Dash Pad Help

[custodian]

I took this out of my 86 C30. It looks like someone removed all the foam and cover material. Any suggestions, thoughts, ideas on putting some kind of cover back on it? This is not a show truck and most likely never will be. I'd just like to come up with a decent looking dash pad.

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[GTX63]

I use a heat gun or hair dryer and remove all of the under padding as well, although most don't get it down to bare metal. It helps avoid lumps and uneven surfaces as well as gaps after installing a new dash pad. Just get a quality dash pad and avoid the ebay $69 throwaways and you'll be fine.

 

[custodian]

I use a heat gun or hair dryer and remove all of the under padding as well, although most don't get it down to bare metal. It helps avoid lumps and uneven surfaces as well as gaps after installing a new dash pad. Just get a quality dash pad and avoid the ebay $69 throwaways and you'll be fine.

So your saying use one of those plastic dash covers and just glue it to the metal?

 

[waterpirate]

I would take that to a interior shop and let them make you happy. Something custom and unique to you, but not stock would make you and them happy.
Eric

 

[Ricko1966]

I'd be tempted to skin it with fiberglass then fill it sand it make necessary cut outs and make a painted dash. I've done it on a couple of other cars,never a square though. A 64 Impala and a 1970? Bug

 

[ali_c20]

I'd be tempted to skin it with fiberglass then fill it sand it make necessary cut outs and make a painted dash. I've done it on a couple of other cars,never a square though. A 64 Impala and a 1970? Bug

Painted dash for the win!

 

[75gmck25]

When I was searching for new dash pads I ran across an article where someone took a metal core like that and put a dash overlay right on top of it. However, since the overlays are sized to go over an original dash, I’m not sure how well it worked out.

I ended up buying a complete new dash pad from Jegs, and it is made by Dashes Direct. It requires trimming of excess vinyl mold flashing near the windshield, but otherwise is a very good fit. Dark brown color is almost exactly the same as my original.

 

[TotalyHucked]

This is what you'll need to do if you want to use that metal frame and throw a cap or upholstery over it. Otherwise you'd be money and time ahead to just buy a replacement dash pad assembly like we sell.

Rebuilding my dash pad.

OK, A new project that probably won't work, but I'll try. I figure worse case scenario, I just buy a whole new dash. My original plan was to fill in the cracks and to fiberglass it as others have done. It looks good but I wasn't in love with it versus the more natural looking grain as well as...

www.gmsquarebody.com

 

[David King]

LMC sells a good dash pad. I have seen YouTube videos of people replacing the pad with fiberglass then painting them. Looked like a lot of work. Don't trash your metal dash.

 

[Drauka99]

I wonder if you could use a cover over the metal and then use spray foam to fill the space between that the foam filled. you would have to fabricate some standoffs and clamp it really good. I'd use the spray foam and not the expanding type to keep it from buckling the cover if it got bound up. I used a coverlay brand plastic cover over my foam (used a heat gun to remove the old vinyl) and the supplied silicone to glue/attach it together.