Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: dash preservation (Read 4786 times) previous topic - next topic

dash preservation

ok, i have a sweet raven dash, no cracks, sittin on a shelf waiting to be installed. claude took great care while removing it from the donor so as not to crack it. 
there isnt much in the looks department of my car, but the dash it currently has looks like the sahara desert....i want to make sure this new one stays w/o cracks, both during installation and in the future. i need tips on rejuvenating and preserving the vinyl.

found a couple mentions in other threads
Quote from: ProTouring442;306116
Now wipe a good bit of Vaseline on the dash, let it soak in for a day or so, then buff it out. Do this three or four times before you attempt to install it and you will have much less of chance at cracking it while trying to get it installed. The Vaseline does a great job at softening up the vinyl.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
Quote from: ProTouring442;277052
Since you've resurrected an old thread, I thought I would chime in with a bit of information. I once read that GOJO will soften an old and hard dash pad quite nicely. I haven't tried it yet, but...

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

can anybody prove or disprove either of these methods? any other suggestions?
gumby - beauty may fade, but stupid is forever!

dash preservation

Reply #1 –
I have been wondering about this too. I have a perfect dash and one the front speakers is blown. I am scared to try to replace it for fear of cracking the dash pad.
...and there was light!

dash preservation

Reply #2 –
other stuff i found thru google:

pledge furniture polish - i actually used to use this when i had  a decent interior to care about on a previous vehicle. was recommended by the vinyl shop the replaced a friends half top

kiwi shoe polish(paste)

something from SEM, but all i find on thier site is prep and paint stuff
gumby - beauty may fade, but stupid is forever!

dash preservation

Reply #3 –
A guy at one of my old jobs put vaseline on his 80's corvette dash and swore by it.

dash preservation

Reply #4 –
You could move to Nova Scotia (or Newfoundland), where the sun rarely shines bright enough and it rarely gets hot enough to damage vinyl ;) Seriously, of all the fox 'Birds I've owned only one ever had a cracked dash, and it was the porno red one. For some reason red fares worse in sunlight than any other colour...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣
 

dash preservation

Reply #5 –
The Vaseline idea comes from the Leatherique "tips" booklet, on the next to last page (http://www.leatherique.com/Leatherique%20bookletREV5.pdf).

"Unlike leather, which is a natural organic product, vinyl and other imitations are of chemical composition which often contain petroleum by-products. Impregnated with plasticizers, they generally remain supple for quite a long time. After long periods of time, older vinyls and plastics can be softened with the application of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. This method works well on vinyl dashes. Just massage the Petroleum Jelly onto the vinyl, allow it to steam in car parked in a sunny spot with the windows up, then buff with a soft cloth."

I have used both GOJO and Vaseline on my dash. After many applications, the GOJO seemed to work pretty well. On the other hand, I found Vaseline to be far more effective.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
"as if 'religion' were something God invented, and not His statement to us of certain quite unalterable facts about His own nature." -C.S. Lewis

dash preservation

Reply #6 –
Quote from: ProTouring442;306493
I have used both GOJO and Vaseline on my dash. After many applications, the GOJO seemed to work pretty well. On the other hand, I found Vaseline to be far more effective.


Bill,

After you buff the Vaseline off, what it the appearance like? I would be concerned that Vaseline would leave the dash with an overly shiny look to it and personally I can't stand the "Armor All" greasy look.

Brent
1985 Mercury Cougar XR-7 - 5-speed 
One of 1,246 built

dash preservation

Reply #7 –
I would agree with the petroleum jelly on a petroleum product. I have used it on my weather stripping and rubber seals on my car for years. it's the only perfect looking part of my car. also my 1/4 window rubber. Mine still looks brand new. I never thought to use it on the dash though..... I will now.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

dash preservation

Reply #8 –
Do you happen to have any pictures of the dash right after the vaseline rub down.
...and there was light!

dash preservation

Reply #9 –
add me to the curious list about the sheen after a vaseline treatment

looks like i might hafta steal the vaseline from the medicine cabinet. :hick:
gumby - beauty may fade, but stupid is forever!

dash preservation

Reply #10 –
After you buff it out, the dash has a nice, soft, natural vinyl look to it. You have to wipe the excess petroleum jelly off, then buff it out, but it looks great when done. I am definitely NOT a fan of the greasy, nasty, slimy, cheap stripper in baby oil look like you get with Armor All.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
"as if 'religion' were something God invented, and not His statement to us of certain quite unalterable facts about His own nature." -C.S. Lewis

dash preservation

Reply #11 –
Quote from: ProTouring442;306550
I am definitely NOT a fan of the cheap stripper in baby oil look like you get with Armor All.

at least not for a dashboard :rollin:
gumby - beauty may fade, but stupid is forever!