Bill C
> ----- Original Message -----
> From:
> wanna600
> To:
> 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com
> Sent:
> 2/14/2007 9:42:16 PM
> Subject:
> [2cylinderhondas] How to recover your dashpad in 13 easy steps
> While I had my sedan apart to get it painted, I took the opportunity > to recover my dashboard, and I'm stoked on the realtive ease of the > job, and how much better it looks now.
> 1. Remove the dashboard from the car. Don't be afraid, it's not as bad > as you would think. Drop the steering column, unscrew 3 bolts on the > bottom of the dash, 2 bolts on the top, and start unplugging > connectors as you slowely pull the dashboard free.
> 2. Remove the dashpad from the dashboard.
> I deviated from stock here, so do what you want. I wanted a smooth > dashpad, with no ashtray, and no grab handles. I sourced new vinyl > from a local automotive upolstry shop by telling them what I was doing > and accepting their recommendations like, "use this stuff, it's stretchy." > 3. Using your handy angle grinder and a 36 grit flapper wheel, grind > away all the high spots on the dashpad. Also rough up the remaining > vinyl so that the bondo and contact cement will stick to it.
> 4. Fill in all the cracks, holes, warps, sags or bends with a > combination of bondo and thin stuff (wood veneer, abraded metal). This > is alot like doing bodywork on your car, except really crude.
> 5. Sand, Sand, Sand, and once you have the shape you want, test fit it > in your dashboard, and make sure that all of your edges are smooth and > that you've compensated for the thickness of the new vinyl where the > dashpad meets the dashboard.
> 6. repeat steps 3-6 until everything is perfect.
> 7. Next, I made a "stretching fixture" out of an upright chunk of > plywood that I could fit the dashpad over.
> 8. Using the fixture, prestretch the vinyl over the dashpad. Staple > one end of the vinyl the the plywood and the other end to a 2x4 that > you can pull on to evenly stretch the vinyl over the dashpad.
> 9. I used a hair dryer to heat up the corners a little to give them a > better fit without wrinkles.
> 10. Slop contact cement (I used Weldwood Contact Cement from my local > hardware store) over the dashpad and the underside of the vinyl.
> Ventilation is key here.
> 11. Follow directions on the can, stretch the vinyl over the dashpad, > massage the corners into place, let dry in a warm place overnight.
> 12. Carefully remove from fixture and trim excess
> 13. Instal in car and glow with pride!
> All in all, maybe a 5-15 hour project with very satifying results.
> Since you used bondo and wood, your dashpad is no longer squishy, but > it is smooth.
> Cheers, Miles E.