24 replies to this topic

[rory]

Hey.
Has anybody used , or know where to get either the grey dash vinyl or something that will look very OEM?
I have a couple of projects im doing and require some.
I defiantly don't want the "carbon fibre" look, and I don't want to go tear some from a wreckers .

[Missile]

I can only think of either a fabric store or a boating store.

Could also flock your dash?

[rory]

I can only think of either a fabric store or a boating store.

Could also flock your dash?

Flock?

[evo-gsr]

Its like velour...You see it on some race cars on the dash to stop the reflections / glare from the sun.
Looks heaps better than oem.

[rory]

Ah yea, I googled it.
Some with blacks or grey looks pretty cool,
Not to keen on people doing bright blues or really colorful stuff.
It would probably just been a massive effort, when the thing I want to cover is just a small custom made 3 gauge pod.

[jack be nimble]

velour. mmm

[jack be nimble]

probably the nicest might be some hood lining from a wreck.

i have thought about the oem look vinyl but never found anything close. i dont know what the dashdoctor uses?
http://dashboarddoct....au//index.html

[leadfoot]

just get some normal grey vinyl and try find a color that close to your oem then use that to glur/wrap your pod it's about as close as your going to get.

[rory]

So i have an ebay store sending me a few samples of their grey vinyls so I can compare.
I will post results here for anyone wondering.

[111GSR]

Velour/Flock/Suade are superb dash coverings. However will not last on daily used cars or cars in direct sunlight. As it fades and looks like poo

Even the UV treated stuff fades.


Unless its really expensive stuff from Europe they use in Murcielago etc.

[rory]

For anyone wondering the samples of grey arrived and I thought looked really good.
But after comparing to my dash and pillars (I know it's plastic) the vinyl shades aren't spot on, but could still look good and "OEM" in my opinion.

I will be buying a sheet of the darker grey, but not positive it will turn out how I'm hoping.

[RicKii``]

i went to spotlight and lincraft and found those materials aswell. its more of a leather look but maybe they are from a different supplier and could be what youre after?

[111GSR]

Are you going to perform this yourself ?

Have you done it before?

[rory]

Thanks rickii, ill check it out.

Are you going to perform this yourself ?

Have you done it before?

Haha, I was going to man, until you said this.
You make it sound difficult?

I'm not really even sure anymore what I'm doing, I was going to make a gauge pod for my 40mm Mitsi gauges on the dash ( which is why I wanted the vinyl), but have since made a fiberglass setup molded to the pillar. ( and its looking damn cool)

If I end up doing anything on the dash with vinyl it will be something to cover up timer, evc and engine alarm.

Thoughts? Advice?

[111GSR]

Hehe yeah there is little more involved than just slapping the vinyl on.

With curvy surfaces such as gauge pods, whole dash and Apillar-gauge pod you will need stitching, because it will only stretch so much and not let you cover the surface properly. Causing bubbles un-sticking etc. Before you trim the pieces place the vinyl over it and run your fingers with itto make sure the angles and curves will let you.

Now enough of the scary part lets get prepping before applying the vinyl.

When car is left in the sun inside temps can get demonic hot so anything that is not prepped properly will release the glue and it will be a mess.

1) Remove the part you are going to wrap/trim and give it a good scrub with some water and dish washing liquid.
2) Get some sandpaper and give the surface a nice rub down with something like 800grit , but not too much. Idea here is to create some grooves for glue to grab on to.
3) Wash the part with water/washing liquid again and dry.
4) Get some "prep wash" and wipe the part down to make sure any oils/deposits/armorall etc etc are gone.
5) Get some "plastic primer" and give it a couple of coats. Allow to dry (Usualy this stuff is clear).
6) Get some 3M upholstery adhesive and spray a light coat onto the vinyl/material, followed by a light coat onto the dash/pillar or what ever you are trimming.
7) Once the adhesive start to become tacky start putting it onto the surface , with help of some firm running of your fingers to bond the two together.

Some bits which are not curving too well try using hair-dryer to soften the vinyl.

Allow to dry thoroughly and install onto car

Hope this helps.

Note: I hope the vinyl you are getting is UV treated, otherwise it will fade quicker than usual. Try and get marine vinyl as its the toughest wearing vinyl on the market

[rory]

Aw man

I'm quite sure that second half is the scary parts.
Very, very good info though.
Seems like I might be putting this project back for a little while, till I'm fully prepared.

[leadfoot]

if your pillar pods are fibre glassed on take one of you stock pillars to a paint shop and get it matched. or paint them all whatever color you want

[barcode]

forget about velour, flock an suade for now. what you need for a 1st time confidence booster is grill cloth.

its cheap an more user friendly than any of the above

[111GSR]

Any updates ? How did you end up going with this ?

[rory]

No sorry no updates yet, I've been off the planet for the last few weeks, I did try the vinyl on my gauge cups , but as you said it was difficult and ended up looking like shit.