Dashboard re-cover 'challenge',...

[wetminkey]

dinghyguy got me thinking when he jokingly posted on my thread about covering the center console with vinyl,...I'm afraid that it has too many contours,...nice thought, though!
But my next project is dealing with my old dashpad, and I've heard about what kind of results others have had with caps, fiberglass replacements, and padded-dash replacements. Lots of work to make fit "OK", and replacements are expensive (especially considering what you are paying for).
It sure seems to me that a repaired dashpad COULD be re-covered. It would still be "soft to the touch" and no 'fitment' problems!
The same Sierra vinyl that I'm using is available by the yard in black and looks similar to the 'leatherette' pattern of the dashpad plastic. The existing pad could be repaired with any plastic filler and covered with two long strips of vinyl - one adhered across the top, another across the bottom, double stitched together at either side (at the level of the headlight switch).
It will be awhile before I will get to this project, but I thought I'd place my hypothesis out there for everyone to ponder and see what thoughts all of you might have,...
Perhaps others can show us examples of ways that they have successfully re-covered their dashpads,...other than the shag carpet covers, of course! I've heard of wrapping it in fabric,...I hope folks will post pics!
Happy February everyone!
Todd.

[TheBender]

Did you watch the Wheeler Dealers episode with the Spider? They recovered the dash and there are some threads on the board about it.

[wetminkey]

I did not. Can you provide a link to either the episode or the threads related to this?
Thanks, man!
Todd.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

All good advice, and I have to give a shout-out to eBay here: I found someone selling a NOS spider dash, for $100 (free shipping) with no blemishes, cracks, or discolorations. I was skeptical when I bought it, but it arrived intact and as described and pretty much flawless.

So, bottom line, be on the lookout for deals. Some sellers don't know what they have.

To answer your question, though: I have "recovered" spider dashboards by buying some marine vinyl (periodically on sale at Joann's Fabrics), stretching it really tight, and gluing it down under the edges that you can't see once installed. Works pretty good.

-Bryan

[davidbruce]

When I bought my 73 it had a dash that was clad in the same brown vinyl the seats had been upholstered in.I don't have a picture. It had a double stitch seam that ran across the top front lip and around down both ends. I have a good dash but if I had to restore one I want to give this 4 way stretch vinyl a go.
https://www.yourautotrim.com/al4stvi.html
Anybody on the forum tried it?

[TheBender]

I did not. Can you provide a link to either the episode or the threads related to this?
Thanks, man!
Todd.

Here is the thread.....
http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic ... rs#p289756

I watched it on YouTube a while back, but can’t seem to find it. I did find it in another language. Haha
Dash is about 27 minutes in

https://youtu.be/4l30rllrai0

The thread says it’s season 21 Episode 1, but I could have sworn it was season 17 episode 7. Hope you’re able to find it.

[wetminkey]

Thank you, guys! I like the 4-way stretch vinyl a lot, and the video does go over covering the dashpad with vinyl. I see that they oriented the seam along the prominent top and bottom edges, extending all around. I think I can do the same with a single, very short seam on either side, about midway up (at about the headlight switch level). Anyway, can't tell without the dashpad, and vinyl to cover, in hand. Great stuff,...thanks!
I feel armed with enough knowledge to tackle this project, now. Perhaps late this year,...

[DRUMMOND]

some photo samples

[TheBender]

Thank you, guys! I like the 4-way stretch vinyl a lot, and the video does go over covering the dashpad with vinyl. I see that they oriented the seam along the prominent top and bottom edges, extending all around. I think I can do the same with a single, very short seam on either side, about midway up (at about the headlight switch level). Anyway, can't tell without the dashpad, and vinyl to cover, in hand. Great stuff,...thanks!
I feel armed with enough knowledge to tackle this project, now. Perhaps late this year,...

Good stuff. Looking forward to your results.

[greenspider]

Does anyone recognize where/who recovered the dash on the Wheeler Dealer episode?
Thanks, Tony

[TheBender]

Does anyone recognize where/who recovered the dash on the Wheeler Dealer episode?
Thanks, Tony

I remember reading it somewhere in a post here. They even called the place and talked to them. Hopefully you have better luck than me with the search function.

[rodo]

I stripped my dash entirely bare, used a bizarre combo of resin and bondo to smooth it out, strengthened up the tabs for the gauge panel with resin, and then, mostly because I thought I had nothing to lose, set to fit it with 4-way vinyl and wildwood tonneau glue. It worked well. I used a single piece, no seams, except for the very bottom of the dash. (I maybe even could have made that work but it was taking up too much time.) I did not stitch a seam but just glued edge to edge right at sharp bend between the upper part of the dash and that lower edge. Yeah, you can see it, not perfect, but for less than fifty bucks...

(Or you can't see it b/c I can't figure out how to do the damn images!)

Only place I could not get joy was in the upper right of the binnacle. Just too many curves but the gauge panel should hold it in place.

[wetminkey]

Thanks, rodo!
I've read about the "4 way" stretch vinyl in my research on this subject,...I'll look into it further. Not sure I'll be re-covering my dash too soon,...
BTW, I can right-click the image icons in your post, and your pics come up. My host for my pictures (imgur.com) has a specific code to copy/paste to a forum post,...perhaps your's does too.
Todd.

[TheBender]

I stripped my dash entirely bare, used a bizarre combo of resin and bondo to smooth it out, strengthened up the tabs for the gauge panel with resin, and then, mostly because I thought I had nothing to lose, set to fit it with 4-way vinyl and wildwood tonneau glue. It worked well. I used a single piece, no seams, except for the very bottom of the dash. (I maybe even could have made that work but it was taking up too much time.) I did not stitch a seam but just glued edge to edge right at sharp bend between the upper part of the dash and that lower edge. Yeah, you can see it, not perfect, but for less than fifty bucks...

(Or you can't see it b/c I can't figure out how to do the damn images!)

Only place I could not get joy was in the upper right of the binnacle. Just too many curves but the gauge panel should hold it in place.

I was able to pull the pictures over.....

[wetminkey]

Yes. I'd like to see if I can do the same thing with a single piece of vinyl.
We'll see how that works out,...
Todd.