How do you remove the padded dash cover to recover it?
There are six studs that are welded to the frame that sits inside the padding. These studs go through the metal dash and are fastened on with nuts. You have to get things "out of the way" (the instrument cluster, radio, etc.) to get access to the nuts. Then, the whole pad pulls off.
Let me warn you - recovering with vinyl is not recommended - I took my nicely restored pad to a local interior shop, and they recovered it - two days later, the new vinyl was pulling away. They never fixed it properly, I wasted $90 on vinyl and $65 on the covering "effort".
The only good way to restore these (I'm sure Chuck - Discolives can chime in here) is to rework the defective vinyl, and restore the surface with padded dash filler and other materials. I am in the process of finishing another pad restoration, and should have pics up in two weeks. If I am successful, I will be happy to offer the service to others in need on a core trading routine (you send me a core, I send you an already restored unit in the color of your choice for a flat fee).
Chris
Quote from: popbumper on February 23, 2009, 10:29:17 PM
If I am successful, I will be happy to offer the service to others in need on a core trading routine (you send me a core, I send you an already restored unit in the color of your choice for a flat fee).
Chris
I'd be interested in that, depending on price and all!!! ;D
Kim
Sounds good to me too! ;D
Stay tuned folks, thanks for the interest - I should have an answer for you within a week. There are a LOT of dead dash caps out there......!
Chris
I have one out and can get 2 more
I covered my dash with a piece of new 1/4" high density foam after prepping the old pad (removing loose vinyl and high spots from the pad warping when it cracked). The foam was glued to the dash and the new vinyl was glued to the new foam. It lifted in a small area near the gauge cluster (on the rise) It's not really noticeable, but I know it's there >:(
The vinyl has to be stretched quite a bit to take the shape of the Pinto's dash without wrinkling, and so you don't need a seam in vinyl. I used a heat gun. I wouldn't do it again. When this falls apart, I'll do something different. I have a 'core' dash set aside, too.
Chuck
Good day all:
You will be happy to know that I went home and took an extended lunch to spray my dash pad with textured coating. Oh my, I really think this is going to be a successful venture. I will post some pics in a day or two and show you some before/after shots of the dash pad I did. Right now it needs final painting, but the finish looks GREAT (and since the flex coating is black, it easily reveals defects). Is it perfect? No, but very close - this is my first one, and I am very pleased.
Once y'all see the pictures, you can decide whether you think whetehr a dash restoration might be of interest to you. My BIGGEST concern is that I really need to TEST the restored unit in a vehicle. Why? Well, the only true test of the integrity will be to expose the pad to hot/cold/damp/vibration. I don't want to make a lousy product and have folks unhappy with the result after a month.
Stay tuned!
Chris
OK all, I know I left you hanging, but my dash pad resto is finished, and has been an unparalleled success. I will post pics as soon as I can (this week), showing the before and after. This pad went from a very cracked and gullied black mess, to a smooth, semi-gloss camel coat that looks and feels very much like vinyl, is virtually flat, and next to new. No vinyl was used in the repair, only specialized fillers and coatings. It's not an easy process, but it's a very good one.
Again, I will get pics up soon. I have two more cores that I intend to repair, and I will then quite possibly roll out a core restoration/exchange program for those interested. With NOS units impossible to find/expensive, full reproduction pads unavailable, and repair a reasonably complex task, hopefully this can be a service that will help folks out.
Stay tuned!
Chris
Can't wait pop!
I'll second the OEM/NOS being expensive/impossible. The last time I saw a NOS pad on ebay the bid started around $500.
Chuck (holding my head to the right so I don't see the bump in my dash pad :mad:)