Recovering the factory metal dash?

[Skunksmash]

Hi all. I recently bought a brand new dash. It was like $300. But I wanted it. Anyway, I still have the old junker, of course, and I noticed that a few of you here have actually recovered the old factory dash. I am thinking that if I do a good enough job, I can maybe sell it on ebay to get some of the money back that it cost to buy the new one. I have seen some people here do a really good job on it. So how hard was it? Did it turn out all right for you? And what kind of glue did you use?

[1980c10]

I recovered one in carpet being more of a beater it was cheap and a lot better than b4 but not nearly as good as new. i bought a plastic type of cover for one that i wanted a little nicer. it was about 120 shipped and i wish i would have just gotten the whole dash. its not horrible it just isnt great.

[Skunksmash]

Yeah that's why I went with just buying a new dash. It does look great, but it was a little pricey. Especially the shipping, which was over $30 due to the side of the item. But there are some guys on here like tvblazer that actually recovered it with new vinyl. Which is what the factory used, and probly explains why they all cracked. Anyway, I am going to give it a try with a cleaning wheel and a power drill. I wonder though.. was the foam they used from the factory (to go in between the vinyl and the metal dash) thicker than 1/4"? Cause it looks like it's about 3/8" thick on the top, although maybe less on the sides.

[1HI4x4]

I recovered one a few years back, I ground out the cracks in the original dash, then filled them with body filler, sanded them down and recovered with tweed. I had planned to cover my current trucks dash the same way using OEM fabrics to match the Dodge seats I just installed, but I need to figure out what I'm going to do with the door panels first.

[Skunksmash]

How well did the tweed stick to the old stuff? Were you able to get it to lay down (and stay down) into all the contours and curves?

[1HI4x4]

How well did the tweed stick to the old stuff? Were you able to get it to lay down (and stay down) into all the contours and curves?

I haven't seen the truck in a few years, but the last time I saw it it was still holding good. The dash doesn't have enough hard curves to mess you up. I used vinyl top glue, and spray it through a cheap spray gun, if it will hold a vinyl top on then upholstry is easy.

[Skunksmash]

Perhaps one of those coverlay covers would be the best idea. How well do they cover up the edges of the old dash? That's why I was kind of scared to buy one. Cause I would want complete coverage, even in seldom seen areas. It would be awesome if they completely overlapped the old dash by curving up around all of the edges. I am thinking of redoing my old dash to either keep on hand, or possibly sell.