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random_farmhick

random_farmhick

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Dec 13, 2020
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So I'm in the process of recovering my dash for my elcamino. Yes, I know I could buy a new one, but some things I like to try myself too. One thing I can never quite find, has to do with the foam. I've seen some people use spray foam of some sort, some bondo, fiberglass, or even polyvalence padded dash filler. All of that stuff is too stiff, so I'm wondering what someone would use for the foam itself. I've asked on some groups on facebook, and all I get is that it's a trade secret, why would they let it out and lose out on money... Which I do get to some extent... So anyone have any idea on something close to the same "squishiness". Thanks
 

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random_farmhick said:
So I'm in the process of recovering my dash for my elcamino. Yes, I know I could buy a new one, but some things I like to try myself too. One thing I can never quite find, has to do with the foam. I've seen some people use spray foam of some sort, some bondo, fiberglass, or even polyvalence padded dash filler. All of that stuff is too stiff, so I'm wondering what someone would use for the foam itself. I've asked on some groups on facebook, and all I get is that it's a trade secret, why would they let it out and lose out on money... Which I do get to some extent... So anyone have any idea on something close to the same "squishiness". Thanks
Click to expand...
Check into this.
www.eastwood.com

Polyvance Padded Dash Filler Flexible Polyester Filler 2050-9

Padded Dash Filler
www.eastwood.com www.eastwood.com

How to Repair Cracked Dashboard

Repair vinyl dash with Padded Dash Filler from Polyvance
www.polyvance.com www.polyvance.com

280Z Dashboard Repair and Restoration

Polyvance products being used to repair and to restore a Datsun 280Z dashboard.
www.polyvance.com www.polyvance.com
 
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pagrunt said:
Check into this.
www.eastwood.com

Polyvance Padded Dash Filler Flexible Polyester Filler 2050-9

Padded Dash Filler
www.eastwood.com www.eastwood.com

How to Repair Cracked Dashboard

Repair vinyl dash with Padded Dash Filler from Polyvance
www.polyvance.com www.polyvance.com

280Z Dashboard Repair and Restoration

Polyvance products being used to repair and to restore a Datsun 280Z dashboard.
www.polyvance.com www.polyvance.com
Click to expand...
I bought a can of that padded dash filler, and while it's flexible, it's very, (how do I want to describe it) "hard" not compressible. So say you push on it, it's hard, but you push two inches away and you can depress it some. While my dash might not look that bad in the picture, all over there are cracks, and where the crack is, about 1-2 inches in diameter there are so many little "pieces" that are broken up. So while it could be "fixed" as it is, it'll be way more work than it's worth in my opinion. I bought one of the plastic dash caps, and first it doesn't fit worth crap, and also it's so rigid, I'm afraid if it gets bumped just right, it's just going to get cracked, and i'll be in the same boat. So what I did, is used a heat gun, and removed all of the vinyl from the foam, and I'm going to recover the dash in new vinyl. I helped on a couple 20 years ago, so we will see how much skills I've lost since then, but the guy has passed, and I never did the actual foam work, so don't remember what he used.
 

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random_farmhick said:
I bought a can of that padded dash filler, and while it's flexible, it's very, (how do I want to describe it) "hard" not compressible. So say you push on it, it's hard, but you push two inches away and you can depress it some. While my dash might not look that bad in the picture, all over there are cracks, and where the crack is, about 1-2 inches in diameter there are so many little "pieces" that are broken up. So while it could be "fixed" as it is, it'll be way more work than it's worth in my opinion. I bought one of the plastic dash caps, and first it doesn't fit worth crap, and also it's so rigid, I'm afraid if it gets bumped just right, it's just going to get cracked, and i'll be in the same boat. So what I did, is used a heat gun, and removed all of the vinyl from the foam, and I'm going to recover the dash in new vinyl. I helped on a couple 20 years ago, so we will see how much skills I've lost since then, but the guy has passed, and I never did the actual foam work, so don't remember what he used.
Click to expand...
I've never used that stuff but would like to give it a try on the extra one I have in the back of the garage. I too have bought a dash cap & it seems like they directly made the mold off a good dash at the same size it needs to cover. If there were a shrink wrap type of a cap out there that molded to the dash while doing a good job hidding the damage. That crappy fit made me spend the money on two dashes from OPGI.
 
