Restoring my dash pad

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I believe you should ask Astroballs. He made it and knows what he made the pattern to fit. Send him a PM and ask.

I have spoke with Mitch and he said it depends on the condition of the dash, I think I will invest in a heat gun and remove the old vinyl.

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I believe you should ask Astroballs. He made it and knows what he made the pattern to fit. Send him a PM and ask.

Originally Posted by Boog

I haven't done one but I would think the result would be better without that hard cracked cover under the new one. In fact somewhere here there is a thread showing the removal of the old cover and someone using something like spray foam or something to fill in and level the foam for a better finish.

I think you are right I'm gonna remove the old vinyl.

Originally Posted by KevinK7

Carl,
I just went through this myself (first time, so you could do it) Here's a write-up I did as well. BTW, I got the material from Mitch (Astro-Balls), great guy and the material was super easy to work with. Very happy with the outcome

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=dashpad+diy


Kevin

I have read your thread and you put up a really good how too on this. It will deffinalely help me in my restoration.

Carl

['68OrangeSunshine]

I did this back in the mid-'80s, before the internet, and this site, and Period-specific vendors like LMC.
I took the OEM dashpad off the cab and chipped the very brittle chips of old Fawn vinyl from the foam backing. I was careful not to gouge it. All the old vinyl came off with a putty knife -- eventually.
I had just had a pro seat shop do the upholstery on my seat in Saddle vinyl. I saved a strip of material ~7' x 1.5'. I sprayed 3M 77 contact cement on to the foam and then the back of the vinyl, and worked it up from the ''leading edge''around to the back, carefully stretching as I went. I had to tuck in sort-of "hospital corners" at the ends, on the undersurface. Excess was trimmed with a razor knife. I bolted it back in the dash and it's still there in my '68 C/10 Stepside.

I tried a blue one from Brothers, for my other truck ['71 GMC Jimmy] years ago ['90s] and it looked OK, until I tried to cinch up the last nut on the extreme [left] drivers side. It wouldn'd start. Had to pull it off, only to discover that that stud was an FD --all slag and no threading. How it got assembled, past inspectors [if any] IDK. I sent it back for a replacement, and they were good about it. But I had to install it twice. Only reason I didn't use my own method on the blue truck was the under-foam was compromised on the OEM dash pad.

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

I did this back in the mid-'80s, before the internet, and this site, and Period-specific vendors like LMC.
I took the OEM dashpad off the cab and chipped the very brittle chips of old Fawn vinyl from the foam backing. I was careful not to gouge it. All the old vinyl came off with a putty knife -- eventually.
I had just had a pro seat shop do the upholstery on my seat in Saddle vinyl. I saved a strip of material ~7' x 1.5'. I sprayed 3M 77 contact cement on to the foam and then the back of the vinyl, and worked it up from the ''leading edge''around to the back, carefully stretching as I went. I had to tuck in sort-of "hospital corners" at the ends, on the undersurface. Excess was trimmed with a razor knife. I bolted it back in the dash and it's still there in my '68 C/10 Stepside.

I tried a blue one from Brothers, for my other truck ['71 GMC Jimmy] years ago ['90s] and it looked OK, until I tried to cinch up the last nut on the extreme [left] drivers side. It wouldn'd start. Had to pull it off, only to discover that that stud was an FD --all slag and no threading. How it got assembled, past inspectors [if any] IDK. I sent it back for a replacement, and they were good about it. But I had to install it twice. Only reason I didn't use my own method on the blue truck was the under-foam was compromised on the OEM dash pad.

Looks really good. I just stripped all the old vinyl off my dash pad and I was wondering how I’m gonna get the edges on the outer most part of the pad tucked around the end with the stitching kit I ordered.

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Before stripping the vinyl

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Here I am getting all the old vinyl off with a heat gun. Too much heat Isn’t good though as you can see in the 4th picture.

[Astro-Balls]

Fill those low spots with the Gorilla Glue, it will foam up overnight and you can sand it flush next day.
.

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Originally Posted by Astro-Balls

Fill those low spots with the Gorilla Glue, it will foam up overnight and you can sand it flush next day.
.

Just regular gorilla glue?

