Dash Pad
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 15
From: Oxford Ohio
Dash Pad
I'm thinking about recovering a couple dash pads. Has anyone tried that successfully? I watched the U tube clip from just dashes, and I think I can recreate, at a smaller level, the equipment they use.
I can get the foam and the vinyl.
I can get the foam and the vinyl.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
I've re-skinned the door panels and that was a real PITA job 
. The right-side pad shouldn't be too bad...but the left-side, with the gauges and rolled edges, would be difficult. You also would need very thin vinyl, rather than the thick stuff the fabric stores sell.
For the price of new panels (or, better yet, some used original panels...often available at swap meets), I would not reskin dash panels.
. The right-side pad shouldn't be too bad...but the left-side, with the gauges and rolled edges, would be difficult. You also would need very thin vinyl, rather than the thick stuff the fabric stores sell.For the price of new panels (or, better yet, some used original panels...often available at swap meets), I would not reskin dash panels.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 86
From: Rotonda FL
Al Knoch sells skins for the 68-77 lower dash panels. I did my R.H. side with one. It turned out reasonably well, though the opening around the AC ball vent needed extensive work. After looking at my L.H. side I determined it was too damaged to repair, so I can't comment except to say that trying to do the small AC lap vent would be VERY difficult (especially if you expected to successfully pressure fit the adjustable vent into the reskinned cavity).
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,847
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Boy.. I'm with 7t1 on this.. they are a real pita to do. He's been around these cars a long time and I'm sure remembers the days when new pads or door panels were not available. In those days you didn't have a choice if you wanted a new look.
I used to use silicone to fill in the cracks and an ice cube to form it.. yes, it works if you never tried it.
But on the lower pads.. the original sub-straights can become brittle, holes break out, the area between the speedo and tach usually cracks (from someone pulling it outward to change the headlamp switch).
I will say this.. the new lower pads from Corvette America for the 68-77's are he best fitting dash pads we've ever had. They fit better than the factory pads in my own cars.
They are pretty expensive to purchase.. but they are also on sale right now too.
IMHO,
Willcox
Everything in this car had to be replaced.. Mice destroyed everything.
I used to use silicone to fill in the cracks and an ice cube to form it.. yes, it works if you never tried it.
But on the lower pads.. the original sub-straights can become brittle, holes break out, the area between the speedo and tach usually cracks (from someone pulling it outward to change the headlamp switch).
I will say this.. the new lower pads from Corvette America for the 68-77's are he best fitting dash pads we've ever had. They fit better than the factory pads in my own cars.
They are pretty expensive to purchase.. but they are also on sale right now too.
IMHO,
Willcox
Everything in this car had to be replaced.. Mice destroyed everything.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 15
From: Oxford Ohio
I have 2 to do for Vettes, but why I'm thinking about trying it is I also have 1 ea. to do for a Camaro, Trans Am, 2 ea. for 64 Galaxie 500 XLs, 1 for a Porsche. I'd end up with enough in dashes as I have in the first purchase of some of the cars.
In my shop, I can fabricate equipment similar to that used by the big dash guys. I found the closed cell foam. I need to locate the thin vinyl with proper grain. With regard to the Vette pads, I am concerned with how fragile the structure may have gotten. I would still like to find a filler that won't shrink and is fairly easy to apply.
Of all of them I have to do, the Vettes look like they will be the most difficult.
In my shop, I can fabricate equipment similar to that used by the big dash guys. I found the closed cell foam. I need to locate the thin vinyl with proper grain. With regard to the Vette pads, I am concerned with how fragile the structure may have gotten. I would still like to find a filler that won't shrink and is fairly easy to apply.
Of all of them I have to do, the Vettes look like they will be the most difficult.
