Which Replacement Dash to get (not a cover/dash pad)

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smoothandlow84

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Well, mabey 3 types. Those that have a better one than the really cracked on but still need it redone like me. But heck at least the one in there now only cost me $10.00! I want to find some vinyl without the cloth backing so I can use my shop vac and a heat gun to vacuum form my own cover. Haven't looked too hard tho.

Sounds like that will work. Better use some hightack upholstery adhesive as well. Spray both the vinyl and the old dash surface too.
 

Don5

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Sure thing...glad I could help:) Seems everyone is in the same boat when it comes to the dash. 30 plus years in the Az sun will damn near kill anything, especially plastic and vinyl (it hit 112 today and is expected to reach 114 this week). I certainly didn't want to replace a $400 dash every few years, especially for the crap thats offered out there. The inside temp of my daily driver read 152° at 2pm this afternoon. That's toasty...even for someone who has been dealing with the heat here for almost 35 years now.

Brother I am sweating here in the AC reading those numbers. My truck has no AC so I don't think it would make it very long out there.:)
 

Twostep

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Sorry guys...didnt think of taking any progress pics of the dash rebuild. I know, I know....I should have done that to help the fellow square builders out there.

Your interior looks great! Can you also post some pictures of the driver's side of the dash?
 

Old77

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Sorry guys...didnt think of taking any progress pics of the dash rebuild. I know, I know....I should have done that to help the fellow square builders out there.


Basically, here is what I did (without pics). :sorry:

1) I chipped away the loose plastic by hand and vacuumed out all loose foam
2) filled in any and all cracks, voids and holes including the speaker holes with body filler a.k.a. bondo. I attached cardboard to the underside of the dash using some self tapping screws to temporarily hold the cardboard in place until the bondo was dry.
3) once the bondo was dry, I sanded down and rough edges and high spots with 80 grit sand paper on a random orbit palm sander so that they would be flush to
the top of the remaining dash vinyl surface.
4) I used some high tack upholstery spray adhesive to attach the tweed fabric. I sprayed the dash, let it set up for 5 mins, then sprayed the backside of the fabric, waited 5 mins, then carefully stretched and pressed the fabric to the dashpad surface. The tricky part is keeping your hands away from the adhesive. Once attached and dry, it won't come off very easily. Patience is key. I have done his once before on another truck years ago with great success. The only difference was the other dash was intact and didnt need rebuilt. I used tweed because it easily contours to the curves, its inexpensive and since there is no real pattern in the stiching, its relatively easy to adhere to almost any surface. My headliner and door panels have also been covered.

I have to say the fabric you've laid down looks much better than I ever would have expected if the idea was just mentioned and I'd pictured it in my head :) Nicely done :waytogo: I'm especially surprised how much I like what you did with the dash. Looks really good.
 

steelburner83

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Sorry guys...didnt think of taking any progress pics of the dash rebuild. I know, I know....I should have done that to help the fellow square builders out there.


Basically, here is what I did (without pics). :sorry:

1) I chipped away the loose plastic by hand and vacuumed out all loose foam
2) filled in any and all cracks, voids and holes including the speaker holes with body filler a.k.a. bondo. I attached cardboard to the underside of the dash using some self tapping screws to temporarily hold the cardboard in place until the bondo was dry.
3) once the bondo was dry, I sanded down and rough edges and high spots with 80 grit sand paper on a random orbit palm sander so that they would be flush to
the top of the remaining dash vinyl surface.
4) I used some high tack upholstery spray adhesive to attach the tweed fabric. I sprayed the dash, let it set up for 5 mins, then sprayed the backside of the fabric, waited 5 mins, then carefully stretched and pressed the fabric to the dashpad surface. The tricky part is keeping your hands away from the adhesive. Once attached and dry, it won't come off very easily. Patience is key. I have done his once before on another truck years ago with great success. The only difference was the other dash was intact and didnt need rebuilt. I used tweed because it easily contours to the curves, its inexpensive and since there is no real pattern in the stiching, its relatively easy to adhere to almost any surface. My headliner and door panels have also been covered.

I think I'm going to have to try something like this
 

Don5

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I think I'm going to have to try something like this

Make sure to take plenty of pics for the rest of us to look at. I think several of us will be waiting to see how you did it and the results. Best of luck to you.:):popcorn:
 

TRAZOII

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Sure thing...glad I could help:) Seems everyone is in the same boat when it comes to the dash. 30 plus years in the Az sun will damn near kill anything, especially plastic and vinyl (it hit 112 today and is expected to reach 114 this week). I certainly didn't want to replace a $400 dash every few years, especially for the crap thats offered out there. The inside temp of my daily driver read 152° at 2pm this afternoon. That's toasty...even for someone who has been dealing with the heat here for almost 35 years now.
Where did you get the tweed? Im live in Phoenix as well.

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk
 

smoothandlow84

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Where did you get the tweed? Im live in Phoenix as well.

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

H&R Sales for the tweed fabric and the spray adhesive (I used their private label adhesive). The shop is loacted just off of the I-10 and 35th Avenue approximately one block South of the I-10. A sales rep at H&R Sales referred me to the shop that rebuilt and upholstered my bench seat as well.

Another good source for auto upholstery is Temp Sales off of Southern near Mill Ave. In Tempe. Tempe Sales also has a variety of oem lap seatbelts....and cheap!
 

smoothandlow84

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Your interior looks great! Can you also post some pictures of the driver's side of the dash?

Here are some more pics of my dash.....drivers side...


I have also included pics of the rest of the interior. I also wrapppd the back of the cab behind the seat, below the rear windao and the headliner too. I kinda went crazy with the stuff...lol
 
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Sublime

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That looks great - thanks for sharing!
 

74 Shortbed

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That came out bitchin.:cheers:
 

smoothandlow84

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Thanks gentlemen !

I am beginning to pursue my next project truck, but not sure if I am ready to sell this one.
 

74 Shortbed

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Please keep us updated on the new project. :D
 

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