A fix for 3LT dash?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 7,137
Likes: 3,176
From: Kannapolis MA.
A fix for 3LT dash?
Sucks to hear about this issue.Has anyone given it thought about injecting a adhesive threw a Syringe? Around the vents would be the spot not noticed.
A small hole would be less noticeable than a wrinkle.
Got to be a strong high temperature adhesive out their.I would give it a shot especially if out of warranty.
A example of a possible injector
A small hole would be less noticeable than a wrinkle.
Got to be a strong high temperature adhesive out their.I would give it a shot especially if out of warranty.
A example of a possible injector
Last edited by DALE#3; Nov 10, 2018 at 08:35 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 1,650
I pick up my 3LT GS next week. I hope I never have this issue but I'll save your link and may give it a try if leather becomes an issue. I plan on the taking the proactive step of installing 3M Automotive Window Film Crystalline CR 90 on my front windshield. This should block 99% of UV and block about 70% solar heating impinging on the dash. I'll install CR 50 film on the door windows and CR 40 on the hatch window. I'm thinking this addition may eliminate dash delamination if the issue is related to heat degrading the adhesive. The added benefit of using this film will be it will cut down the solar heating within the cabin and help reduce glare. We'll see what happens.
Last edited by Steve Garrett; Nov 10, 2018 at 01:10 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,507
Likes: 722
From: Sausalito CA
Will look forward to before and after if syringe is used.
FWIW
I would make a test panel.
Try the injection, compare the hole to the wrinkle, repair the hole noting color grain match.
A heat gun may aid the repair process.
FWIW
I would make a test panel.
Try the injection, compare the hole to the wrinkle, repair the hole noting color grain match.
A heat gun may aid the repair process.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 7,137
Likes: 3,176
From: Kannapolis MA.
Depending on the adhesive chosen you may not even see the hole.The more liquid like the smaller the hole needed. Their is some excellent bonding power out their.
Ever watch KANDIG Design's interior on the 57 chevy corvette?The dash was covered on the vette and their headliner jobs are spray glued.If spraying that could also be injected.Small holes on a spray can or gun.
Hope it works out!
Ever watch KANDIG Design's interior on the 57 chevy corvette?The dash was covered on the vette and their headliner jobs are spray glued.If spraying that could also be injected.Small holes on a spray can or gun.
Hope it works out!
Last edited by DALE#3; Nov 10, 2018 at 10:43 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 1,650
Depending on the adhesive chosen you may not even see the hole.The more liquid like the smaller the hole needed. Their is some excellent bonding power out their.
Ever watch KANDIG Design's interior on the 57 chevy corvette?The dash was covered on the vette and their headliner jobs are spray glued.If spraying that could also be injected.Small holes on a spray can or gun.
Hope it works out!
Ever watch KANDIG Design's interior on the 57 chevy corvette?The dash was covered on the vette and their headliner jobs are spray glued.If spraying that could also be injected.Small holes on a spray can or gun.
Hope it works out!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 7,137
Likes: 3,176
From: Kannapolis MA.
I believe the front part of the c7 frame.The wheelhouse is glued together.Amazing with all the twisting,flexing that material was well thought.The simplicity of the dash screw up must be related to a poor maybe bad batch of the adhesive used.
How many? I bet the sub contractor knows.The garage queens may never know?
Until maybe that one to hot day
Wheel house is glued at 2 minutes in on the vid
How many? I bet the sub contractor knows.The garage queens may never know?
Until maybe that one to hot day
Wheel house is glued at 2 minutes in on the vid
Last edited by DALE#3; Nov 10, 2018 at 12:10 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,602
Likes: 12,865
From: Virginia
I tried this a while back on a 930 Turbo dash and even though the injected adhesive seemed to re-adhere the leather to the dash panel, there was still a raised bubble (or high spot) from the injected adhesive, even using a very thin adhesive and a small roller to roll it smooth. I thought I had a winner, until the adhesive dried.
As you say Dale, originally the adhesive is sprayed on evenly so leather lays smooth.
As you say Dale, originally the adhesive is sprayed on evenly so leather lays smooth.
Last edited by Kevin A Jones; Nov 10, 2018 at 12:48 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,706
Likes: 539
From: Hampton VA
If the past is any indication GM could care less. The 2007-13 Suburbans Silverados and their siblings all had a problem with dashes cracking. For the most of the cases which amounted to several hundreds of thousands of vehicles owners were stuck just like us with the 3LT dashes here and the replaced dashes cracked too. I know from experience 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 799
From: East Lansing, MI
Sucks to hear about this issue.Has anyone given it thought about injecting a adhesive threw a Syringe? Around the vents would be the spot not noticed.
A small hole would be less noticeable than a wrinkle.
Got to be a strong high temperature adhesive out their.I would give it a shot especially if out of warranty.
A example of a possible injector
https://www.amazon.com/Precision-App...fsclp_pl_dp_11
A small hole would be less noticeable than a wrinkle.
