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Dashpad Repair Infopeteh1969
@peteh1969
Club Retro Rides Member 107
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Oct 20, 2019 11:07:47 GMT
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I have two problems with my dash-pad its vac formed plastic shell covering expanded foam over a metal core and the the big crack was in it when I had the car the small damage is new. Has anyone repaired damage like this, whats the best way to go about a repair and what materials to use? I do not want to just cover it to hide it that will just make the problem worse further down the line, I cannot afford to buy another and most that are about are in a worse condition an not the right type. I have watched videos on youtube and they all seam very drastic approach but what will happen to the repair after a few years. All info and advice appreciated as this is such an important part of the car. Pete
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Oct 20, 2019 11:55:42 GMT
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The repairs i've seen have involved cutting away the edge of the foam at the crack as well as relevant covering (black plastic in your case) to form a V, this is filled with a flexible filler. I have seen plastic padding type filler used but I believe you can get dash kits off the bay of evil. The problem is getting a suitable finish and most have either flock finished the whole dash or gone to a vinyl paint with a crackle finish.
Not sure this helps but I don't know of an as new/oem style repair service.
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Needs a bigger hammer mate.......
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Oct 20, 2019 13:03:44 GMT
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I have a plastic repair kit. It's not suitable for this, one of the dash kits would be though, but mine came with a sort of plastic block. You heat it in hot water then press it onto the plastic. It takes the form of the grain. You then use this to imprint the grain on the new fillered areas.
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Oct 20, 2019 18:06:25 GMT
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Pete - I have done a few over the years - providing that you take your time and undertake the repair properly it will be lasting repair - talk to The Furniture Clinic and see what they can offer you has a kit - or they may know someone that can undertake the repair if you don't want to do it yourself - when I last undertook some research for a clients fully padded dash a few years ago I could not locate a single repairer in Europe - they are a handful in the States - the fully padded dashes are vacuum formed - your dash pad is only a long slim piece and lacks any intricate details and I cant see why it can not be recovered in a suitable grained vinyl if cant be repaired - link to The Furniture Clinic below (I have been using their products for many years) www.furnitureclinic.co.uk/
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Last Edit: Oct 20, 2019 18:10:24 GMT by Deleted
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Oct 20, 2019 18:40:55 GMT
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Pete - I have done a few over the years - providing that you take your time and undertake the repair properly it will be lasting repair - talk to The Furniture Clinic and see what they can offer you has a kit - or they may know someone that can undertake the repair if you don't want to do it yourself - when I last undertook some research for a clients fully padded dash a few years ago I could not locate a single repairer in Europe - they are a handful in the States - the fully padded dashes are vacuum formed - your dash pad is only a long slim piece and lacks any intricate details and I cant see why it can not be recovered in a suitable grained vinyl if cant be repaired - link to The Furniture Clinic below (I have been using their products for many years) www.furnitureclinic.co.uk/I used their products to repair alot of bad damage to a leather chesterfield sofa and recolour it from red to black. I can also vouch for their products. As a side note though, not that it should worry many of us, but cat/dog flee treatment (the type you put on their neck) will quickly and completely strip the new colour off leather. Only really a consideration on here if you have recoloured your seats and take a pet out in the car.
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Oct 20, 2019 18:50:33 GMT
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I had the same problems with my LHD dashpads on both my Rovers; On one of the the dashpads, the frame had severe rust so i had to remove the foam carefully. Like Chris suggested, i took a pice of vinyl and tried to stretch it after heating it up eith a heat gun. On one dashpad it worked pretty good and on the other you find a few rimples. The Rover P5 dashes are not straight on both ends so that may be better on your Ford. I used vinyl with a backing and that is not so easy to stretch so it may be better to use vinyl without a backing. I first carefully filled the crack with foam from a spare dashpad.
There are a few You tube videos which show people covering dashes with leather using heat and it is amazing to see what can be achieved
Peter
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Last Edit: Oct 20, 2019 18:54:00 GMT by petervdv
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Dashpad Repair Infopeteh1969
@peteh1969
Club Retro Rides Member 107
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Oct 20, 2019 23:15:04 GMT
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Thank you all for your reply's a lot to think about I don't mid tackling the repair my self as there are a few things from my modelling tricks box I can use I just want to use the right materials ie fillers.
What ever I do I will post what I do in the rebuild thread.
If anyone has any more ideas please post?
Pete
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Oct 21, 2019 11:18:05 GMT
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I have tried the vinyl repair kits but in such an obvious location the repair always seems to show, the best and longest lasting repairs have been to cut a v fill it smooth with flex filler then re-cover with a strethcy vinyl, even managed to recover a land rover one which had been chewed by a dog like this.
If the shape is too difficult for a single piece of vinyl most trimmers will stitch you a cover in vinyl or leather.
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