63 Corvette dash restoration

[Paul Y.]

My friend Tom has a 63 roadster that has had the body separated from the frame for 25 years. He is now inspired to reassemble it and asked me to put these questions to the gurus on this site. His NCRS # is 6463 and his car is two days from the end of production. #21328 roadster# 100925 Lots of interesting variances. Here are his questions.
1) What is the best way to repair the foam structure underneath. I have a hairline crack from front to back and many "pock" marked holes in the upper surface. I think both will show through the streched over vinyl. Do I "V" the crack and fill the holes with what material.
2) Is it necessary to seal the foam/repairs before gluing down the vinyl?
3) Is 3M-90 spray adhesive used to attach the vinyl to the foam underpad? Is ther a brush on contact better for this application?
4) Is both backside of vinyl and foam pad sprayed and stretched as you go? Heat gun will be used only to remove wrinkles and/or to redo.

Please feel free to give me as many tips and procedures as you have so I can pass them on to my friend. Thanks in advance. Paul

[Bob R.]

Re: 63 Corvette dash restoration

Here is what I found when redoing the dash on my 63 and I would not try to repair old cracked dash pads.
1) What is the best way to repair the foam structure underneath. I have a hairline crack from front to back and many "pock" marked holes in the upper surface. I think both will show through the streched over vinyl. Do I "V" the crack and fill the holes with what material.
Once the foam starts to get brittle I don't think it's worth fixing. You fix one spot and it will crack somewhere else. Otheres may have different opinions but I bought replacement dash pads from Corvette America.
2) Is it necessary to seal the foam/repairs before gluing down the vinyl?
3) Is 3M-90 spray adhesive used to attach the vinyl to the foam underpad? Is ther a brush on contact better for this application?
I used 3M spray adheasive for the center dash area. Make sure the adheasive is resistant to heat from the sun.
4) Is both backside of vinyl and foam pad sprayed and stretched as you go? Heat gun will be used only to remove wrinkles and/or to redo.
Use the heat gun to soften the vinyl before you install it.

[Boyan B.]

Re: 63 Corvette dash restoration

I also have a 63 roadster. I gave my dash pads and center section to "Just Dashes" in Van Nuys California, not too far from where I live. They completely strip the pads down to fiberglass, install new foam, then the put the whole assembly into a huge heated vacuum and suck all the air out. A large piece of vynal (spelling?) is then heated and sucked down onto the pads and center section. The result is correct grain, no ripples or cavities, soft pads and the same outside diameter as original, unlike covered over pads.

They advertise in Hemmings all the time. I misplaced their number but I'm sure you can google them.

I couldn't be happier with the result. Cost was around $900 for two pads and center section.

Boyan