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pagrunt said:
I've never used that stuff but would like to give it a try on the extra one I have in the back of the garage. I too have bought a dash cap & it seems like they directly made the mold off a good dash at the same size it needs to cover. If there were a shrink wrap type of a cap out there that molded to the dash while doing a good job hidding the damage. That crappy fit made me spend the money on two dashes from OPGI.
Click to expand...
I will say, that dash cap, it does fit a WHOLE lot better once the original vinyl is off of it. Although, then there are places that it won't cover, such as when you open the glove box, so you would have to trim in there, and under the radio. Then at least on the elcamino/monte carlo, the way the radio bezel fits on there, well it doesn't...
 
Maybe NVH foam (aka flutter foam)?

Pillar foam would be too rigid I think
 
years ago I read a magazine article on how to fix dashboards. here's the results of Google search


SEM Flexible Welding Compound. The SEM Weld is a bonding and filling product used in the autobody industry for repairing flexible rubber bumpers and other plastics on modern cars

Dash Crack Repair with Epoxy : How-To Library : The MG Experience

Library Article: Very good results restoring a cracked, gouged and faded dash using supplies available at your local hardware store. at The MG Experie...
www.mgexp.com www.mgexp.com
this one actually looks pretty good!

post#6
This is what i done removed dash cleaned with soap water and wiped down with a pre-cleaner. Used a razor blade to trim the crack out. then used versa-chem epoxy called plastic welder to fill the hole. sanded the top where repair was done with 180 da and then used a product from urethane suppy co. called padded dash filler # 2050-9 to work down till smooth. then used sem texture coat # 39853 to add texture. then painted with sem black vinyle paint.not perfect but i think better than a dash cap..I have a extra dash i will send off later to get redone but this looks okay for now.
post#9
I am planning to do exactly the same thing you did. I have repaired several cracks on my dash using 3M's flexible parts repair. Its the same stuff used to repair flexible bumper covers. Totally sandable and moldable. My repaired areas appear smoother since I did not apply any texture. The main thing is that these repairs have proved to be extremely stable (one repair is over 10 years old). My driver TA gets driven daily and may sit in the hot summer sun or out in freezing winter temps.
None of the repairs have shown any tendency to deform or crack. My dash is in pretty good shape having baked through 30+ years of Texas summers. But, the original surface has aged and become brittle. I am planning to "reskin" the entire dash in the 3M flexible repair material and the apply a texture like HIOSILVER.

post#16
Bought some of the Padded Dash Filler.
I started out fixing a small crack on the front....and ended up doing the entire top and the crack in front.
Scope creep!!
Sanded, filled with the filler, sanded, repeat filler / sanding operation 2 or 3 times... evened out a dip at the front edge by filling it.. applied the filler across most of the top for eveness sake, primered, sprayed SEM adhesion promoter... SEM texture.. The SEM wasnt good enough for me.. I used that AND then also some Duplicolor bedliner... a few coats of that in black.. Dont really need the SEM vinyl spray... came out really nice...
I did the glovebox door and ashtray lightly with the texture then the bedliner spray.. too.. Am going to hit the A pillars lightly as well.
If I was a better spray painter it'd look perfect on top. Some inconsistencies in the texture but subtle and not enough to make me go back and sand it again.. looks fine!
The filler is great stuff... www.urethanesupplycompany.com
or
http://www.amazon.com/Urethane-Suppl.../dp/B0002JKE6Y
where I got it.
 
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I know this is going a different path but Ive seen this guys posts on FB. His dash work is amazing. Same with the rest of his interior stuff. I sent him a question about G body dashes and it looks like he recovers them. Not sure about pricing though. I would check him out. chevyupholsteryguy.com
 
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