Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Body/Appearance/Interior => Topic started by: uwwsquirrel on March 09, 2005, 11:35:22 PM

Title: Is dashboard restoration possible?
Post by: uwwsquirrel on March 09, 2005, 11:35:22 PM
Hey Everyone.  I was at the local salvage yard today looking for some interior parts for my 88 Cat.  I noticed an 87 that just arrived there today, so of course I jumped on it (there's nothing like having first dibs for parts on a used cougar).  Everything inside of this car was in great condition.  So I'm tearin apart the inside of this thing and I leave for about 2 mins to go get a T50 socket to remove the back seat (which was in great shape).  I come back only to find some @#$hole salvage crew worker bending the bottom part of my new back seat up just to get the spare change that was under it!!!!! :eek:  :2gunsfiri  So needless to say I had a few choice words with him when I returned (but I don't think he understood a word I was saying, in fact I think he was mute, which kinda made me feel like an ass afterward) but I managed to save it for the most part.  Anyway .......where was I going with this?...... oh yeah - The Dashboard was in Excellent shape as well - and since I needed one anyway I figured - why not? - - so after about 67 cuss words, I had the DB disconnected from everything.  I was so happy cause didn't break or damage anything on it - it was still perfect.  BUT THEN, as I was lifting it out of the door way I bumped the side of it and the flawless dashtop CrAcKeD!!! :shoothead AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

So my question is - who resurfaces/reupholsters dashboards?  Can it even be done?  Although those cloth fitted dashpads are a quick fix, I would rather not go with that. I want it to look original.  Any tips??

~Corey :confused:
Title: Re: Is dashboard restoration possible?
Post by: shame302 on March 09, 2005, 11:53:22 PM
their is a company that makes an overlay. i was scepticle on then untill i saw pics of some installed. i know eric has done some as well as crystal ant they look about as close to factory as it gets.
Title: Re: Is dashboard restoration possible?
Post by: vinnietbird on March 10, 2005, 12:02:49 AM
That's what I did.Dashcps has the covers for around $90.They look like the factory dash (not the carpet stuff),and you can get them in different colors.PLUS,they'll never crack.....Sweet !!!!
Title: Re: Is dashboard restoration possible?
Post by: shame302 on March 10, 2005, 01:18:02 AM
click me (http://www.cougarnuts.com/board/showthread.php?t=14457)
Title: Re: Is dashboard restoration possible?
Post by: Masejoer on March 10, 2005, 01:40:20 AM
Need it in a color other than black :shakehead

as my dash grows another crack
Title: Re: Is dashboard restoration possible?
Post by: shame302 on March 10, 2005, 02:05:31 AM
you can get them in different colors of a neutral color to be painted. i think they look awesome for a cover. when i picked up my car the only boogered up part of it was the dash. i later on figured out that the inst. cluster works intermitently. i guess its the VR but i havnt bothered with it yet. anyway. i think the 1st owner figured slamming the  out of the dash would fix the cluster. so an overlay is on the to do list....
Title: Re: Is dashboard restoration possible?
Post by: crystal on March 10, 2005, 06:46:56 AM
You can go the dashcap route, or look around for a good vinyl guy. I had 4 holes in the side of my dash from someone screwiwng something in to it (think car phone) that I had repaired. I could have done the whole dash that way, but it wasn't gauranteed, so I just did the cap for the top.

It's rare that someone notices the cap, and nobody knows where the 4 holes were except that I have a very general idea.
Title: Re: Is dashboard restoration possible?
Post by: MDJ1281 on March 10, 2005, 10:53:43 AM
Quote
and nobody knows where the 4 holes were


Your head :D
Title: Re: Is dashboard restoration possible?
Post by: crystal on March 10, 2005, 11:18:29 AM
Quote from: MDJ1281
Your head :D

wise ass  :flip: And there are 12 extra holes in my head... not fun in the winter, steel gets cold FAST
Title: Re: Is dashboard restoration possible?
Post by: uwwsquirrel on March 10, 2005, 11:43:33 AM
Hey awesome!! Thanks for the info! I'll definately look into that. :cheers:

~Corey
Title: Re: Is dashboard restoration possible?
Post by: crystal on March 10, 2005, 12:10:26 PM
Here's some pics http://www.ferdbird.com/87sport/interior.html I need to paint my dash all one color, it's a little satin and a little gloss, going all gloss
Title: Re: Is dashboard restoration possible?
Post by: uwwsquirrel on March 10, 2005, 12:55:49 PM
Oh Wow, that looks nice.  Hey what kind of paint did you use?  Cause I was going to paint all of my interior panels as well, but I need something that won't scratch or flake off so easily.  Any suggestions? :cool:
Title: Re: Is dashboard restoration possible?
Post by: crystal on March 10, 2005, 04:26:03 PM
really no such thing... I'd recommend SEM or vht, both seem to hold up pretty well, it's all in the prep work though. Make sure you clean everything really well. I used laquer thinner and some fine sandpaper to scuff everything up a bit