Dash recovering

I'm looking to recover my top and bottom dash. Has anyone done this and how much material did you use?
Thanks.
Norrie.

Very little from memory. Id say two meters would do the job at a pinch. The hard bit is making a decent job of it. If its originality your looking for then the pure vinyl is no longer available and modern stuff dunt half stretch. Its also much harder to keep in place as it moves over time and tries its hardest to go baggy. The clips used by land Rover just wont keep it in place without a bit of help.
I helped do my mates. He mostly watched and and made mmmmmm noises.

It looked great when finished but very different from original. I had six or seven yards so aint a clue how much I used but if you get say three yards and split it lengthways using the top as a template there should be enough left to do the bottom. Your going to have to do some serious stretching (whilst applying the wifes hair dryer) on the bottom especially round the wiper motor cover. This then tries to un stretch once fitted so make sure you leave enough round the edges to get a good wrap round the back. This is how I did it and its lump free and staying put.

I used the same size of 3mm scrim foam. Its easily available and cheap. I stripped the old stuff off and made good the cracks in the original foam with standard silicone sealant and a stanley blade. by simply pumping it in the cracks and drawing the blade over the crack. Once dried I sprayed the old foam with trimbond and applied the scrim foam. I didnt spray the foam but worked it wet so I had half a chance of it being smooth. I used clothes pegs and bulldog clips round the edge to secure as I went. Same with the vinyl but sprayed both the foam and the back of the vinyl in sections so it didnt grab in the wrong places.
Once the vents and end panels went back on it looked quite good and lump free but it aint half a faff getting it just right. The extra thickness gives the dash a rounder and softer look but well worth doing to a cracked top. I ended up running superglue round the back edge of everything coz even trimbond (the best I have used) has its limitations stopping the scrap edges pulling back round over time.

Thanks for that. I've ordered 5 Metres off eBay as it wasn't to expensive and I might need to recover a seat.
I'm thinking contact adhesive will help keep it in place.

Norrie.

The dash on Compo isn't too bad, just a couple of places where it looks like a PO had screwed something onto the top and now the vinyl is cracked and lifting slightly around the holes. I'm not good at craft projects and know that if
I try to recover it I'll be wishing I never started. However, if I do ever attempt it, I would go for leather, expensive but it's the sort of job you'll only ever do once.

Col

It's a Jag you've got there isn't it? Leather? Really... are you sure? Shirley, it'll look a tad too plush? Even debender owners aren't usually inclined to the like.

109SeriesIIA said:

It's a Jag you've got there isn't it? Leather? Really... are you sure? Shirley, it'll look a tad too plush? Even debender owners aren't usually inclined to the like.

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I know but today's vinyl is a bit rubbish as Bob said.

Col

norried said:

Thanks for that. I've ordered 5 Metres off eBay as it wasn't to expensive and I might need to recover a seat.
I'm thinking contact adhesive will help keep it in place.

Norrie.

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Trimbond is the best. It is indeed contact adhesive in a spray can.
Normal contact adhesive will not work unless it’s ‘high temperature’ and even then I have had a few that didn’t stay stuck. Some work for a while and then react with the vinyl and return to fluid. Wilko home brand is a fine example that simply does not work for more than a few days.

I've got Evo stick contact adhesive which is very good but it's not a spray so may order some trimbond then.

Thanks.
Norrie .

norried said:

I've got Evo stick contact adhesive which is very good but it's not a spray so may order some trimbond then.

Thanks.
Norrie .

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Two cans will be more than enough for a dash. Think about a couple of yards of scrim foam. It makes a massive difference to finished quality. The last thing you want is a lumpy dash.
I get all my stuff from ‘DIY Foam Upholstery Supplies’ on eBay. Great quality and a fair price.

Bought my grained vinyl from Dunelm. Seemed good quality - not too thin but very flexible and folded nicely around the tight edges.

there was some outfit offering ready made leather coverings for the dash on ebay the a while back, don't know if they still are. the only problem was they didn't include the little bit that goes over the wiper motor. weren't cheap, around £80 iirc

It's £250 For a complete leather dash covering. Stuff that it's a ****ty old Landy. lol.

norried said:

It's £250 For a complete leather dash covering. Stuff that it's a ****ty old Landy. lol.

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You can always look out for an old pink sofa round the local council estate. Brighthouse use good leather.

Well my Wife recovered the dash today when I was at work and it doesn't look too bad. We're not happy with the top dash so going to put another coat of vinyl on it.


Norrie.

norried said:

Well my Wife recovered the dash today when I was at work and it doesn't look too bad. We're not happy with the top dash so going to put another coat of vinyl on it.
View attachment 158514 View attachment 158515 View attachment 158516

Norrie.

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I take it you didnt go down the scrim foam rout then.

She tried foam under it but couldn't quite get the hang of it so going to put a second layer on instead. Kind of wished we had bought thicker vinyl but then it would have been harder to stretch.

Norrie .

Scrim foam that Bobs on about is attached to the vinyl.

Did mine about 4 years ago. Cheap eBay vinyl and cheap spray adhesive, held together by other fittings and bits. Still OK!
Only picture I can find.