C3 1970 Dash Pad

[Jim K.]

What's the deal with the dash pad skins? I WAS going to dye my black one bright blue, like it should be, and it WAS in great shape untill I tried to take it out. I had the whole lower portion out of the way and the windshield pilar covers off and it still wouldn't just slop out; I ended up loosing the outside corner on the right side. I suppose I could get a vinyl repair kit and touch it up, then dye it blue, OR I could get a skin for $100 if it is a wrap over the existing. So, what is the skin thing? How does it install? I really don't want to get a new dash pad, I'm already several hundred $$$ over what I wanted to put into this little seat cover and carpet job!!!
JIm

[Jack H.]

Re: C3 1970 Dash Pad

My advice is to forget about the 'skin' approach. It was poor boy's way of 'fixing' vinyl panels that'd cracked due to age/heat. Bascially, a vinyl skin, slightly oversized, is 'glued' over the existing vinyl.

But, one problem is getting the skin to align EXACTLY and when you you consider the myraid of holes on a '70 dash for the speakers; well, good luck! The second problem is getting the glue PERFECTLY uniform to eliminate 'pockets' that will bubble under thermal stress. Then, consider the loss of originality when it comes to covering the factory original stitching accent lines...

Even with the windshield fully removed, it's darn tricky to R&R an original upper dash pad without doing damage. When the pad was fresh/new, it was supple and could be bent slightly to clear the pillar posts without cracking. After +30 years of 'cooking' in the sun, all bets are off and it takes the skill of one experienced with interior work to wrestle the pad in/out without mishap...