My dash pad has been repaired and was looking ok but is very fragile due to the age and now has cracks. Has anybody recovered theirs successfully? Its a small simple design (1970) and I you can buy vinyl for $30. This guy does one and it looks ok but maybe not great.
Anybody recover a Dart dash pad?
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Dartswinger70
Well-Known Member
Does "Just dashes" still redo them?
Kendog 170
Let the boy go !
I know Randy was doing one but never heard how it worked out.
@RustyRatRod
For big $$$$
Professor Fate
Push the button, Max...
I did the one in my '66, it turned out okay, but not perfect. Lots of contact cement, spring clamps and a heat gun. The biggest issue was at the ends of the pad- too much material to fold over or try to shrink into place; I ended up making a pair of small trim plates to hide the seams, which isn't visible with the doors closed. You may not have that issue with your style dash pad.
Try to find vinyl without a heavy cloth backing- the backing can prevent the vinyl from stretching or shrinking into place.
Try to find vinyl without a heavy cloth backing- the backing can prevent the vinyl from stretching or shrinking into place.
Kendog 170
Let the boy go !
Don't use spray can contact adhesive. I think if the guy in video took more time with the foam it may have come out better.
spray foam for upholstery - Search Videos
spray foam for upholstery - Search Videos
Yeah its the ends I am not sure about. I found some light vinyl on Amazon. The stuff they use for my vinyl roof is probably too heavy. I'm not sure what is under there for foam. It looks to be thin and dense. I've got a spare dash pad so I'll probably give it ago this winter.
I've got some of the Weldwood Landau glue that I used for my vinyl roof. I like that stuff.
Hyper_pak
Old School Chrysler Fan
What are those dash pad covers that classic sells?
Are they any good?
A black PAD is 324 for 1976 Dart.
Are they any good?
A black PAD is 324 for 1976 Dart.
Kendog 170
Let the boy go !
I was thinking this for foam but not sure.
https://www.amazon.com/Artilife-Neoprene-Perfect-Cosplay-Padding/dp/B088D198CL/?tag=fabo03-20
https://www.amazon.com/Artilife-Neoprene-Perfect-Cosplay-Padding/dp/B088D198CL/?tag=fabo03-20
Some people say the covers look like covers and it would be $600 up here.
I still have some of that. I used it for a gas tank pad. It might be too think…tba.
Kendog 170
Let the boy go !
Too thick? It's only 1/4".
I'm not sure the original is even that thick. I was just looking at my spare dash pad and its not brittle. I might fix up the one big crack and then just put vinyl over top and not mess with taking it down to bare metal.
matthon
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I recovered my dash pad, used spray foam to fix the holes, then covered with vinyl.
Saved hundreds.
Saved hundreds.
Kendog 170
Let the boy go !
My dash is split on my 2 68 Darts. Theres definitely at least a 1/4" of foam under it.
Agreed. One came with my '67 F250 when I bought it, and it's a wobbly POS I would almost be embarrassed to use.
65TerrorCuda
Well-Known Member
I stripped the foam out, welded the holes shut and did vinyl on my 65 A. I love it. Struggled with covering it at all, bare metal looks so good to me.
I covered mine without stripping off the old. It only had a few minor imperfections. A little leveling and all was well until i got to the ends.
Had to split it and you can see it with the door open.
I’ll probably try again with a spare pad, but I’m running it.
Had to split it and you can see it with the door open.
I’ll probably try again with a spare pad, but I’m running it.
Kendog 170
Let the boy go !
If it does, let me know what material you bought.
I'm going to try the same. The material is 54" long and I should have bought the 72" one. I'll try gluing 2 pieces together with a bonding strip underneath and hide the seam on the passenger side.
BigB6958
Well-Known Member
I had mine done by Just Dashes and the result is outstanding, but its really expensive ($1100 USD for the effort) and they take a long time, which I am lucky I have to give them. Hindsight I would have looked at other options like recovering myself before sending it away but I am really happy with the work and how it looks. 67 Dart GT dashes are not easy to come by and are expensive even in crap condition, and I feel like it is going to really make the interior so much better to have it done professionally.
Kendog 170
Let the boy go !
I had a number of splits, cracks, and dents in my '68 dash. It was probably the original dash. I didn't want to spend the kind of money the aftermarket folks demand, so I went the route of repairing what was broken. It might not hold up after I'm finished and it sits out in the sun for a while. But, for now, it looks OK.
I cut out the bad spots with a razor knife and filled the holes with bondo. After sanding and shaping the bondo, I sprayed it with a rattle can of "hammered finish" paint to duplicate the texture of the old vinyl. Then, I painted the whole thing with satin black. Like I said, I don't know how its going to stand up to the sun, but its a low budget job, and it'll look pretty fair if done with patience and care.
I cut out the bad spots with a razor knife and filled the holes with bondo. After sanding and shaping the bondo, I sprayed it with a rattle can of "hammered finish" paint to duplicate the texture of the old vinyl. Then, I painted the whole thing with satin black. Like I said, I don't know how its going to stand up to the sun, but its a low budget job, and it'll look pretty fair if done with patience and care.
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