I'm considering re-skinning the dash pads on our 65 coupe. Considering....

Has anyone taken on the challenge? If so, would you consider doing this again? I contacted Al Knoch about any installation instructions and as yet haven't heard back. Maybe someone has a set of instructions (if such exist) they can share.

 

I considered it on my 65 coupe also. When I checked into the installation I found a couple of things that convinced me to buy new ones.
!) The new skins go over the old. Making the dash thicker and harder to re-install.
2) If the existing pads are cracked you will have to make sure that area is filled and completely smooth as any defect in the old pads will show thru.
3) You will probably screw up the first one you try.

That being said I am sure an experienced installer can do a good job. But I am not experienced in that area.
Have you checked into AK doing the install?

 

[QUOTE=woodsdesign;1605006220 Have you checked into AK doing the install?[/QUOTE]

I hadn't considered that option. I am going to check with my upholstery guy too.

 

"The new skins go over the old. Making the dash thicker and harder to re-install." On my 65 this was the case...bought brand new replacements because it was very hard to reinstall recovered dash pads.

 

A few have reported on here success with installing skins. It’s been a few years now since I remember any successful posts however. I think it takes a lot of patience and care. I tried it years ago and finally gave up and that’s unusual for me. It’s kind of one of those Clint Eastwood things - Do you feel lucky . . . well do you?

 

I tried it using the Knoch skins, what a PITA, ended up buying new Corvette America pads, gorgeous and fit like a glove.

 

I did the re-skin on the passenger side a few years back. By far the hardest part is removing the pads from the car, a giant contortionist nightmare. Once out, i carefully stripped away the old skin using a hair dryer. The skin came off very easily actually.
I then repaired a broken clip hole with epoxy and layered a very thin foam over the entire area for a smooth uniform surface. Stretched the foam very tight and used spray adhesive to secure it.
I used an Al Knock skin i had purchased and carefully worked it over the frame, again using a hair dryer to make it pliable. Used spray adhesive on both surfaces to secure, and simple clamps to keep it in place.
My old plastic hand hole grommet was broken, so getting the new one to fit was a challenge (repop parts).
Take your time heat, stretch, glue, clamp to get the skin right.
A little adhesive remover if you get some in the wrong place.
New clips for the install.
Unless in direct sunlight, i cant tell the old from the new. (i noticed a small crack on the driver side now, so i am dreading doing it again)
The re-skinning was by far the easiest part. The removal and reinstall of the pad was a horrible job. I removed the seat.
My reason for skin was for the budget, those pads are pricey (but what isnt on a C-2)

 

"A man's got to know his limitations."

 

My upholstery guy asked if these skins are PVC or fabric. I ask as Al Kotch hasnt gotten back as yet.

 

They are vinyl skins. If you told your upholstery guy that they are out of a C2 Corvette and he asked that question I would look for a new guy. JMO

 

My upholstery guy was able to get the old original skins off so that is a possibility. But then he made new leather ones

 

My dash is still ok, but I would love to have leather with the stitching, very classy.

 

Al Knoch will reskin original door panels, so perhaps they do dashes as well.

 

I know this a little bit of an old post, but I also have to decide what to do with a dash pad on my 67. My dash is not cracked, but had some big indentations from improper storage in a barn for 20 odd years on the passenger side. I used a heat gun & Ice to get most of the indentations out, but nowhere even good enough. I tried heating it up and peeling the skin back to fix it, but I cracked the vinyl and discovered that it was glued to the padding too so i see no way to get the original skin off without damaging the heck out of the padding. Top Flight will recover for 283.99 labor & $169.99 for the skin IF "Your Dashpad Original Dash Pad. Original Dash Pad Must Be In Restorable Shape And Must Not Have The Original Skin Removed". Does a guy spend $699.99 for a new dash, spend $453.98 to get it recovered or give it a shot at 169.99 on my own? I saw a post where a Wilcox guy said to fill in the indentations & flaws with caulk & smooth with an ice cube & then recover it. I am pretty handy & can do about anything I put my mind too, but all the forums on this subject are giving me pause. Has anyone recovered the dash pad successfully. What did you end up doing JR?

 

Do you have any tricks to get the studs on the passenger pad to go in the holes? Seems to want to go where it will lay!

 

That is exactly what I would do if I had to fix or replace my dash pads. I love the look of leather with the edge stitching facing.

 

I did not have much trouble getting the clips back in. If the holes were off I pushed as much as could to get them to line up & I just turned the clip so I could get one edge in the hole then just twisted the clip a little as I pushed in. The repop ones from Zip actually work better for the holes that don't quite line up compared to the original clips because of their shape.
I ended up having upholsterer do them with black leather with black stitching across the front edge. It does look pretty damn classy, but he meant $453.98 per side. Did not know that until I picked them up . Still worth it though.... I think.

 

 

wow, that looks amazing? Who is your upholstery guy? This is exactly what I am looking to do on mine!

 

This is how mine turned out.