Dash Pad Damage C2
Is this a repairable pad? This is the only spot of damage on both pads and I would like to keep them but I've been told by Interior shops (like Al Knoch) that they should be replaced if I was doing a restoration because they are hard and brittle with age even if they look good and doesn't take much to do damage like this. Of course, they are also trying to sell product.
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Re: Dash Pad Damage C2
Those pads are done.
KM -
Re: Dash Pad Damage C2
I would agree with Kevin, however, if you're not intending flight judging and simply want to improve the appearance of the pad for 'driver' use, you could try and find a vinyl repair service. I used "Dr. Vinyl", a franchise operation in 1988, to repair a similar-appearing crack at the top of my passenger side pad. The individual came to my home and did the job in my driveway, including airbrushing dye over the repair and surrounding pad for a near perfect match (black). Cost was $70. It's still presentable today, and is not easily noticeable, but by no means perfect. I have new pads for installation at some future point, but in comparing them to the originals and based on my observation of a number of cars with repro pads, they don't fit as tightly against the dash as originals and I think the thickness of the rear edge is wrong as well as slight difference in grain.
If you do opt for new pads, Al Knoch is probably your best bet.
grantComment
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Re: Dash Pad Damage C2
The problem with the repairs is the foam gets brittle with age. Even if you repair the crack I think you'll find that a crack will appear somewhere else. The parts vendors sell a replacement skin that can be installed over your old pads but again the finished product is only as good as the surface below.
I replaced the pads on my 63 and my original pads were not damaged as badly as yours. It's too much work to remove and replace them and not make a permanent repair.Comment
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Re: Dash Pad Damage C2
OK, the easy solution is throw money at the Corvette and have yourself a pair of nice looking repo pads. Nice looking but not even close to original.
Give me original pads with cracks anytime.
You can have Dr. Vinyl repair your pads and they remain original, fit well and enhance the value of your Corvette. No, they are not perfect but neither was the Corvette when it left St. Louis.
You can opt to cover your original pads with a vinyl skin obtained from some vendors. These look great when applied correctly and your pads fit well since they have the original cores.
If you get new pads, send me those and I'll pay the shipping.
JRComment
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Re: Dash Pad Damage C2
I agree with Ray original pads repaired are much better. You now know that you have a delicate dash board and will be carefull not to damage them any further. My wife made me up a couple of covers for the dash pads and i use them whenever the cars are in the sun.Comment
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Re: Dash Pad Damage C2
Bob,
Whose repro pads did you use, how well do they fit against the curved depressions in the dash and is the rear edge (the edge facing the driver/passenger) the same thickness/contour as the originals?
Thanks,
grantComment
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Re: Dash Pad Damage C2
Thanks for all the insite/advice. I do plan to do a complete restore some day and wanted to retain as much originality as possible. These are in amazingly great shape, especially on a convertible from So.Cal. So many have cracks and splts all over and these are near perfect except for what you see in the pic and needing redye. I know I can be careful in the future but the car came to me that way. The change in grain and fit is somewhat of a concern on repros. Also, mine is the E64 four screw grab hole design.Comment
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Re: Dash Pad Damage C2
"They are only original once." D/Comment
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Re: Dash Pad Damage C2
Jim
I had the pads redone on a 66 425. After removal, I sent them to Just Dash and they stripped replaced the foam and recovered the pads. They also provided the correct interior paint to repaint the center dash. The dash looks spectacular and the owner was more than satisfied with the results.
Bill VComment
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