Dash pad preservation - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

hounddogs! · 10-01-2008, 10:28 PM

I've lucked out thus far and my original dash pad is pliable and uncracked. Any chemicals I should start using on it, or do I just continue to avoid direct sun and high interior temps?

lowriden58 · 10-02-2008, 08:16 AM

its basically like leather seats... gotta keep them "soft" by using some sort of cleaner/leather conditioner. for the dash pad armoral (sp?) or equivelant would be good. also as you mentioned keeping it out of direct sunlight/ high temps would be a good idea.

Sinister · 10-02-2008, 11:02 AM

X2 on the Armorall.

68gmsee · 10-02-2008, 03:02 PM

X3 on the Armorall or equivalent. I have a 68 GMC that was stored in a barn (yep, it's true.) Anyway, the pad was in good condition but fairly dry.

When I bought it back in early 90's, I squeezed it to see how pliable it was and made a small crack on the bottom of it. I then soaked the whole pad with Armorall and kept doing it for several days. Now, it's still in good condition and pliable.

PanelDeland · 10-02-2008, 04:55 PM

Get a sunshade for the windsheild also.it will help keep the interior temp down and protect the dash pad.

BarryB · 10-02-2008, 05:14 PM

NO armorall. It is silicone based. It looks good but it tends to harder up the vinyl over time , You'll have to look for a protectent that does not have silicone in it. Off the top of my head I can't think of the name of the stuff I've used. Check out Meguier's products they seem to always have good products.

*Shane* · 10-02-2008, 05:17 PM

I agree with BarryB ... NO armorall ... it works great as long as you keep it on there. When it evaporates and dries the vinyl out it actually leaves the material harder than what it was before the armorall was applied.

The one key thing is to keep the sun off of it. UV rays cause vinyl to decay faster than anything else.

chevguy7 · 10-02-2008, 05:21 PM

x3 on the no armorall. Find one that does not have silicone in it. I'm not all that familiar with Meguiars but I know they have good stuff. There is a company based in Washington that has really good stuff, its called Griot's Garage.

**leddzepp** · 10-02-2008, 05:28 PM

3 for and 3 against armor all. Most any rubber preservative has silicone in it. I have personally never had a problem with armor all, and it has been around since the 60's, so longevity must count for something. You do have to apply it rather frequently however. POR 15 makes a product/protectant that is EXCELLENT (what product do they make that is not excellent?)

*Shane* · 10-02-2008, 07:24 PM

I think the longevity lies more in the fact that folks like their tires to be shiny.

Rollie396 · 10-02-2008, 08:19 PM

I agree with the no armorall crowd.I use a product called Urad.I guess you'd call it a paste,but it contains lanoline (sp?) and it keeps leather looking great for a long time.I've got leather seats in my 91 blazer and they still look great while most others I have seen are pretty much done.

chevguy7 · 10-02-2008, 08:22 PM

I have also heard that products with petroleum distillates are bad.

68gmsee · 10-02-2008, 08:38 PM

Wow! I've been using Armorall for over 25 years.

Here in Texas we always have the plastic pads dry and crack on our vehicles but since I started using it, I have never had a single dash pad, steering wheel, or interior plastics crack due to heat or dryness.

The first car I used it on was an 83 Honda civic. And I've owned at least 6 or 7 vehicles since then. Before I retired, I did repair work and drove all day long. Parked in parking lots where the heat inside the car had to be at least 150 degrees or more in the summer.

The only thing that I don't like about it is that it gets on the inside of the windshield.

Edit: forgot to mention. I've never garaged my vehicles and never had a carport...

**leddzepp** · 10-02-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

Wow! I've been using Armorall for over 25 years.

Here in Texas we always have the plastic pads dry and crack on our vehicles but since I started using it, I have never had a single dash pad, steering wheel, or interior plastics crack due to heat or dryness.

The first car I used it on was an 83 Honda civic. And I've owned at least 6 or 7 vehicles since then. Before I retired, I did repair work and drove all day long. Parked in parking lots where the heat inside the car had to be at least 150 degrees or more in the summer.

