Dashpanel top - recovering

[ChrisC]

Folks,

Disappointingly my original dash panel top has decided to crack beyond the point of I-can-live-with-that so it needs to be replaced. Sadly that is unlikely to be completed before my car is on display at the forthcoming NEC show which is a shame.

Looking online a number of vendors appear to sell a cover which appears to be a vacuum formed shape that would presumably fit over the original metal panel and may or may not come with replacement foam and clips.

There seems to be a fairly wide price range - BAS are winning on the cost front so far but does anyone have experience of replacing this cover - i.e. do you have any hints / tips. If you want to advise me of which companies to avoid - please do that via personal message in order that we dont contravene Forum rules.

Many thanks all

[288gto]

Hi Chris, I bought mine from BAS. Hutsons use BAS and Jack will give you advice on fitting. It comes with the foam padding as part of it. You need to gently heat up the vinyl edges to form it round the metal dash top panel. The front edge (windscreen) is held by clips and the part that is nearest to you is glued. You need to make sure the vinyl doesn’t bulk up where the dash panels sit and right on the ends where the fixings are.
Get it too hot and you will put a hole in it. You will also need to cut the slots for the vents.
It was at this point that I bottled it and sent the dash to Jack at BAS to do. I think he charged me £80.
Don’t be put off though, there are a few on here who have done it themselves.

Simon

[ChrisC]

Thanks Simon - i trimmed the rest of the car myself so confidence is high but its nice to have confirmation that it is a formed cover. I may chat to BAS regardless, just in case they can do it before the show...

Cheers

[Gfhug]

Chris, where will we have to queue up to view and admire your car?
Most likely going and it’s always good to see a forum member’s car

Geoff

[paulsco]

Hi Chris,

I bought one from SNG and yes it is padded.

I agree with what has been said by Simon.

I found it would have been far easier to do with previous experience.

I had to remove and reheat and re glue the trim several times to get it right.

I found that the padding had some rough edges where it had been moulded and if glued like this, you end up with a ridge or crease in the edge of the covering. Second time around I sanded down the high spots.

I found that the surface is very easy to dent.

Whilst trying to clamp it down when gluing, I managed to dent the surface, I gently heated the area with the heat gun while massaging the dent which remove it.

I did do the vents.
Once the dashtop was covered I used a small drill from the back to drill through the vent screw holes and then screwed on the metal vents. I gently heated up the area with the heat gun with the intention of forming a slight impression in the covering; I then carefully cut down the centre and trimmed the hole from there, trying the vent as I was going. I fitted the vents through the slot from the reverse, between the covering and the metal and then finally screwed down the vent covers.

It is probably obvious, but it is important not to cut the vent holes too wide as the covering may end up outside the metal cover area.

I hope this helps,

Paul

[ChrisC]

Chris, where will we have to queue up to view and admire your car?
Most likely going and it’s always good to see a forum member’s car

Geoff

Hi Geoff. My car will be featured on the "Moss" stand. They wanted an Etype on show to launch their new 'Etype' brochure. I have been feverishly cleaning and polishing in readiness

I wont personally be on their stand though - I will be wandering around looking at other shiny things.

[ChrisC]

Chris, where will we have to queue up to view and admire your car?
Most likely going and it’s always good to see a forum member’s car

Geoff

Hi Geoff. My car will be featured on the "Moss" stand. I am Chairman of the JEC Surrey Region and the 'Jaguar' director at Moss is one of our members. They wanted to borrow a half decent Etype to launch their new 'Etype' brochure. I have been feverishly cleaning and polishing in readiness

I wont personally be on their stand though - I will be just another punter, wandering around looking at other shiny things.

[Gfhug]

Chris, thanks we'll make a note to drop by their stand

[Gfhug]

Chris, my wife and I admired your car today A very nice car, though the keys were missing to stop me driving off in it, if only there’d been the chance

Geoff

[ChrisC]

Thankyou kind sir

I am rather hoping it comes back with all its parts and no damage although Moss insured the car for that reason. There were a lot of people closer to the car than I would have liked but it was nice to have the car on display. It was nice to see Jaguars so well presented at the show.