Dash Recovering Tips?

[John912]

Thanks Von and especially Patrick for taking the time to detail the process for us. I'll be in touch. I have a spare dash and will practice on that one first. Good winter project when the snow, salt and sand are flying around for those of us on the East Coast. Thanks again!

[Jay Laifman]

Well, I now have mine all apart. The pictures above are all a great help. I still think that middle spot is more difficult than the pictures and descriptions suggest.

One question though. My horsehair is mostly in great shape. But there are a couple spots where the old vinyl had cracked where the horsehair has become soft. Anyone have any thoughts of what to spray it with to firm it up, and possibly sand flat? Plain old paint primer? Some sort of bondo? Some sort of polyurethane or varnish?

Also, around all the edges, it looks like Porsche put in some sort of tape that has long since lost its stick and shape. Any thoughts on what that was and what to use in its place?

Interestingly, under my dash there were two pieces of headliner and one piece of the black vinyl - each glued into place. The black piece is in perfect shape. It shows that the stuff I got is pretty close to the factory pattern, but a little less shiny. Don't know if I will try to find a closer material or to just use what I have already.

[Dezzmo]

Jay, please post what type of material you find that your gonna use for the dash and any other pics of your progress would be appreciated.

And Patrick, thanks so much for posting your work. I removed my dash recently and was prepared to send it out to be recovered but now that I saw this thread I may just give it a go myself.

[John912]

I got a two piece dash covering set from Autos International with speaker holes already cut. Very pleased.

As Jay says, the replacement German vinyl is less "shinny" than original material left in car. To match the original I use a Mother's product "Back to Black" on the new vinyl (after it's glued in place) and rub it in. Weldwood contact cement for Formica counter tops recommended by Patrick works great -- I've tried it on other vinyl-over-metal projects like the knee pad but have not yet tacked the dash itself.