After a few more times including passengers seeing this I realized it was a reflection on the dash and I windshield. So yes it happens.
Same colour, and same weather equalled same experience for me. Quite alarming for me / passenger. Haven't got around to it, but am planning on fabbing a dash mat for use on those occassions.
Cheers,
Nige
mkassab
01-20-2025, 08:27 AM
After seeing and reading the above, I might try to install Black leather grain vinyl I used for my console for the Dash top?.... only if I can get it to lay flat on the fiberglass dash top.
Mark
ggunter
01-21-2025, 09:13 AM
If I repaint my car and put stripes back on, I will definitely stop the stripes under the windshield seal. I looked at pictures when I was building the car and saw reflections on the windshield and asked the question about glare from the stripes and got a response that it wasn't that bad. I have a silver stripes, and they are borderline dangerous with the glare they put on the windshield. If someone was standing next to me at a stop light in that glare, I would not see them. Of course it depends on which angle to the sun you are, but when it's bad it's bad. I really don't like the glare. Just my opinion.
Guardm16
01-21-2025, 11:20 AM
Now I am thinking I will just paint the entire dash a flat color
ggunter
01-22-2025, 08:17 AM
Didn't realize you were doing the "33. I can't speak to the glare on that dash. I know the Cobra glare sucks.
ProfessorB
01-22-2025, 10:22 AM
Same colour, and same weather equalled same experience for me. Quite alarming for me / passenger. Haven't got around to it, but am planning on fabbing a dash mat for use on those occassions.
Cheers,
Nige
.
........ Make that three of us with silver producing glare issues. In my case, I thought the car was over-heating. I could SWEAR I saw steam rising out of the front of the car. I would check the temp gauge (which was normal) but pull over to check anyway. For me, this usually happened around twighlight or early morning...driving under overhanging trees, I've gotten used to it but have an old piece of leather I'd like to try.
RuffShod
01-22-2025, 06:40 PM
Your kit should have come with a can of black powder (I can't think of the name of it) for coating your interior.
It is my understanding that race car drivers used to use it to keep glare down.
And.....you should already have some.