[Astro-Balls]

https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-50004.../dp/B0001GAYRC

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Originally Posted by Astro-Balls

https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-50004.../dp/B0001GAYRC

Ok, I've had a bottle new in the pack for about a year in my gun cabinet and it has hardened up on me. Guess it's time to go after a new bottle.

['68OrangeSunshine]

I lucked out. My OEM foam was still good. [If a little stiff.] On the second truck, the Jimmy, it was already bad when I got the truck. PO had tried to hide it under a rug-like top dash pad from a Squarebody. Looked like Z%)@. So I just bought one from a vendor -- with mixed results.
You might try keeping a spray bottle with water on hand and spray before you join the two 3M 77-ed sides. Gives you a little leeway to pull it back and set it right before they grab together and bond.
To keep my corners from unravelling, I punched holes in the gathered ''darts'' and slammed leather rivets in the tucked vinyl. Never see it though.

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Received the dash pad cover from astroballs (Mitch) today and let me say it looks amazing. The quality of work is second to none. He even sent me some padding to help cover the imperfections in my original pad. I was worried about tucking the ends of the cover but he already covered that and has it stitched in. I'm very happy with his work!

[KevinK7]

Originally Posted by CarlsLQ9SS

Received the dash pad cover from astroballs (Mitch) today and let me say it looks amazing. The quality of work is second to none. He even sent me some padding to help cover the imperfections in my original pad. I was worried about tucking the ends of the cover but he already covered that and has it stitched in. I'm very happy with his work!

Cover looks great, keep us posted

[Ol Blue K20]

That looks very nice. I can't wait to see it installed.

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Gorilla glue is on and now waiting overnight...

[KevinK7]

Carl,
I just sent you a PM, ...but the pics are looking good.
You may find (as I PM'd) after first sanding you still have some low spots, but just add more glue and repeat. Sure it adds another day to the process, but that's what I ended up doing.

Kevin

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Originally Posted by KevinK7

Carl,
I just sent you a PM, ...but the pics are looking good.
You may find (as I PM'd) after first sanding you still have some low spots, but just add more glue and repeat. Sure it adds another day to the process, but that's what I ended up doing.

Kevin

I'm not in a hurry at all, that's when you make mistakes and mess something up, well me anyway. Lol

Carl

[projectking]

Originally Posted by Astro-Balls

Fill those low spots with the Gorilla Glue, it will foam up overnight and you can sand it flush next day.
.

Exactly!

[KevinK7]

Carl,
I sent you a PM on this, but figured I'd add here for others who may be following along...

The glue used for the vinyl was this (brush on contact cement).
I would normally have used spray adhesive (ie. 3M Trim adhesive) but the brush on let me apply it right where I wanted. One can (a pint) of this was good for the dash pad.

https://www.amazon.com/00271-Weldwoo...s%2C151&sr=8-2

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Originally Posted by KevinK7

Carl,
I sent you a PM on this, but figured I'd add here for others who may be following along...

The glue used for the vinyl was this (brush on contact cement).
I would normally have used spray adhesive (ie. 3M Trim adhesive) but the brush on let me apply it right where I wanted. One can (a pint) of this was good for the dash pad.

https://www.amazon.com/00271-Weldwoo...s%2C151&sr=8-2

Thanks, I found a small bottle at walmart and it wasnt near enough. I guess I'm gonna have to run to lowes and get a pint.

[CarlsLQ9SS]

I got it all sanded down and decided to pad it a little more. Here is a few more pics.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by CarlsLQ9SS

I got it all sanded down and decided to pad it a little more. Here is a few more pics.

I'm really excited to see your results. I am considering this for my truck too.

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I'm really excited to see your results. I am considering this for my truck too.

I hope I can do this cover justice. I will finish it up in the morning and put some more pics up. I don't think it will be too hard, Mitch has already done all the stitching and basically all i have to do is make sure i get it on straight.

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Finish pics, straight forward and easy install. Like I said in a previous post, Mitch has all the hard work done. Basically all you have to do is clean your old dash pad up and glue this cover on. Very happy with the results and have a quality dash pad. I have around $85.00 in total cost in the cover and materials needed to do the project. The pint of glue was $15.00, gorilla glue was $5.00, and the vinyl cover was $57.00 plus shipping I think.

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Couple more!