Got to be a strong high temperature adhesive out their.I would give it a shot especially if out of warranty.
A example of a possible injector
https://www.amazon.com/Precision-App...fsclp_pl_dp_11
I think that if you have to replace the dash out of warranty, the solution is a 2LT dash, which doesn't seem to have this issue.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,706
Likes: 539
From: Hampton VA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,382
Likes: 3,501
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
My son had this delamination issue with his dash twice in 27,000 miles with his 3LZ interior dash. The second time he paid for a 2LZ dash and had them install it. He was fed up and didn't mind the extra expense. I wish his story had a better ending, but it appears GM doesn't have a remedy except replacement.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 757
Likes: 2
From: Lake Worth Florida
The question is not so much can you get the adhesive behind the leather but will the new adhesive perform well when it is exposed to 140 deg or greater temperatures on the dash. You would think that with all of GM's experience with materials, adhesives, and dash installation that delamination would ever be an issue. Just wondering whether GM sub contracts out to a vendor to produce the 3 LT dashboard.
Carpet on the the dash... What are you nuts? After I put a c7 emblem on the passengers side, over the glove box... It doesn't look bad at all. As a matter of fact, I've been told that it actually looks good, and was a smart idea Custom fitted from Corvette Mods.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 757
Likes: 2
From: Lake Worth Florida
My son had this delamination issue with his dash twice in 27,000 miles with his 3LZ interior dash. The second time he paid for a 2LZ dash and had them install it. He was fed up and didn't mind the extra expense. I wish his story had a better ending, but it appears GM doesn't have a remedy except replacement.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
While I don't know what current or other models of GM or brands of cars have had the "delamination"/cracking problem, it's been around since cars went from metal dashes to something else. But more recently, 4LTs in C6s have also had the problem---not every one of them but enough to notice.
Between the material used and the glue itself, it seems as if there is no consistent, first-applied materials that work every time. I'm pretty sure that GM had a vendor-deal pass through on costs to replace/repair the dashes, but that doesn't really help owners going thru the process---once or twice!
Non-metal dashes have been cracking in AZ, NM, TX, FL, etc. for decades, and probably delaminating, too, if there was something like a leather or vinyl layer on top. Even the fluids used to treat the dashes have had some issues that I recall in hot sun (like 3M's vinyl treatment way back in '99 or so; I called them and told them about it---they eventually pulled the product).
All I know is that all that "stuffing" that goes into pillows, seat cushions, etc. eventually turns to dust in a relatively short time, even without sun exposure--I can only guess that no company has yet invented a glue interacting with heat, sun, UV, and material of some kind to last very long. Consistently.
Between the material used and the glue itself, it seems as if there is no consistent, first-applied materials that work every time. I'm pretty sure that GM had a vendor-deal pass through on costs to replace/repair the dashes, but that doesn't really help owners going thru the process---once or twice!
Non-metal dashes have been cracking in AZ, NM, TX, FL, etc. for decades, and probably delaminating, too, if there was something like a leather or vinyl layer on top. Even the fluids used to treat the dashes have had some issues that I recall in hot sun (like 3M's vinyl treatment way back in '99 or so; I called them and told them about it---they eventually pulled the product).
All I know is that all that "stuffing" that goes into pillows, seat cushions, etc. eventually turns to dust in a relatively short time, even without sun exposure--I can only guess that no company has yet invented a glue interacting with heat, sun, UV, and material of some kind to last very long. Consistently.
Last edited by AORoads; Nov 11, 2018 at 07:25 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 30,894
Likes: 1,189
From: chicago
biggest problem is,
not enough material to pull over the edge ,to get a good hold on the back-side,use an extra inch of leather on the backside ,and don't pull so tight on it
you don't see Rolls-Royce/Bentley dashes pulling apart
not enough material to pull over the edge ,to get a good hold on the back-side,use an extra inch of leather on the backside ,and don't pull so tight on it
you don't see Rolls-Royce/Bentley dashes pulling apart
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,602
Likes: 12,865
From: Virginia
Skid Row Joe, is probably the only one who would purchase the 3LT package at $40,000.
It takes several hundred hours to process/create-fit/install a RR interior. It takes hides from approx 12 steers (only male hides are used, as female are prone to stretch marks). Steers are specific breed, raised in special climates, and have special diets which helps keep skins/ interiors from drying out. Free range, no fences/bard-wire to reduce scaring. So you are correct, RR interiors don't dry-out, crack, pull apart.
Last edited by Kevin A Jones; Nov 11, 2018 at 09:54 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,706
Likes: 539
From: Hampton VA
Im not asking for RR material All that I and most other owners with this problem is for GM to put the car together so it stays together.If they cant do that then maybe they shouldnt put leather on the dash. Its sad that the once largest car company in the world cant build a high priced car that doesnt have dashes, trans, and windshield that cant stay working properly