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Attached are pics of the now CLEANED dashpad on my '66. In the first image, my finger is pointing at a puncture I didn't know existed until water egress appeared after drying it off.
I am at a cross-roads: re-dye the pad or apply some whiz-bang coating that won't eff it up but instead bring back the black AND help preserve the 55 year old plastic? Advice sought.
Restorers: what products are being used these days to rejuvenate an original dash pad? what products are being used to re-DYE a dashpad? Advice sought.
No cracks or splits, keep it, it can be rejuvenated, most likely. I always had good results bringing dead vinyl back to life using 303 products, their cleaner as well as their protectant. Not oily or greasy like Armorall and others, which in hot weather would deposit on my glass.
I also went ahead and had bought a DashMat to protect my perfect pad, since where I live is usually intensely hot and sunny from May to early October. Not Phoenix hot, but hot nonetheless. It’s black, like the pad, but they can be gotten in many colors
There is a fair amount of material on the Web about restoring vinyl. Perhaps for initial cleaning use Murphy’s oil soap, followed up with the 303 products. There are as many ways to clean and restore vinyl as there are people.
If you want to dye it, use an SEM product. Otherwise you're looking at just a dressing that may or may not last long.
OP, here is your answer! I have done it so many times with SEM I couldn't count them all.
Needs proper prep and clean first and it will last a very long time
Any other dressings etc are just that a dressing which will not last long or look as nice.
I use my magicsoap first then lacquer thinner and vinyl cleaner/prep prior to spraying on the SEM product.
SEM Landau Black is a really nice coating. I put that **it on everything! Over in that other forum they use it on the steering wheels in those f body jalopies. Holds up really well. I used it on the front bumper of my dodge since it was looking a bit gray/faded and that was about two years ago and still holding up well and that truck sits outside all the time. Rain, snow and sun. Their rattle cans spray really well. Good atomization and it's almost hard to get runs using that stuff.
...never have seen the Marine version, but I have used the color coat many times. It is very durable. I did the steering wheel (vinyl/billet) on my truck about 3 years ago and it has not worn or scratched or come off at all. And you know the steering wheel takes quite a bit of wear. Follow the advice from the FTE members above regarding the prep of the vinyl. You want it really clean. That would be another argument against using any vinyl treatment (especially Armor All!!!). If you put that stuff on your dash, you'll never get the dye to stick to it....ever! Follow the directions on the can as well. Don't try to cover it all at once. Apply several or many light wet coats. Don't spray too far away from the surface, especially in warm weather, as the dye will dry in the air before it hits the dash and you won't get a nice even gloss, or matte finish. It will leave dry rough areas. Buy an extra can for touch ups down the road, or application of additional coats as needed.
I have only used the SEM color coat and as long as you follow the prep using their products and clean clean clean and more cleaning!
You will be good to go.
On the gloss as nice as the shine looks you will not want it when driving as the sun glare is pretty bad off it back onto the glass on my 81 F100 when the sun is bright.
What I am thinking is getting the rug cover for when I drive and take it off at shows.
It would also protect the pad when parked at work, at home it is in the garage when not driving the truck.
Dave ----
08-07-2022, 06:37 PM
1966 Dashpad: redye? rehydrate?
