Dashpad repair
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
Dashpad repair
Anyone have any ideas on how to repair the passenger side corner on My dashpad? It is the only damage on it and I'd like try to repair it as opposed to spending $250.-$300. for a new repro. Is it possible to do and have it look good, or am I wasting my time?
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Tustin CA
Hey Man, I was in the same boat and I recently bought something called a "Dash Shield" from Ecklers. It was like 109 bucks (they matched the lowest price I found on the internet) and it basically just glues on top of the old dash. THIS IS NOT a piece of vinyl that you have to glue on, this is a rigid piece that you just set on top of the current dash. For the price, it was a pretty good deal to me.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Hey Man, I was in the same boat and I recently bought something called a "Dash Shield" from Ecklers. It was like 109 bucks (they matched the lowest price I found on the internet) and it basically just glues on top of the old dash. THIS IS NOT a piece of vinyl that you have to glue on, this is a rigid piece that you just set on top of the current dash. For the price, it was a pretty good deal to me.
Any pics??
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 5
From: Brown Summit North Carolina
The bad end is not very visable when door is closed,so I would suggest trying to paint the exposed end the correct shade of red.
2nd. option would be to buy a very poor condition dash pad as cheap as possible and cut out a patch to glue on. Then paint the patch red.
This gives a cheap way out and you may be comfortable for now.
Then just keep looking for a DEAL on a pad and replace with a new one.
Then sell your old one and recoup some of the money spent on the new one.
David
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Patch the end with a flexible body putty or use some [knead-type] JB Weld epoxy to fill in the vinyl loss on your panel. If you can find a piece of scrap vinyl with similar "grain" appearance, wait until your repair is fairly stiff--but not hard--and press the scrap piece onto the surface to transfer the grain pattern. Let it harden, paint it (same color vinyl dye if you have it, or matching model paint), and reassemble. Damage in that area is easy to fix and the repair is hard to notice.
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Barrie Ontario
Had the same problem on my '77. Got "Bondo" brand name product from the auto body supply store. This product is to be used on the plastic bumpers for cracks, abraisions, etc. Two part and you only have about 6 minutes to work with it. Mold it around and into the the corners of the cracked ends. Make sure you use an exacto knife to cut or bevel the edge which will give you a clean blend. and then sand down to shape it. To get the "pattern-leather" look, you can use a nail to scratch in the pattern, this is really hard to do, but it is doable. Use the proper dye for your car and voila...you're done. Took me about two 1/2 hours of work-start to finish! I did have the dash out of the car which made the work much easier. Take your time and Good Luck
Domer.
Domer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
An alternative for you is to buy a vinyl repair kit and follow the enclosed instructions.
If you are not comfortable doing it yourself go to a marina or car dealership. Most use a vinyl repair mobile service to make these sorts of repairs to seats and interior trim. Ask the used car manager, typically responsible for this type of work. Good luck.
If you are not comfortable doing it yourself go to a marina or car dealership. Most use a vinyl repair mobile service to make these sorts of repairs to seats and interior trim. Ask the used car manager, typically responsible for this type of work. Good luck.
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