S3 dash top success

Kevlcat · Feb 15, 2021

As the thread I just posted was asking about an electrical mystery.....something a little nicer....and yes I am showing off a bit here!

restored my old dash top......and really please with result....what do you think?

I have also done major work to the dash bottom, rewelding, cutting, banging new metal into shape and covered in the same stuff......I’ll post a photo once fitted

thanks

Colthebrummie · Feb 15, 2021

Nice, I'll send you mine.

Col

LincolnSteve · Feb 15, 2021

I've got mine to do soon. I've got a feeling it's going to be like most of the jobs i'm tackling at the moment. Initial enthusiasm followed by frustration and disappointment. I'll send you mine as well.

Bobsticle · Feb 16, 2021

Nice vinyl. It’s hard to get one that is even close to the original stuff.

Supplier?

Kevlcat · Feb 16, 2021

Bobsticle said:
Nice vinyl. It’s hard to get one that is even close to the original stuff.

Supplier?

Material was sourced from Amazon....search for “surePromise faux leather fabric vinyl leatherette”......you can get smooth or grained....

essentially, after cutting out the old crappy foam, I filled with expanding foam, smoothed off, painted all over in several coats of PVA, the clamped to kitchen table and using the strongest contact adhesive I could find (Screwfix)....slowly and carefully wrapped in the new cover material.....I think the key after a few attempts was to do one section about 3” wide along length of dash...let it dry before continuing....

good luck.

Kevlcat · Feb 16, 2021

Kevlcat said:
Material was sourced from Amazon....search for “surePromise faux leather fabric vinyl leatherette”......you can get smooth or grained....

essentially, after cutting out the old crappy foam, I filled with expanding foam, smoothed off, painted all over in several coats of PVA, the clamped to kitchen table and using the strongest contact adhesive I could find (Screwfix)....slowly and carefully wrapped in the new cover material.....I think the key after a few attempts was to do one section about 3” wide along length of dash...let it dry before continuing....

good luck.

Ps.....for the air vent holes I made wooden templates and screwed into same holes as for the plastic vents....for the indents where the big screws to bulkhead go, I used strong plastic clothes pegs to hold the material in place whilst it dried

Bobsticle · Feb 16, 2021

Kevlcat said:
Material was sourced from Amazon....search for “surePromise faux leather fabric vinyl leatherette”......you can get smooth or grained....

essentially, after cutting out the old crappy foam, I filled with expanding foam, smoothed off, painted all over in several coats of PVA, the clamped to kitchen table and using the strongest contact adhesive I could find (Screwfix)....slowly and carefully wrapped in the new cover material.....I think the key after a few attempts was to do one section about 3” wide along length of dash...let it dry before continuing....

good luck.

I hope it’s high temperature. I’ve had some failures with contact adhesive.

Kevlcat · Feb 16, 2021

Time will tell I guess but also used a lot of bresco clips

Blackburn · Feb 16, 2021

Heres some pics of mine which I recovered a few months ago.Made some wooden formers and screwed through fixing holes onto a backing board once vinly in place to get the indents right.

Once glue had set on that section glued rest turned it over and stretched into place the only regret I have as fitted in centre I can see some indents in base foam but lot better than it was

S3 dash top success

Kevlcat

Member

Colthebrummie

Well-Known Member

LincolnSteve

Well-Known Member

Bobsticle

De Villes Advocaat

Kevlcat

Member

Kevlcat

Member

Bobsticle

De Villes Advocaat

Kevlcat

Member

Blackburn

Well-Known Member

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