Ok all, here is the start of the thread for the "new" dashpad covers that we are going to attempt to create!!!! we are hoping to be able to ship these out the door for $70.00/75.00 + shipping (which should not be much for shipping for weight should be light). I will be asking questions about aspects of the dash pad that I will need answers to. Feel free to ask us questions in here also. I will be posting pics of the progress as we venture along. Today I started to make the first (tight fitted) pattern, and after this in the process will be a looser fitted pattern that will have all the extra added lengths for the seams.
My first question is concerning capped original pads, how do they attatch to the original? are they just popped on with out taking off/out the dashpad? or does the whole original pad need to come out?
and second are they glued to the orignal pad?
thanks
theres a cap in my bobcat and it has some nasty glue/tape looking stuff holding it to the original dash pad.
Im gunna be pulling the cap off the dash pad prolly in the next couple days so i can start build a new one outta fiberglass dont like the vynil look want it smooth and painted.
thanks bigtimmay, would you venture to guess that the glue/tape stuff is only on the edges? or is it over the whole pad?
if you yank yours off are you going to be takeing the dash apart to get it out? or jsut taking off the cap? and can you take a couple pics of before and after you take the cap off? thanks
The caps are glued on with a silicone type adhesive. The cap is installed with the dash still in the car on the dash. I used the glue on the top and the sides, even though the sides probably didn't need it, I just didn't want it to warm from heat later and have the ends wing out. Once the glue is applied to the dash and cap and finally installed, you put pressure on it by wedging something between the windshield and the dash, or by placing something of fairly heavy weight on top of the cap to hold it on until the adhesive dries for 24 hours.
thanks guys, this made me actually think about another question, will the original pad be destroyed if you have to remove the cap? will the glueing compound tear the other one to pieces if someone glued the crap out of it?
next question, after you take the dash pad out of the car (for our install) and could the cap becovered over? or does the cap add to any dimensions?
the covers we are building will require for complete removal of the dashpad to install the full wrapped "new" dashpad. They will be held into place by the "lips" under the pad, and wrap to the secureing screw/bolt. they will be built in any colour you request. or damn nearest to it in shades. thanks
I would guess that removing the car would destroy the original dash. the glue used is pretty strong stuff! The vinyl on the dash gets pretty brittle on these over the years.
thanks dave, that was what I was afraid of. if you were to guess how thick or added thicknesses would a cap add to the original dashpad? maybe 1/16 of an inch all around? or would you guess more/less? for this might not actually make too much differences.
one other question, how many interested people in here would feel comfortable taking out their dash pads?
I knew in our build it was coming out and was going to be recovered anyways with red vinyl, this is to protect the perfect one that we have and to also "customize" the rest of the dash with our buildup. Angie has tossed around the idea of making these pads for 80's trans ams, firebird, for they have the same dash, however, the work involved in making the patterns and the installation would be greater than what the average person could install. the only way to install them would be to have the dashpads on her table to form fit them properly. The ones on the pintos are nice neat dash pads, hence how we came up with the idea for doing this and to help you guys customize yours.
cheers and thanks
maybe this will help some
http://www.fordpinto.com/index.php/topic,7689.msg45921.html#msg45921 (http://www.fordpinto.com/index.php/topic,7689.msg45921.html#msg45921)
phil
ill be removing the dash pad then taking the cap off of it and starting from scratch and im sure the glue will tear up the original vynil but since im gunna be glassing mine it should be fine. Now i just gotta wait for it to stop raining so i can pull part of the dash apart to find exactly what holds the pad on.
thanks phil for that link, sorry to say that the video has expired, if that could be re-posted I would love to watch it. that was a nasty split on your original pad... ouch!!! from reading what you wrote you said you took time to cut and mold so there are/were no bumps and got a good fit... on our covers we will be sending along thin foam for the same purposes, for those who will want to fill in the cracks by lightly glueing in foam to make a smooth finish. :) thanks for the link.
Bigtimmay, please take pics of your process, this will be valuable info for us and others of your adventure. keep us posted.
thanks
We have been busy today on this adventure. Here are 2 pics of the 1st prototype of the work so far. We will be changing some of the way it is made tomorrow to make this cover become more form fitting. We are getting there and know in a few days we should have it perfected. (Our project can't continue in the interior till this is completed) so we are pushing this now. :)
first pic, all pieces cut out....
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/ru_ready_4_r_n_r/1stprototype2.jpg (http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/ru_ready_4_r_n_r/1stprototype2.jpg)
the start of the first trial and error. (we are going to revamp a few things on the next one)
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/ru_ready_4_r_n_r/1stprototype1.jpg (http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/ru_ready_4_r_n_r/1stprototype1.jpg)
cheers Casey
I likey! :D I may replace the capped one in my 78 with one of these, but I know Brownie will be getting one for sure! Just something about stitched vinyl in a classic car that makes me drool...... :)
1/16" - 1/8". 1/16" sound more accurate, but it's been a couple years since I installed it. I might be washing and detailing the 78 Sedan tomorrow, so I will see then.
Thanks dave, :)
ok tossing this out there as well, we have a line on a bobat pad from 1980, we can use this as a pattern for 79-80 cars. just wanted to let you know that if we can get the dash pad we will be also looking into making them for your car if you have one of these years and are interested in a custom pad.
can anyone post up a 79-80 pic of there dash? (i haven't seen one is why I am asking to see)
thanks
you are welcome . yes mine was raied up from the splits and the cap fit very tight side to side after several test fits and minor triming i had it looking better then i painted it. then cleande both surfaces with alchol did another test fit and found blocking to give the right pressure points applied the silacone adhasive they sent and let it dry it still looks great. unless you hit it you can not tell it is not vynal. i had some people commenting on how good it look while at carlisle.
i will see if i can get the original video again it belonged to some one else who did his cap about the same time as mine.
phil
Here is a pic of the dash from my 79 wagon.
