Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970 - NCRS Discussion Boards

Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970

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  • Mark E.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • April 1, 1993
    • 4542

    Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970

    Is there a restoration trick for making the bottom tip of the dash pad align with the gauge cluster and top corner of the forward console? See photo.

    I don't know but think the corner of the dash pad warps with age and pulls away from the console. Has anyone tried to reshape the plastic frame of the dash by breaking and resetting it? Other methods?

    The photo is from an internet search of a car with a similar issue I'm having with my 1970 (my console is currently removed). I see this a lot with early C3s. An improved design (1971-72?) interlocked the console with the dash pad for better alignment.

    Dash to Console Alignment for Posting.jpg
    Mark Edmondson
    Dallas, Texas
    Texas Chapter

    1970 Coupe, Donnybrooke Green, Light Saddle LS5 M20 A31 C60 G81 N37 N40 UA6 U79
    1993 Coupe, 40th Anniversary, 6-speed, PEG 1, FX3, CD, Bronze Top
  • Joe L.
    Beyond Control Poster
    • February 1, 1988
    • 43221

    #2
    Re: Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970

    Originally posted by Mark Edmondson (22468)
    Is there a restoration trick for making the bottom tip of the dash pad align with the gauge cluster and top corner of the forward console? See photo.

    I don't know but think the corner of the dash pad warps with age and pulls away from the console. Has anyone tried to reshape the plastic frame of the dash by breaking and resetting it? Other methods?

    The photo is from an internet search of a car with a similar issue I'm having with my 1970 (my console is currently removed). I see this a lot with early C3s. An improved design (1971-72?) interlocked the console with the dash pad for better alignment.

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]108355[/ATTACH]

    Mark------


    It's not age that causes this. The pads on my 1969 were like this from day 1.
    In Appreciation of John Hinckley

    Comment

    • Dennis D.
      Extremely Frequent Poster
      • March 1, 2000
      • 1071

      #3
      Re: Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970

      My 70 L-46 had the curved horns. My 70 LT-1, not so much. I think it was a bad design, and like so many others, GM fixed it for 71.
      My L-46 tips were broken, and I did attempt to reset when I repaired it. The problem was the vinyl gets a memory to it, and fights the adjustment. Looked a little better. Plus I figured, what did I have to lose.

      Comment

      • Joe L.
        Beyond Control Poster
        • February 1, 1988
        • 43221

        #4
        Re: Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970

        Originally posted by Dennis Delpome (33752)
        My 70 L-46 had the curved horns. My 70 LT-1, not so much. I think it was a bad design, and like so many others, GM fixed it for 71.
        My L-46 tips were broken, and I did attempt to reset when I repaired it. The problem was the vinyl gets a memory to it, and fights the adjustment. Looked a little better. Plus I figured, what did I have to lose.
        Dennis------

        Did you try heating the horns with a hair dryer to see if that would soften them up enough to eliminate the curve?
        In Appreciation of John Hinckley

        Comment

        • Dennis D.
          Extremely Frequent Poster
          • March 1, 2000
          • 1071

          #5
          Re: Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970

          Originally posted by Joe Lucia (12484)
          Dennis------

          Did you try heating the horns with a hair dryer to see if that would soften them up enough to eliminate the curve?
          Joe

          I have a pic of this somewhere. If your referring to the vinyl, heat does convince it to do what you want
          The problem is the original relief cuts that allow for the wrapping around the bottom will only move so far before the cuts are exposed

          Comment

          • Joe L.
            Beyond Control Poster
            • February 1, 1988
            • 43221

            #6
            Re: Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970

            Originally posted by Dennis Delpome (33752)
            Joe

            I have a pic of this somewhere. If your referring to the vinyl, heat does convince it to do what you want
            The problem is the original relief cuts that allow for the wrapping around the bottom will only move so far before the cuts are exposed
            Dennis-----

            Yes, I suppose that by now enough of the plasticizer in the vinyl has "outgassed" to render the vinyl "nonconformable".
            In Appreciation of John Hinckley

            Comment

            • Mark E.
              Extremely Frequent Poster
              • April 1, 1993
              • 4542

              #7
              Re: Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970

              Originally posted by Dennis Delpome (33752)
              Joe

              I have a pic of this somewhere. If your referring to the vinyl, heat does convince it to do what you want
              The problem is the original relief cuts that allow for the wrapping around the bottom will only move so far before the cuts are exposed

              It sounds like you're saying you were able to reshape the plastic frame but were limited by the relief cuts in the vinyl skin becoming exposed... Is this correct?

