What’s the best way to repair dashpad

[72 blue 400]

Have a nice Cuda dash pad with two flaws has anybody repaired these

 

[pschlosser]

The best way?

For years, I did not even think it possible one could easily repair their own dash pads. I have read some threads (perhaps use the search function to locate) on this site where people have made repairs to their own dash pads. The repairs look good, but more time must pass to know if the repairs continue to look good, and how well they withstand exposure to sunlight. While they have had some levels of success, it confirmed it's a good deal of work.

For me, one who can DIY nearly anything on my classic car, the best way is sending it out to a restoration service provider and having the whole thing redone, so it looks new again.

Your dash pad, believe it or not, is in pretty good shape. The ones I have on hand are much worse. The are not only cracked in multiple places, but some of those cracks are wide, like a tiny Grand Canyon, and show uplift near the edged of the cracks. Yes, the dash pad material curves upward making a more pronounced and ugly crack.

I would trade any of them for your nicer looking one in a heartbeat.

 

[Katfish]

I agree, smear some black RTV in the crack and call it a day.
Anything else will require cutting it back a great deal, with varying results.

 

[72 blue 400]

Thanks

 

[Xcudame]

Just a little RTV and something that will duplicate the pattern (to help match the grain) will go a long way in fixing your dash! I have only two cracks in my 70 Challenger's dash (there when I got it umpteen years ago) and that's my plain to fix it. The dash is only original once! The after market does well on the 71 to 74 dashes, but the 70 dashes are unique! Luckily your 72 dash cracks are what I'd call minor!

 

[floyd]

I found a guy that does interior/upholstery repair work for many of the local car dealerships. I had some similar types of damage on my 70 Challenger dash pad. He did a great job for a reasonable price and even matched the grain pretty well.

Maybe check with some of your local dealers or automotive upholstery shops.

 

[Cuda Hunter]

Here is one option. Very similar to floyd's suggestion.

fibrenew ebodies.org

Here is a full repair on this site.

full dash repair febo

 

[72 blue 400]

Thanks will check it out

 

[hsb shadow]

I I ended up buying a new dash pad but I've repaired a few over the years. I did a thread titled do you want to repair your dash pad and that might give you some idea. The basic principle is to make that crack bigger by being it out and then filling it in with something like polyester resin and then sanding it flush and then getting the texture stamp and matching the grain. Good luck

 

[hsb shadow]

Create a v in the crack because the edges of the crack are higher than the rest of the dash. You have to get the skin at the same level and then fill it. I was trying to say v and not being.