(http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss210/jplata71/DSCN0169-1.jpg)
Hey all, thought I better give an update on this project. After pulling our hair out on 6 different prototypes we finally feel confident enough to make the one for our build. Hopefully we will have it finished and in place this weekend. I have the feelers out for getting a second dashpad that we are going to using to test fit every one that we will be making from here on in. I will update with pics when we have it together and all will be good. Hope to be able to have these being shipped out the door to you guys in 6 or so weeks. Time is flying by here, and work is interfering with fun and projects... arrrhg. So far we found that the instructions for placing them onto the pads need to be followed to a "T" I know this sounds elementary, however, fitting can be only one way to make it look good. Will update soon (hopefully with pics) and yes we will be making 79-80 pads should have one coming pretty soon. cheers
Quote from: 78_starsky on June 08, 2010, 12:54:17 PM
sorry to say that the video has expired, if that could be re-posted I would love to watch it.
here it is ~~> Pinto Dash Cap Install (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI_vl6GqneM#)
thanks for repostoing cookieboy
Quote from: phils toys on June 18, 2010, 01:19:26 PM
thanks for repostoing
Phil, I didn't realize it wasn't posted on my YouTube anymore... took me some digging to find a copy.
cookieboy, thats an awesome tutorial. all i can say is *Thank You!!!!!* this will help me alot when i go to do both our bobcats
Quote from: 75bobcatv6 on June 18, 2010, 04:15:12 PM
cookieboy, thats an awesome tutorial. all i can say is *Thank You!!!!!*
I'm just glad I found it to repost ;D
I have installed 2 of these, the one in the video and another on a dash pad that was in much worse condition. I like the dash pad covers, easy to install and look good when done. If you carve down the bumps before installing they fit good and cover all but the ends tight. Only when you open the doors and look at the end of the pad do you really notice.
I also have 1 pad recovered in vinyl... 1 piece was used and no seams. The pad was carved of bumps, fill was used to smooth out, I don't know what was used for fill, covered with a thin padding under the vinyl and it looks good too. Done by a professional reupholster and 2 attempts before I was satisfied.
I have 2 cars right now that are so close to "origional" I am strongly considering the cost for the Just Dashes restoration... I have a driver '80 that is in need of a cover or replace but... I have a color matching dash pad that is very nice but I'm still considering the cover because I don't want to have to tear the dash apart to install a pad that is in very good condition but not absolutly perfect.
anyhow... that's some of my experience/thoughts with covers, pads and options.
I'll repost the video so it isn't lost in the past posts
http://www.youtube.com/user/cookieboystoys#p/u/0/SI_vl6GqneM (http://www.youtube.com/user/cookieboystoys#p/u/0/SI_vl6GqneM)
hey cookie, thanks for the padcap vid. that was helpful to see. You said you have a one piece cover that was made? could I ask for you to post a pic of it? we would love to see how they did that for we have thought about doing the same thing, however, the problem would be when a person who has never installed before wouldn't be able to get it on properly. If you can, we are really interested in a close up pick of how they "one pieced" around the cluster. did they use heat to form fit?
thanks muchly!!
I don't think it was "made" so much as just a piece of vinyl stretched over and attached then trimed. I don't have closeups of the recovering process, I only got to see the finished product. His first attempt left minor burn marks from the heat gun and he didn't remove the bumps and cracks from the pad before recover. His second attempt I don't know "exactly" what he did to remove the bumps and cracks and how he filled but looked and felt smooth when he was done and no burn marks from the heat gun. I do recall it "looked" like a stretch and glue, possible some staples were used to hold the vinyl.
the best closeup picture of the recovered pad I could find
(http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq103/cookieboystoys/ford%20pinto%20com/pad1.jpg)
and 2 of it installed
(http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq103/cookieboystoys/ford%20pinto%20com/pad2.jpg)
(http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq103/cookieboystoys/ford%20pinto%20com/pad3.jpg)
Thanks cookie, that looks sharp, and looks like a ton of work to make forming like that. I would venture heat to form then stretch and glue. nice job!!!
Today we finaly were able to get the dash pad on the car. This is the design that we feel has the easiest and best form fitting around the console. putting the cover on the dash does pose a challenge to a bit of degree, this pad has a 1/8 foam underlay to give it that nice cushioned look.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/ru_ready_4_r_n_r/dashpad1.jpg (http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/ru_ready_4_r_n_r/dashpad1.jpg)
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/ru_ready_4_r_n_r/dashpad2.jpg (http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/ru_ready_4_r_n_r/dashpad2.jpg)
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/ru_ready_4_r_n_r/dashpad3.jpg (http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/ru_ready_4_r_n_r/dashpad3.jpg)
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/ru_ready_4_r_n_r/dashpad4.jpg (http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/ru_ready_4_r_n_r/dashpad4.jpg)
Wow, it looks GREAT!
Thanks dave, Thanks all who have shown interest in this project. Updating a bit here, We are waiting for a test pad so that every cover that is made will be fit tested before it leaves our door. We are busy with our build keeping the pace for our projected completion date of (hopefully early august, if not before) after that we will be starting to work on the covers again. If you are thinking of redoing your pad and are thinking of ordering one of these keep in mind that we will be offering the choices of any colour patterns you would like. we still want to experiment with tufted cluster tops. will post pics when we get to that to show you all the ideas we have.
thanks for all your support on this venture :)
OK....weighing in a bit late on this topic.
Just Dashes charges $800, including removal and re-installation. They also need the car for a full day at the beginning and end.
So, I'm considering a cap for my '76. There seems to be several companies out there who make them. Does anyone know which one(s) at the best? Does it really make any difference?