              Can you say more about how you reshaped the plastic frame?
              Mark Edmondson
              Dallas, Texas
              Texas Chapter

              1970 Coupe, Donnybrooke Green, Light Saddle LS5 M20 A31 C60 G81 N37 N40 UA6 U79
              1993 Coupe, 40th Anniversary, 6-speed, PEG 1, FX3, CD, Bronze Top

              Comment

              • Dennis D.
                Extremely Frequent Poster
                • March 1, 2000
                • 1071

                #8
                Re: Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970

                Originally posted by Mark Edmondson (22468)
                It sounds like you're saying you were able to reshape the plastic frame but were limited by the relief cuts in the vinyl skin becoming exposed... Is this correct?

                Can you say more about how you reshaped the plastic frame?
                This was quite awhile ago. I believe I used epoxy. The break was an inch or so from the tip. I was able to peel the vinyl back enough to force some epoxy in the crack. I didnt want to over fill so it wouldn't squirt out the sides and create a buildup that would show as a bump when the vinyl went over it. It oozed out a bit and I scraped it before it dried. See remnants of it in the pic. Once I installed it lined up better, but still off. I'll see if I have pic of the final install
                20211004_171723.jpg
                20211004_171809.jpg20211004_171841.jpg
                Attached Files

                Comment

                • Mark E.
                  Extremely Frequent Poster
                  • April 1, 1993
                  • 4542

                  #9
                  Re: Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970

                  Update:

                  I installed the console and was able to improve the alignment between it and the dash pad tips significantly. I don't have "before" photos, but initially the alignment wasn't much better than the black interior shown in the first post.

                  Here's the "after" photo:

                  20230817_100830.jpg

                  All I did was apply a bar clamp to the dash tips, and gently pushed the tips in. I then left the clamp on for a few months in my warm garage, only removing it while driving the car. Not perfect, but a lot better. The clamp treatment is ongoing, so alignment may improve some more.

                  I recommend using the lightest, cheapest clamp you can find to minimize weight on the console.

                  20230817_100733.jpg
                  Attached Files
                  Mark Edmondson
                  Dallas, Texas
                  Texas Chapter

                  1970 Coupe, Donnybrooke Green, Light Saddle LS5 M20 A31 C60 G81 N37 N40 UA6 U79
                  1993 Coupe, 40th Anniversary, 6-speed, PEG 1, FX3, CD, Bronze Top

                  Comment

                  • Bill B.
                    Very Frequent User
                    • August 1, 2016
                    • 303

                    #10
                    Re: Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970

                    Mark,

                    A little tounge-in-cheek here, but if you make it look too good, you may get points deduction for not being TFP for 1970...!!
                    Bill Bertelli
                    Northeast and Carolinas Chapters Member
                    '70 Resto Mod LT-1 w/ partial '70 ZR-1 drivetrain

                    Comment

                    • Mark E.
                      Extremely Frequent Poster
                      • April 1, 1993
                      • 4542

                      #11
                      Re: Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970

                      Originally posted by Bill Bertelli (62632)
                      Mark,

                      A little tongue-in-cheek here, but if you make it look too good, you may get points deduction for not being TFP for 1970...!!
                      Ha! I wish I had that problem with this car.

                      Most of the improvement has happened since June when many days were over 100 degrees and my western facing garage gets almost as hot. So it seems to help when the plastic is warm, although I hesitate using a heat gun and risk damaging the material.
                      Mark Edmondson
                      Dallas, Texas
                      Texas Chapter

                      1970 Coupe, Donnybrooke Green, Light Saddle LS5 M20 A31 C60 G81 N37 N40 UA6 U79
                      1993 Coupe, 40th Anniversary, 6-speed, PEG 1, FX3, CD, Bronze Top

                      Comment

                      • Joe L.
                        Beyond Control Poster
                        • February 1, 1988
                        • 43221

                        #12
                        Re: Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970

                        Originally posted by Mark Edmondson (22468)
                        Ha! I wish I had that problem with this car.

                        Most of the improvement has happened since June when many days were over 100 degrees and my western facing garage gets almost as hot. So it seems to help when the plastic is warm, although I hesitate using a heat gun and risk damaging the material.
                        Mark------


                        Of course, it would be very risky to use a heat gun. However, you could use a hair dryer, especially one that has a range of heat settings.
                        In Appreciation of John Hinckley

                        Comment

                        • Mark E.
                          Extremely Frequent Poster
                          • April 1, 1993
                          • 4542

                          #13
                          Re: Do You Have a Restoration Trick for Aligning Dash Pad with Console? 1970

                          Originally posted by Joe Lucia (12484)
                          Mark------


                          Of course, it would be very risky to use a heat gun. However, you could use a hair dryer, especially one that has a range of heat settings.
                          My heat gun is the Texas summer applied over many weeks.
                          Mark Edmondson
                          Dallas, Texas
                          Texas Chapter

                          1970 Coupe, Donnybrooke Green, Light Saddle LS5 M20 A31 C60 G81 N37 N40 UA6 U79
                          1993 Coupe, 40th Anniversary, 6-speed, PEG 1, FX3, CD, Bronze Top

                          Comment

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