Dash Cover Install

460COBRA · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2021, 04:20 PM

Hi to all.. thanks for all the help so far. I am now looking at attaching the vinyl CR supplied cover to my dash. It is the dash that has the center section that meets with the transmission tunnel. I purchased then DAP contact adhesive for Landau tops (HHR spray grade). Before glueing I positioned the cover over the dash. The center section fits great. The cover is short on the extreme ends beyond the vents. Looks to be about an 1.25 short. If I glue and stretch it I feel confident it will eventually pull away from the vent area later on. Has anybody else struggled with this and found a solution? Thanks

fordsrule@msn.com · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2021, 07:13 PM

Hi for what its worth I plan on painting mine with a fake wood grain finish then clearcoat over it, the glue seems to not hold very well. just my crazy idea

440.mustang · #3 (**permalink**) 10-12-2021, 09:00 PM

Are you putting the padding on? I'm also getting ready to do mine. My book says to put the padding on, mine is a 92 cr

460COBRA · #4 (**permalink**) 10-12-2021, 09:14 PM

Mine is the same vintage. I have no padding. I think the padding would only compound the problem. The padding would make it impossible to stretch the material and hold it in place. In order for my cover to work I would have to glue the center area first and then stretch the two wing sections approximately 1.25 inches to make it work

Alfa02 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-12-2021, 10:18 PM

If I may add a word of Caution here !!! Don't use the material that came with the kit !! #1 it's 30+years old, #2 it was crap then, it's crap now !! If anyone knows of my issues with my dash pad, you will do it right once, and never has to deal with again. First use the best material you can Afford (I ended up with Leather, $250-300) Have someone that does this for a living do it (Compound Curves) and I can't stress enough, Test Fit, then Test Fit again. My car was one of the last 3 sent out (CR Series1 in 92), and we believe my dash was a "Reject" that they just threw in. Don't go though the Pain & Heartache (Not counting the Money) that 3-times was a "Charm" it took me to get right. My $.03 worth , Cheers TommyRot.

Alfa02 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-12-2021, 10:31 PM

Sorry bout the pictures my computer, doesn't like our site, as you can see. We had to make a another dash over the one that came from the CR, nothing fit. If this help anyone, I can send a LOT more pictures to you if you PM me. Cheers TommyRot. P.S. the Gentleman here that did this work, will no longer work on Cobras, He said "I broke him"

But the complete interior came out Perfect, he is a master of his craft.

xb-60 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-2021, 12:14 AM

460COBRA,

I would suggest investing in leather for covering the dash panel. More expensive than vinyl, but you can stretch it around just about any contour whatsoever on a dash panel. Vinyl is man-made, of course, and if you over-stress it (over stretch it), it might look OK at the time but after a while it may start to separate.

I would use a good contact adhesive and start from the centre of the dash and work out from there.

Use a small roller (1" wide) to make sure there are no lumps of adhesive left that would otherwise show up afterwards.
Maybe try a small section of leather on a scrap piece of aluminium to get the hang of the adhesion process ....practice makes (near) perfect

If you use leather, it will stretch an amazing amount. Get your hands on as much clamping "equipment" as you can for the job ....before you start on the job. That's whether you use leather or vinyl.

Attached are several pictures that show how compliant the leather can be, how far it can be stretched. Note also the small strip of aluminium I used for clamping and securing the leather at the small end of the glovebox cutout while the adhesive was setting.

Take it slowly, and you won't need luck

Cheers,
Glen

Alfa02 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-13-2021, 09:41 AM

Sure, sure Glen, show how just anyone, with a couple of Pints, and grandpa's tool's can do anything

The biggest issue with CR's are the ends with the Compound Curve's, they even have a "Cheesy" little indented air vent, that we didn't use. I see the problem with yours "Steering Wheel will be on the wrong side "

Cheers Buddy, TommyRot.

xb-60 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-13-2021, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfa02

....I see the problem with yours "Steering Wheel will be on the wrong side "

Cheers Buddy, TommyRot.

Tom, I note your steering wheel is on the correct side (the right hand side) too .....oh, wait, no - your dash is apparently installed upside down

Have a pint on me ....cheers!
Glen

460COBRA · #10 (**permalink**) 10-13-2021, 06:18 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I decided to take the easy way out and just paint it satin black with satin clear coat.

Roylerumble · #11 (**permalink**) 10-15-2021, 04:20 PM

Once upon a time I used to do a bit of paint protection film installs, we also did some vinyl wrapping. there was some amazing colors and patterns like carbon fiber, I think they had wood grains too. The stuff went on super easy, was air release so no air bubbles, and it contoured to pretty much anything.

I may take a stab at making one out of marine birch and an exotic wood veneer

Chicagowil · #12 (**permalink**) 10-16-2021, 02:21 PM

I also suggest you "test fit" the dash into the body. I found I had to cut some of the fiberglass on the dash ends and grind on the inner body to get the dash to fit. My cover was already installed on the dash when I purchased the car so it took a bit of effort to peal it back and reattach the cover without damaging it.

I went to a local boat upholstery shop last spring to look to having it changed from beige vinyl to black leather in the car and he told me that do to Covid and the number of people her this last year wanting to get updates to their boats that the soonest he could get to it was this winter and the cost would be over $3k!

Decided I would start with the beige vinyl and dk blue carpet (since I plan on painting the car VIking Blue) and change it sometime in the future.

[img]http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/picture.php?

Thom

460COBRA · #13 (**permalink**) 10-25-2021, 06:09 PM

I ended up painting mine. I used satin black. I sprayed several coats for coverage and then applied the final coats from a distance for a textured look and feel.

Dwight · #14 (**permalink**) 10-25-2021, 06:33 PM

I suggest used Marine grade vinyl ( mildew and mold resistant ).

If you drive your Cobra you will get caught in the rain.

I logged maybe a 1000 miles in the rain out of 42,000

Never ( oh yea, one time) left the house in the rain but I did return several time in the rain. Parked under a lot of gas station canopy's, bank drive thru, etc.

A cheap tarp and bungee cords in the trunk is a good idea. Quick and easy to put on till the rain blows by.

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Chicagowil · #15 (**permalink**) 10-26-2021, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 460COBRA

I ended up painting mine. I used satin black. I sprayed several coats for coverage and then applied the final coats from a distance for a textured look and feel.

Did you mean you left the vinyl off and painted the fiberglass? It looks really good in the photos!

I might reconsider if I install my dash with the tan vinyl now since I want to change to a black interior.

Thom

460COBRA · #16 (**permalink**) 10-26-2021, 05:43 PM

That is correct. I primed the fiberglass first. Then I sanded it to remove any imperfections. Next I painted it as I described earlier. It turned out great. I let it cure 7 days before wrestling it around.

Chicagowil · #17 (**permalink**) 10-27-2021, 08:44 AM

It looks like you edged the dash with some bright work. What did you use?

Thom

460COBRA · #18 (**permalink**) 10-27-2021, 09:13 AM

Just a reflection

460COBRA · #19 (**permalink**) 10-27-2021, 09:16 AM

The reflection is more noticeable around the glove box