[C1] Dash Pad Install Lessons Learned
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Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 189
Likes: 18
From: Goshen KY
Dash Pad Install Lessons Learned
Bought an AK dash pad at Indy last week and studied AK video that Plaidside was kind enough to loan. Got the insert in and put the speaker grill on top of the dash. Glued everything down at the windshield flap and it looked great. That is until I tried to bolt in my gauge cluster. I had sat it in place during the install but it was not bolted in. When I went to do that I realized the the cluster would not go back far enough to get the bolts in. Had to loosen that side and lift it up and tediously trim off foam. Finally got it back to where I could get two bolts in but still very tight. Just make sure you can get bolts in before you glue. Also had trouble getting Weldwood contact cement to hold. Call AK shop and talked to a very nice installer. He said there was release wax on the back of the vinyl flap and that had to be cleaned off with lacquer thinner. After cleaning stuck fine. Neither of these issues are in the video.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
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I am glad you got it done. I did not know about the release wax on the vinyl but I did know, from articles I read, to remove enough of foam to get the cluster to fit since the bolts go straight up and not like the cove where you can pull it 'in'.
Joe
Joe
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: NJ Hockey beer league
Don't know why they are still building them with all that foam (if your pad was recently produced) 
. Spoke to them about this at Carlisle last year where their display dash pad had a rubber foam backing like the replacement GM pads did back in the day which required no trimming of the backing to install. They told me the new pads all come this way, guess not. I never saw any benefit to all that foam other than protection for shipping, so if anyone from AK is reading this a better box and a proper rubber backing with easier install would be preferred. That being said the AK foam pads I have installed after dealing with all the trimming have held up well. 
. Spoke to them about this at Carlisle last year where their display dash pad had a rubber foam backing like the replacement GM pads did back in the day which required no trimming of the backing to install. They told me the new pads all come this way, guess not. I never saw any benefit to all that foam other than protection for shipping, so if anyone from AK is reading this a better box and a proper rubber backing with easier install would be preferred. That being said the AK foam pads I have installed after dealing with all the trimming have held up well.
