At some point, nearly every classic car suffers a cracked dash. But finding reproduction or pristine original parts for rare cars can be extremely difficult. What’s more, repairing and recovering dashes can be a challenge for even the most experienced trimmers because of the complex curves and sharp edges.
Thankfully, there are folks like Roy Keith of Roy Keith Classics in Hot Springs, South Dakota to teach us how.
Roy has published a great how-to pictorial on his website that teaches trimmers the process step-by-step. What’s note worthy about Roy’s approach is that he uses no seams – wrapping a dash in one solid piece of vinyl for a true factory finish.
To check out how Roy brings new life to the dashboard of a 1971 Roadrunner, visit Roy Keith Classics.
this is another great how-to article. these are indispensable to new comers to the business that are not able to get proper ‘on the job training’.
We’re glad you enjoyed it Tina!
Great timing on seeing this article. A client just drop of a cracked dash pad to recover this morning!I was contemplating using landau foam to “repair” it. Now I know it is a great idea. Thanks for posting this!
Your welcome Timothy! I’m glad it helped. Also, there is now a 6 way stretch vinyl offered by DLT Supply that should make going over the curves of the dash a little easier.
The link is no longer viable..
Is there another source for the info?
Thanks!
Your link to Roy Keith Classics is dead, I am in the process of doing this on my 280zx
Someone please provide a good link or the article.
Unfortunately the link is no longer available because Roy Keith Classics has shut their doors and taken down their website.
It’s an interesting issue to discuss. As you said, sometimes is difficult to find a special dashboard for rare cars, that’s why, we have to resort to the help of an upholsterer. Some car dashboards are not so difficult to vinyl-wrap in one piece, but others would be done by sewing some pieces…either way, this is not the difficult part…the difficult part is to ‘repair the cracks’ on its surface. For small cracks ‘epoxic resins’ are useful…if too deep, small amounts of ‘fiber glass’ would help to refill and add firmness…’car body filler’ works great, too:http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7614563#7614563
If you want a more pro-repair, check Mr. Kresho’s video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiGhGhzFmCg
Check Greg’s Garage with more ideas to restore a dashboard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW8u2AdMzAU
And a good any direction stretchy vinyl would help a lot.
Or do it like this:
https://youtu.be/Qz1wUkJZ7ns
I have a 71 Firebird that needs the dash pad recovered. I would like to add a double din GPS to the space where the radio and ash tray are located. If I make these alterations, can you still cover this padded dash? I hope you understand what I am asking as I would have to do some fabricating on the original cover.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Fred Zwiger