Dash pad removal/ dashboard restoration/ dash pad installation with pics

[Mister-B]

My dash pad was cracked and nasty, and had remnants from some cheesy carpet cover a PO installed. I found a nice replacement from Brothers for $92 shipped. It is currently on the UPS truck, and out for delivery today, so I decided to get ready for it to arrive by removing the old one and painting the dashboard between the pad and the windshield.

Here's a before shot. My old dash pad and dashboard are dark navy. This was a one year only color that came on some trucks in 1969. Unfortunately, nobody carries replacement dash pads in navy. So, I went with black, and painted the dashboard to match. More on that later. It's just getting to where it's too hard to match the blue on some of these parts. Yes, I could find vinyl navy paint, but it probably wouldn't match the steering wheel, which then wouldn't match the flat paint needed for the dashboard.

Anyway, the before shots



I got the dash pad off. It was a bit of a pain. Had to remove the glovebox liner. The instrument panel would have needed to come out too, but the nuts were missing in that area.

Here's the paint I used for the dashboard. MAKE SURE to use flat paint. Don't use semi gloss or gloss, or you will get some nasty reflections in your windshield


Here it is after I removed the old dash, masked, and painted 3 coats


The UPS guy should be delivering my new dash pad soon, and I will install it and take additional pics
Posted via Mobile Device