The only thing that I don't like about it is that it gets on the inside of the windshield.

Edit: forgot to mention. I've never garaged my vehicles and never had a carport...

**WIDESIDE72** · 10-03-2008, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane

I agree with BarryB ... NO armorall ... it works great as long as you keep it on there. When it evaporates and dries the vinyl out it actually leaves the material harder than what it was before the armorall was applied.

The one key thing is to keep the sun off of it. UV rays cause vinyl to decay faster than anything else.

I have a 12 oz bottle of protectant made by 3M called REFRESH that says it has UV inhibitors in it. I have been using it on all the dashes (only) on all my vehicles for several years. (It goes a long way.) It is sort of a cream consistency. I have a foam applicator pad that I use to keep the protectant off the windshield. It has worked great and one bottle has lasted nearly five years! (Almost empty now, though. Believe it or not, as far as dashes go, us 67-72 truck guys have it lucky. If the dash cracks, it is less than $100 to replace. I have a 79 Malibu and when I bought it the dash was all cracked up. I do not think there are any repro dashes for it. (There weren't any a few years ago). There is a company called "JUST DASHES" that will rebuild a foam core dash for around $800 (!) I lucked out and found a good dash for $50, even the right color when I went to to buy some related parts from a guy that had stripped his car to make a dirt track car. I keep the dash covered in the #M stuff and a sun shield on the windshield. Unfortunately I only have a carport for now.

wHATANERD · 10-03-2008, 06:58 AM

also a no on the Armorall, not only will it eventually damage vinyl it smells like cat urine

10-01-2008, 10:28 PM	#1
hounddogs! Restoring it $200 at a time... Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: NE Kansas Posts: 892	Dash pad preservation I've lucked out thus far and my original dash pad is pliable and uncracked. Any chemicals I should start using on it, or do I just continue to avoid direct sun and high interior temps? __________________ Charter member of the 'Put the dimmer switch back on the damn floor where it belongs' Society '68 5.3L-4 speed LWB C20; grandpa bought it for the farm in '71. Now LS 5.3, rather than 327. DD '09 Pilot Weekender '65 Skylark 300-4V-4 speed Wife's '07 Lexus ES350; 117 actuator motors and I can't see the engine. Son's '04 F250 SuperCab 6.0

10-02-2008, 08:16 AM	#2
lowriden58 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chesapeake Beach, MD Posts: 812	Re: Dash pad preservation its basically like leather seats... gotta keep them "soft" by using some sort of cleaner/leather conditioner. for the dash pad armoral (sp?) or equivelant would be good. also as you mentioned keeping it out of direct sunlight/ high temps would be a good idea. __________________ 71 cheyenne lwb 300rwhp best 1/4 time so far 12.8 @103 http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...en58/001-2.jpg

10-02-2008, 11:02 AM	#3
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	Re: Dash pad preservation X2 on the Armorall. __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match... Last edited by Sinister; 10-02-2008 at 11:02 AM.

10-02-2008, 03:02 PM	#4
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: Dash pad preservation X3 on the Armorall or equivalent. I have a 68 GMC that was stored in a barn (yep, it's true.) Anyway, the pad was in good condition but fairly dry. When I bought it back in early 90's, I squeezed it to see how pliable it was and made a small crack on the bottom of it. I then soaked the whole pad with Armorall and kept doing it for several days. Now, it's still in good condition and pliable.

10-02-2008, 04:55 PM	#5
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	Re: Dash pad preservation Get a sunshade for the windsheild also.it will help keep the interior temp down and protect the dash pad. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

10-02-2008, 05:14 PM	#6
BarryB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Blountville, Tn. Posts: 3,904	Re: Dash pad preservation NO armorall. It is silicone based. It looks good but it tends to harder up the vinyl over time , You'll have to look for a protectent that does not have silicone in it. Off the top of my head I can't think of the name of the stuff I've used. Check out Meguier's products they seem to always have good products. __________________ We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp; some are pretty;and some are dull. Some have weird names; and all are different colours;but they all have to live in the same box. You may be only one person in the world, But you may also be the world to one person. * Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. Two rules in life. 1. Never sweat the small stuff! 2. Everything is small stuff! Last edited by BarryB; 10-02-2008 at 05:15 PM.

