Jump to content
HybridZ

Leather dashboard cover...anyone??


DREW RBZ

Recommended Posts

Found this link on ebay.  Has anyone here by chance tried this product.  Would be very interested to hear if the fitment was decent or not.  I have limited experience with upholstery work and have no idea of how difficult this would be to install properly.

 

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACK-LEATHER-DASH-DASHBOARD-LEATHER-COVER-FITS-DATSUN-240Z-260Z-280Z-1970-1974-/351222196587?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51c679696b&vxp=mtr

Edited by DREW RBZ
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw those, but I have my doubts.  With a little heat and some premium leather glue it might end up looking pretty good at first, but I'll bet my teeth that the stitching will start coming apart if it's exposed to sunlight over any period of time. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

My thread there includes photos and installation considerations in several postings. The attached photos were taken after re-installing to the point of getting the engine to start and verifying electrical connections. Will do some final trimming and cleaning soon.

 

 

post-33470-0-47426500-1423058143_thumb.jpg

post-33470-0-73737600-1423058320_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Considering the effort to remove and install the dash is the same with any repair process, I will discount that amount from consideration. I discussed the relative efforts and results in my other thread.

 

http://www.classiczcars.com/topic/50755-leather-dash-cover-installation/

 

As for results, it depends on the desired end result. I did the repair with the SEMS plastic repair last year only to have it fail due to my inexperience with the product and it short working time. If you are looking to simply restore the original look, leather is not for you. Better to use the Six 10 adhesive, texture coat and paint.

 

The leather adds an additional level of plushness and did elevate the interior. Additionally, if the brittle, 45 year old vinyl cracks again, no one will ever see it. The final appearance will not emerge until I have finished the minor touch ups and applied leather conditioner. So we will see the final impact soon.

Edited by djwarner
Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://www.urethanesupply.com/Other-Fillers-1/Padded-Dash-Filler/

 

I used this and its very flexible. I can push in on the repair sections 1/8" or so and it doesn't crack. The only problem I had was it looked perfect after I did it. A few days later I thought I would spray some SEM vinyl paint on the whole dash just to give it extra UV protection. I had read on another forum to prime it first if you did that, but I didn't. it made the repaired areas swell up about 1/8".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Would installing the leather onto a full dash cap perhaps be worth the additional expense?  Probably a bit more forgiving to work with, and reversible.  

For what it's worth, I think the leather cover looks great on there!  I bet it was a lot of meticulous work to get it to sit right with all of the curves in these dashes, but it looks like you took your time and did a very good job with it.  Well done!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the comment. I have heard that full dash caps can be a handful to fit really well. Leather can be stretched with water and shrunk with heat. If you have a free hour, watch the YouTube video I cited in the other thread. You will be amazed.

 

My only other experience working with leather was molding a holster for my pistol.

 

If you decide to go the leather route like me, I would suggest soaking the precut cover in water to allow stretching. Hold the wet cover I place with spring clamps, You can use tennis balls clamped into the three small gauges. Allow to air dry over the course of a day or two.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...