Re-covering dash face, Anyone done it? Tips/Tricks....??? Options

[Qarl]

I bought new basketweave face material for the front face of my dash (where the knobs and air controls are).

In looking at my current dash face, it appears that the vinyl has a metal plate integrated in it. Not sure if this is a '75/'76 thing or what.

So what's the best way to freshen up the dash face? Do I "make" a new metal plate?

What have others done?

Thanks!

[tracks914]

Give yourself plenty of time and DONT cut it the same way/size that the factory did. It will shrink later and leave you with a crappy dash.

Clean off the factory black steel facing and clean BOTH sides thoroughly. Use a razor blade and be careful.


When you cut the new vinyl pieces.. cut them extra long so they actually hang over the steel backing plates. The idea here is to let the upper dash and lower dash hold the extra material in place with pressure. If you cut it the exact size... nothing you use will keep it glued to the steel pieces. I have made this mistake TWICE. Never again. let it hang off the tops/bottoms/sides.

I just did mine this summer, and I listened to Brad!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Once you have all the glue off, use a good paint thinner or acetone to remove the all the old glue residue. To reglue it, get the right stuff, automotive trim adhesive, and don't skimp on the cost unless you want to do it agian in three years.
The other thing I noticed with a '72, the radio plate being a different plate than the main dash plate, when I wrapped the material around to the back sides on the ends of the plates on the two plates, the radio plate didn't fit between dash plate and the glove box. I had to remove the radio plate and trim it to fit so that I could still wrap the material around to the back to keep it from shrinking.
When you buy new adhesive two sided tape to reattach the plates to the dash board, make sure to buy thick enough tape so that it is thicker than the material you wrapped around the back.
All in all it was easy and looks great. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)