Dash Pad Restoration

[zjgross1]

Has anyone come across a dash cap for late model Grand Wagoneers?

I have a '90 w/ sand interior and the only way I have found to get an OEM look would be to use justdashes.com. The samples from there look great! however I will have to pull my whole dash, ship it to them, wait 8 weeks, then wait for shipping back and then reinstall. The justdashes service alone costs around $900.

Looking for a more economical way to resolve my minor dash cracks and dent, while still retaining the OEM look, without spending an arm and a leg.

-Zac

[men in black]

My 90 has a sand interior also, the dash is curling up abit by the defrost vents. You could make mold of the dash pad.

[joe]

Pull the pad and take it to an auto upholstery shop.

[Bearman]

Upholstery shop

Pull the pad and take it to an auto upholstery shop.

I did the same thing.

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

Pull the pad and take it to an auto upholstery shop.

I also did this. $80 later and it looks like it belongs in one of the new Jeep Grand Cherokees lol

[asphaltrockdweller]

Well if you wanna be really prissy then have Just Dashes restore it.

Kinda pricey but hey! You asked a prissy question.

[mdcptman]

I painted the dash, dash pad, ac ducts, vents and steering column. Came out nice. Sherwin Williams vinyl paint. I used a Harbour Freight detail gun.

[dbabicky]

Just buy a "Dash-Mat" cover for it like I did in my J-10. Under $40.00 if I remember.

[itselliot]

You guys that went to an upholstery shop,......What did you ask them to use?? how was it applied?? I have not found a shop that "gets it" .
but would love a custom leather(like) and stitched new dash. I also have a spare shell ! (thanks Simon) Currently I am in VVest Mich. if you happen to know of a shop in this general arera.

[joe]

Ones I've had done and the foam underneath was still good I just had them recover it with standard auto dash vinyl, naughgahide(sp?), pleather...whatever the current lingo was. If your auto upholstery shop "doesn't get" recovering a dash pad, you're at the wrong shop. Now if you want something custom out of the norm like leather or a hand stitched/tooled look you'll pay more. There's a difference between recovering and rebuilding(new foam). Also you are aware upholstery shops are just that, not body/collision shops and it's "your" job to remove/bring in/re-install whatever you need upholstered. Dash pads are pretty simple to recover once out of the vehicle, a local grandmother can likely do it.

[Carol1982]

I saw this guys work in a complete frame off restoration. The dash pad was beautiful. Leather with stitching that looked like a new grand cherokee.
I called him and seemed to really now his stuff.
A few guys on this forum know him too. Think his handle is JimJtruck and his number is 303-437-2560. He told me $400 plus materials. He does rebuild up foam and all too. He is in New Mexico.

[Kaiserjeeps]

I am eager to get to the several dash pads I have collected. Pre 71 pads. I have some good experimental ideas that just may work very well. One of the suggestions I have heard is a trick from taxidermists. They put the deer skins on with several tubes of silicone sealer. They apply the deer head and smooth the skin with plastic spatulas. If one were to use the very stretchable marine outdoor vinyl and put it on over a thin layer of silicone, you could make sure it is smooth and let it set for a couple days. Now keep in mind you will have to remove any high spots. So cracks would need to be ground down some and the silicone would fill any voids after smoothing. The vinyl is very flexible as I have some to recover the Yamaha quad seat my cat decide to chew to heck. When I get into the dash pads I intend to do a write up. I have enough of them to perfect the process and make a good looking pad. But try these ideas and just be sure to eliminate high spots. The silicone is very forgiving and you have some decent working time before it sets up. For vent holes you can trim back the edges just enough to get it wrapped around. Then pin it on the back and remove the pins when dry.

[SOLSAKS]

the company "coverlay" makes an abs thin plastic shell
in exact same shape as dash.
you can dye to match
then you simply
adhere it with silicone glue
i used one on a 1969 dodge charger
looks great.

[Tatsadasayago]

I am in the middle of an interior panel project and have leather/vinyl-wrapped dash pads on my to-do list...similar to what JimTruck did/is doing.

If I could find representative pads from the various years, I would consider injection molding new ones if the cost was low enough.

Our dash pads are one of the first victims of weather and time, especially around the vents and speaker holes. I think this is an area of need that most of us are in and would love to provide solutions and support .

[Beach_Dude]

Jumping in here...

Question of the material... Is the Dash cap vinyl or plastic?

Gonna go over with SEM Color Coat, but knowing the material is pretty important.