Does anyone know if the dash pad can be re-covered? I know how to do the headliner and panels myself. I just wondered if the dash pad has a base plate that can be re-covered with some high density foam and fabric/vynil. I may be dreaming, but even if I buy another pad, it will split. It's not a matter of if, it's when. Does the pad molding determine the shape, or the pad backing material? Any ideas, thoughts, or suggestions would be appreciated.

THANKS!

 

No you can't recover the dash pad. the vinyl is bonded to the foam making it a ***** to recover, if its even possible. And you can save your dashpad. Invest a few bucks in a sunshade and a dashmat and use a little armoral or some other protectant. If its already cracked your out of luck, but you can pick up a nice dash pad at a boneyard for $20, or dip into your pocket and buy one new from GM for $300. Either way if you take a little care of it you won't have any problems.

 

You can recover it yourself if you don't want it to look original. I am planning on doing tan leather over one of my old pads for a custom look. I'll just add spray foam to the cracks and missing areas, and sand them like you would do bondo. A partial reason I'm doing this is because I am changing the interior color over to completely tan, and because I am adding gauges into the pad itself.

If you want to have it redone to stock appearance, Just Dashes can do it for you, but it is expensive. They vacumn form new vinyl over new foam on your original core. It would be lots cheaper to find a perfect used one. In a few years though, this may become the only real alternative, unless someone starts reproducing them.

 

Dash covers look cheesy, and Armorall dries out the plastic and probably HELPS it to crack later on. The best bet is to keep hunting for one in good shape and hope it's not close to cracking itself, then take care of it.

I imagine you could cover it (not *re*-cover) with some stretchy vinyl, contact adhesive and a little work, but I haven't tried it or seen it tried so can't attest to it being a viable solution.

 

No problem!!I bought a hide of leather to match my seats and got an upholsterer to cover it for me.Looks real cool to
cheers
pm

 

Armor all only dries it out if you stop using it. Ive used it on my 91 since I got it new. No problems. And thats in the Florida heat.