Restoring my dash pad
 

I seen a post on here where someone restored their original dash pad. I was wondering what would be the best material to recover one with as i dont want to put a repop on my truck. Thanks in advance, Carl

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

No idea how to answer your question. But, if it were me, I would probably call "Just Dashes" (there is another company as well) and ask if they would tackle the job. Fortunately, my dash pad was not original, so it was an easy solution to get another repop which I think is fine.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

I have been searching the forum and have seen some bad reviews on various manufacturers of them, which pad did you go with for your truck?

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

I used one of these in both of my 72's and am very satisfied with them. The key to a good fit is slotting the center holes in the dash a bit (if necessary) and not over tightening the nuts! The Pad will distort if you over tighten the nuts or force a stud through a hole. https://www.classicparts.com/Dash-Pa...oducts/268/3/0

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Thank you, I have ordered from them and i am happy with the small parts i got, mainly small interior pieces. I may just get one from them.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Check with member GrumpyOldMan
He was offering a custom dash pad cover for the original dash pad
I bought a repro from SoKy Classics made by DashesDirect...in USA
It fit very well and looks nice

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

There is also a member (an upholsterer) selling dash recovering kits down in the classifieds.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

1) If your dash is crack free and good all around shape you can recolor it using Sem adhesion promoter and Sem dye , The trick using sem products is to use very LIGHT coats or you'll end up with a glossy look . cost $

2) If your dash is cracked just check with your local upholstery shop to see if they will recover for you . The problem with recovering with vinyl material is very few materials have a bi axial stretch to stretch around the corners without wrinkles, None of which are factory colors/ grain so it has to be seamed and you really need to use good upholstery grade glue or the heat will just let the material release and you'll have a mess, Another problem with wrapping is the material will not go into the lower dash mounting screw holes ,So when you go to install them they will either just pull thru the material leaving a hole or leave a "pulled look" around each hole . cost $$$


3) Just buy a new replacement dash pad ,The trick for installing dash pads is to not over tighten the top mounting nuts ,Too tight and any of them will look wavy . The Truck and car shop has them for $55.00 + cost $$ page 36 of the catalog :chevy:

http://www.truckandcarshop.com/6072.html

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Truck and car shop. :chevy:

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

I believe you will be quiet impressed with the pad Southern Kentucky offers. It’s a dashes direct product made in the US.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

I used this one on my 72 worked out well

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Yes, Southern KY does a good job of weeding out the bad aftermarket parts. They also have as fair a price as you can get for the quality.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

I got a replacement dash pad about 15 years ago from Dashes Direct and it held up well over the years. I traded it for a blue OEM pad a few years ago.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Before I would buy anything. I think I would try refinishing it as shown in these you tube video's:

This first one is a true craftsman (I love his speaker grill inserts-AWESOME idea).

https://youtu.be/05XrGq734u0

https://youtu.be/m3wCdLJAPgE

https://youtu.be/1klhN8ovMfs

https://youtu.be/cJtRCOWebRc

All 3 doing it a different way but all look much better than what they had!

Pretty amazing results by all of them.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Carl, I can get the vinyl dash cover you want to restore your dash.
Let me know if you want it with a saddle stitch seam or plain.
What color?
https://cache.nebula.phx3.secureserv...c-59d2031e3c58

https://cache.nebula.phx3.secureserv...2-26b553cb8a42

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

I need a black one, the one in my truck is cracked but not terrible. I like the stitch seam but what would be the price on each one?

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Thank you for all the info and i will probably use the spray for my 72 plastic door panels. The dash pad looks like pretty good quality so i will check into that one as well. I also ordered a catalog from them because it looks like they have some pretty good prices.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Great info folks...

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

They have 2 locations one in CA and the other in NC ordering from the NC store should save you some shipping costs . :chevy:

http://www.truckandcarshop.com/

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Brothers.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Yeah well ... Any time I go to some specialty shops web site and they have a huge fancy store with tons of "automobilia" hanging on the walls and videos on you tube that aren't always spot on all that screams to me personally is $$$$$$$$$$ this is gonna hurt . Just my Grumpy opinion buy from who ever makes you happy . :smoke:

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Here is what I'm working with, I bought a kit from Astroballs (Mitch). Wondering if I need to take all the old vinyl off of the pad?

