Dash Pad Triming

[John O.]

Hi Guys

On my 62 vette, I have a new dash pad. What I need to know is how close do I trim the material?Does all the excess material get trimmed off? The part of the dash pad where the coutesy light is,does that get any kind of glue or is the whole pad held in place by the metal trim, courtesy light, dash end caps etc.? I just don't want to screw things up.

Any help is appreciated...............John

[Dennis A.]

Re: Dash Pad Triming

John...

Dash pads are only glued in the windshield channel and under the dash. Windshield, radio bezel & speaker, defrost bezels, grab bar, dash insert, end caps, and kickpanels must all come off. The instrument cluster must move forward on off (your option) Leave the left (facing the engine) grab bar end mounting bracket, the right side next to the door is installed after the dash insert is slide in place during reassembly,

Cut out the area for the dash insert. fit the dash pad. Fit the cluster area,for some foam may have to be removed in this area.
Fit the pad into the windshield channel, cut small slices about every two-three inches apart, using a hot air gun fold the pad into the channel and apply adhesive as you go. the hot air gun will fold the material very quick...caution on to much heat.

make cut outs for the radio & defost vents, and courtesy light also a "Keyhole" for the power top switch. install the bezels.

Crawl under the dash (hope your seats are out) and apply adhesive in areas where the pad attaches to the underside of the dash, some very light t******* may be needed to have it look correct.

Now you are ready to reinstall the windshield, cluster, dash insert, grab bar and kick panels.

Good Luck and take your time...

[John O.]

Re: Dash Pad Triming

Hi Dennis

I should of made it more clear. The dash pad is installed already.I'm doing a frame off restoration.The windshield and gauge housing are in already. I still have to install the grab bar, kick panels, speaker bezel, plus the seats and interior.. All around the edge of the dash pad, there is some excess that needs to be trimmed.My main question is do I trim the material as close as I can to the dash so the trim covers it? The area where the courtesy light is, does that get any glue. And where else gets glue? What kind of glue do I use?

Thanks...John

[Larry S.]

Re: Dash Pad Triming

My car is a 1962 that was last registered in 1976,I am not sure I had an original dash pad or not but from the condtion of it it looked original

I just completed this myself this week end,I did not glue around the area where you would pull the dash material out to get at the 2 couner post windsheild nuts. 4 nuts total 2 on each side.

I dont know if what I did was correct or not but when I removed my old dash there was no glue in that area. I did find glue up in the windsheild channel,on top of the dash area exstending down around the front past the speaker and rear veiw mirror right down to the area in front of the radio.So I copied what I saw to re install it.

Down by the radio I installed the chrome strip center hole first and followed it right around installing the screws in the same holes.(I purchased a reproduction chrome strip thru paragon reproductions and the holes lined up perfect)Once all of the screws were in I then trimmed around the outside edge of the chrome strip.I installed the courtisy light last.(and yes I tugged that area and used 3m spray trim adheasive to hold it in place)Again when mine came apart I just reglued the areas I had seen glue,but I had no idea weather or not it was done from the factory that way.

PS take my information with a grain of salt as this is the first one i have ever done.

Good luck and if you need more pictures of what i did let me know.

I installed my dash caps and the trimmed the excess material not fully understanding that the dash end caps also holds the windlace in place for the kick panels,If I had to do it all again I would have waited to installe my kick panels and windlace prior to t*******.

I am sure you have heard it before but cut the minimum you need to,once you cut it there no way to put it back
Larry




Some photos of my Dash pad

[John O.]

Re: Dash Pad Triming

Hi Larry

Thanks for the info. That will help me. Nice car you have there.

John

[Dennis A.]

Re: Dash Pad Triming

John...

3M spray trim adhesive and/or Al Knoch adhesive (apply by brush)are both very good. The courstesy light area does not get glued...Some t******* is required under the dash and around the upper console. Prefit the moldings and kick panel as you go.

[John O.]

Re: Dash Pad Triming

Ok Dennis.

Thanks... John