This is as common as dirt. The black plastic in this area seems to
crumble with age. I think it is because that part of the dash sits high
enough to get a lot of direct sunlight and the heat over the years bakes
the plastic inside. The black plastic lower in the dash seems to last
forever. Don't worry about about it. I use Goop to hold speedos, clocks,
and tachs whose mounting holes have broken away. Did one yesterday.

Mark

> Gary Stearns wrote:
>
> Help!  The instrument panel in our '88 is slowly fracturing itself
> into dust.  Last spring, just small cracks around the screws that hold
> it down.  Then the screw holes completely broke off.  After
> fabricating clips to replace the broken holes, now the panel is
> fracturing behind the speedometer.  I have little shards of plastic
> falling out all the time.  I suspect that simple body flex is the
> basic culprit, slightly moving the dashboard and inst. panel (I do
> hear a lot of creaking and groaning up there on uneven roads).  Anyone
> else experience this?  Should I be worried about the body itself?  I
> always thought that the basic stucture was real rugged. Now I am
> wondering.
>
> Gary