When you say the dash was cracked- do you mean the paint is cracked or the sheet metal?
If it is the paint, could be that someone used a type of paint on top of the stock paint that doesn't combine too well. I sprayed some rims with a rattle can and it looked great until it dried, then it cracked- Turned out the paints weren't compatible. Solution: Sand it/scuff it, use the right primer and then paint on top.
How 'bout a picture?
'51 Chevy 1/2 ton w/'62 261, HEI, offy, fentons, dual carter/webbers, t-5 & 12 bolt posi
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