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

I believe you should ask Astroballs. He made it and knows what he made the pattern to fit. Send him a PM and ask.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

I haven't done one but I would think the result would be better without that hard cracked cover under the new one. In fact somewhere here there is a thread showing the removal of the old cover and someone using something like spray foam or something to fill in and level the foam for a better finish.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Carl,
I just went through this myself (first time, so you could do it) Here's a write-up I did as well. BTW, I got the material from Mitch (Astro-Balls), great guy and the material was super easy to work with. Very happy with the outcome ;)

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=dashpad+diy


Kevin

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

I have spoke with Mitch and he said it depends on the condition of the dash, I think I will invest in a heat gun and remove the old vinyl.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

I think you are right I'm gonna remove the old vinyl.

I have read your thread and you put up a really good how too on this. It will deffinalely help me in my restoration.

Carl

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

I did this back in the mid-'80s, before the internet, and this site, and Period-specific vendors like LMC.
I took the OEM dashpad off the cab and chipped the very brittle chips of old Fawn vinyl from the foam backing. I was careful not to gouge it. All the old vinyl came off with a putty knife -- eventually.
I had just had a pro seat shop do the upholstery on my seat in Saddle vinyl. I saved a strip of material ~7' x 1.5'. I sprayed 3M 77 contact cement on to the foam and then the back of the vinyl, and worked it up from the ''leading edge''around to the back, carefully stretching as I went. I had to tuck in sort-of "hospital corners" at the ends, on the undersurface. Excess was trimmed with a razor knife. I bolted it back in the dash and it's still there in my '68 C/10 Stepside.

I tried a blue one from Brothers, for my other truck ['71 GMC Jimmy] years ago ['90s] and it looked OK, until I tried to cinch up the last nut on the extreme [left] drivers side. It wouldn'd start. Had to pull it off, only to discover that that stud was an FD --all slag and no threading. How it got assembled, past inspectors [if any] IDK. I sent it back for a replacement, and they were good about it. But I had to install it twice. Only reason I didn't use my own method on the blue truck was the under-foam was compromised on the OEM dash pad.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Looks really good. I just stripped all the old vinyl off my dash pad and I was wondering how I’m gonna get the edges on the outer most part of the pad tucked around the end with the stitching kit I ordered.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Before stripping the vinyl

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Here I am getting all the old vinyl off with a heat gun. Too much heat Isn’t good though as you can see in the 4th picture.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Fill those low spots with the Gorilla Glue, it will foam up overnight and you can sand it flush next day.
.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Just regular gorilla glue?

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/..._AC_SS350_.jpg

https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-50004.../dp/B0001GAYRC

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Ok, I've had a bottle new in the pack for about a year in my gun cabinet and it has hardened up on me. Guess it's time to go after a new bottle.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

I lucked out. My OEM foam was still good. [If a little stiff.] On the second truck, the Jimmy, it was already bad when I got the truck. PO had tried to hide it under a rug-like top dash pad from a Squarebody. Looked like Z%)@. So I just bought one from a vendor -- with mixed results.
You might try keeping a spray bottle with water on hand and spray before you join the two 3M 77-ed sides. Gives you a little leeway to pull it back and set it right before they grab together and bond.
To keep my corners from unravelling, I punched holes in the gathered ''darts'' and slammed leather rivets in the tucked vinyl. Never see it though.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Received the dash pad cover from astroballs (Mitch) today and let me say it looks amazing. The quality of work is second to none. He even sent me some padding to help cover the imperfections in my original pad. I was worried about tucking the ends of the cover but he already covered that and has it stitched in. I'm very happy with his work!

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Cover looks great, keep us posted :)

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

That looks very nice. I can't wait to see it installed.

Re: Restoring my dash pad
 

Gorilla glue is on and now waiting overnight...