Dashboard Covering

[mickmate]

Hey Jim, I lay the dash covering out on a bench cut close to the shape and size. I use the sharpie to locate a couple of guage holes for alignment. Once the dash is laid out flat on the bench I duct tape all the edges down to hold them flat. Then I put the Weldwood to both the dash and the cover with a chip brush and let it dry. I brush the cover first as the dash drys faster being sheet metal. Then I lower the dash against the cover using the gauge holes to align it. Having done the biggest part of the dash I make sure I have about 3/4" all around and trim if necessary and Weldwood all the edges of cover and dash and go around them a piece at a time pulling and folding once they're dry. Check gauge hole clearance. Some are cut with an exacto from the front, others need a pie cut on all the holes and all the little triangles gluing back depending on the gauge/hole clearance.

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by mickmate

Hey Jim, I lay the dash covering out on a bench cut close to the shape and size. I use the sharpie to locate a couple of guage holes for alignment. Once the dash is laid out flat on the bench I duct tape all the edges down to hold them flat. Then I put the Weldwood to both the dash and the cover with a chip brush and let it dry. I brush the cover first as the dash drys faster being sheet metal. Then I lower the dash against the cover using the gauge holes to align it. Having done the biggest part of the dash I make sure I have about 3/4" all around and trim if necessary and Weldwood all the edges of cover and dash and go around them a piece at a time pulling and folding once they're dry. Check gauge hole clearance. Some are cut with an exacto from the front, others need a pie cut on all the holes and all the little triangles gluing back depending on the gauge/hole clearance.

Yep, that works. I would suggest, if it's your first time, leave more than 3/4", you can trim while and after you have the material wrapped. ( I have never figured out how to cut it longer if needed )
I use a spray gun with the adhesive and, as long as you don't overdo it, it drys quickly.

[Blas]

Be sure to use a new can of spray adhesive. There should be no lumps in the coatings on the dash or the material. If there are lumps, the dash will have lumps in the finished covering. You only get one shot at laying the two glues surfaces together so be sure its straight and wide enough - you can trim the excess material off later.

[1985 CCX]

427's were not vinyl...... They were naugahyde.

[Dwight]

I spray only the dash or vinyl but not both. This way I can move or work the air bubbles out.
I use wood clothes pin to clamp the vinyl in place till it dry. I bought a bag of 100 clothes pins and use all of them on a dash.
If you have an air bubble you can puncture it with a pin and let the air out. If it will not stick to the dash you can use a hypodermic needle to insert a small amount of glue.
Dwight

[Dwight]

out of the thousands of pictures I have this is the only one I could find of a dash piece glued up.
Dwight