Vinyl covered dash

[William-in-St George]

Has anyone covered your dash in vinyl. My white truck has a padded dash from Ford and it is ruined by the sun and age. The PO covered it with a black rug like commercial dash cover. Looks decent and I toss stuff up there and it doesn't slide around. The red truck is a standard cab, no trim, no nada. I like the simplicity of the standard cab trucks. I did add stainless trim when I replaced the windshield and powder coated "chrome" the grill. I am thinking about covering the dash on the red truck with vinyl. Not the entire dash, just from the windshield back and down to the chrome trim strip that goes across the middle of the dash. I could glue 1/4 inch thick foam on first than a layer of nice red marine grade vinyl. My truck does not have the small chrome strip at the top of the dash just under the windshield seal. The white truck has this trim. The trim would completely cover the seam/end of the vinyl where it butts up against the windshield seal. Defroster outlets would cover seams around the vent holes. I would cover over the speaker grill (no radio). The cluster and chrome strip would cover the bottom seam. Really the more I think about this the more I am tempted to try it. Any thoughts or experience with this? I know I have a ton of crap to finish on this truck and I should focus on the task at hand but I have some time today and you know an aging mind wanders.

[longcabjohn]

Did this over a cracked pad, duct tape over cracks then foam and vinyl. A little hard not to get wrinkle around insturment but can be done. Lots easier with the windshield out, but can be done with in.


Johnny

[simonscr]

A heat gun is you best friend for working with and stretching vinyl. With a little bit of time and a lot of patients, you can stretch vinyl to fit just about any shape. I have always like using contact cement to glue the finished product down, can use a paint brush so there is no worry about overspray on areas where you don't want glue!

[ras4434]

I took my 65 down to the local upholstery shop. Paid to have the windshield pulled, had the dash covered in the same material as the bucket seat inserts and then had the window replaced with a new one since there were a couple chips. the only way to do the whole dash was to r&r the windshield. Cost 250 for the dash pad and installation and then 100 for the windshield. Real happy for $350. Got to have it my way and my color.

[ivaf100]

To all that are saying, "you have to remove the windshield", I say BS. I removed my padded dash pad and had my upholsterer cover the pad. It turned out really well.