10-02-2008, 05:17 PM	#7
Shane Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: over yonder Posts: 14,270	Re: Dash pad preservation I agree with BarryB ... NO armorall ... it works great as long as you keep it on there. When it evaporates and dries the vinyl out it actually leaves the material harder than what it was before the armorall was applied. The one key thing is to keep the sun off of it. UV rays cause vinyl to decay faster than anything else.

10-02-2008, 05:21 PM	#8
chevguy7 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Washington Posts: 316	Re: Dash pad preservation x3 on the no armorall. Find one that does not have silicone in it. I'm not all that familiar with Meguiars but I know they have good stuff. There is a company based in Washington that has really good stuff, its called Griot's Garage. __________________ 1970 C10 - ECE 3.5/5 drop, dual exhaust with turbo mufflers, front discs http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=272458 2000 Buick Regal GS - Supercharged 3.8 V6 240hp, 1/4 mile 15 seconds

10-02-2008, 05:28 PM	#9
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 20,117	Re: Dash pad preservation 3 for and 3 against armor all. Most any rubber preservative has silicone in it. I have personally never had a problem with armor all, and it has been around since the 60's, so longevity must count for something. You do have to apply it rather frequently however. POR 15 makes a product/protectant that is EXCELLENT (what product do they make that is not excellent?) Last edited by leddzepp; 10-02-2008 at 05:29 PM.

10-02-2008, 07:24 PM	#10
Shane Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: over yonder Posts: 14,270	Re: Dash pad preservation I think the longevity lies more in the fact that folks like their tires to be shiny.

10-02-2008, 08:19 PM	#11
Rollie396 someday it will be done! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lloydminster,AB. Canada Posts: 1,620	Re: Dash pad preservation I agree with the no armorall crowd.I use a product called Urad.I guess you'd call it a paste,but it contains lanoline (sp?) and it keeps leather looking great for a long time.I've got leather seats in my 91 blazer and they still look great while most others I have seen are pretty much done. __________________ '72 C-10 Proud owner of a million new and used pieces that used to be and will once again be(god willing) a testament to the term "they don't build em like that anymore. '80 LWB 2wd beater '67 GMC long fleet (cab donor) '66 long step (parked till it's turn comes around) '65 short step (parts truck that will donate it's bed and possibly frame to the '66) '06 Grand Prix wife's car (she hardly lets me touch it) my pics

10-02-2008, 08:22 PM	#12
chevguy7 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Washington Posts: 316	Re: Dash pad preservation I have also heard that products with petroleum distillates are bad. __________________ 1970 C10 - ECE 3.5/5 drop, dual exhaust with turbo mufflers, front discs http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=272458 2000 Buick Regal GS - Supercharged 3.8 V6 240hp, 1/4 mile 15 seconds

10-02-2008, 08:38 PM	#13
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: Dash pad preservation Wow! I've been using Armorall for over 25 years. Here in Texas we always have the plastic pads dry and crack on our vehicles but since I started using it, I have never had a single dash pad, steering wheel, or interior plastics crack due to heat or dryness. The first car I used it on was an 83 Honda civic. And I've owned at least 6 or 7 vehicles since then. Before I retired, I did repair work and drove all day long. Parked in parking lots where the heat inside the car had to be at least 150 degrees or more in the summer. The only thing that I don't like about it is that it gets on the inside of the windshield. Edit: forgot to mention. I've never garaged my vehicles and never had a carport... Last edited by 68gmsee; 10-02-2008 at 08:40 PM.

10-03-2008, 06:58 AM	#16
wHATANERD Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Uvalde, Tx Posts: 407	Re: Dash pad preservation also a no on the Armorall, not only will it eventually damage vinyl it smells like cat urine __________________ 1969 C/10 Longbed undergoing rebuild. Old Chevy's Never Die, They Just Rust Around The Edges Last edited by wHATANERD; 10-03-2008 at 06:58 AM.



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