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Triumph TR6 - Dash Pad Restoration

I checked our archives and CDII but did not find recommendations for putting life back into the black dash pad.

Before I start experimenting with leather products, boot polish, 303, etc. does anyone have experience with this? The material on the lower pad seems to be leather and the upper appears more like vinyl. Is this correct? It's the lower pad that has faded and needs some leather compatible TLC.

Ideas?

Ken 76
Ken Shaddock

Think it is all vinyl.
DON KELLY

Ken:

All dash pads are vinyl. They can be painted with Mar-Hyde vinyl paint products or SEM color coat, flexible coating, which you can use on vinyl,plastic and carpet. I used SEM on the new carpet, which had gray primer overspray from the paint job and it worked great. I also repainted the old center console with excellent results. Repair is not usually viable due to the cracking from age and the brittle foam filler under the vinyl. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Bob
1976 - TR6
Bob Evans

Hi Bob... can the Mar-Hyde or SEM be wiped on like stain to avoid a major masking tape job or total dash disassembly?

Is it strickly the SEM that has the flex agent and not Mar-Hyde with which I have some experience? I like its quick flash off time. I had heard that a flex agent was added only by professional auto painters and is not in spray cans. Is that not correct?

Ken
Ken Shaddock

Ken
Take a look at the CD specifically TRF books and you will see it is not much to take them off. You will have great difficulty in spraying them in place.
Let me know how it looks as I have a little blue over spray (from the DPO not me) on the passenger side.
Rick
Rick Crawford

Had a thought about using black shoe dye today during a full day of 6ing over to the Haliburton Highlands. Just one of those days when one could drive forever snaking around lakes, rock cuts, esses... hwy 118 is one of the great ones.

When we pulled into our restaurant destination called "That Place In Carnarvon" there were 24 American oldies parked... a car club from the Kawarthas had arrived just ahead of us that included a Corvair Monza Spider.

Will advise on the dash.

Ken
Ken Shaddock

Ken,

I have some knowledge regarding vinyl and upholstery products as they are related to my business.

I would not try anything on your vinyl pads unless, a) a product has been tested and over time has proven to be succesful, or, b) the vinyl is so fatigued that you have nothing to lose.

Vinyls contain oils that react when exposed to agents that are not alike.
JOHN BRUNATTI

Thx John... I'm not in category 'b' so I'll continue on hold. Because the walnut dash was refinished and the rest of the interior is fresh the dash pad looks a bit tired hence the temptation to work on it.

Ken
Ken Shaddock

Ken:

I'll have to check the cans and get back to you tomorrow. Strictly spray cans that I used with the console removed. I did the console and carpet in 2005 after repaint and the console takes Armorall nicely and still looks great.

Cheers,
Bob
Bob Evans

Hi Bob... In the interim I have detailed it with 303 which may preclude paint or dye in future but it now looks pretty darn good. This fall I think I'll pull it all apart, disassemble and clean all the instuments and replace those rectangular plastic lenses over the EGR, Emergency Brake, and so on. They look rough. Might replace a couple of knobs too. The choke knob is well worn and so is the wiper/washer knob... the car's from BC where liquid sunshine causes wear on wiper knobs.

Ken
Ken Shaddock

Auto Glym do a product called bumper care brings plastic, rubber and hoods back to looking new. I use it all the time on my six, and my moder cars.

Regards
Malcolm
M Wright

Good stuff... thanks Malcolm. I will look for it over here or in the USA.

Ken
Ken Shaddock

Let me know if you can't any and i'll be happy to mail you a bottle.

Regards
Malcolm
M Wright

Okay thanks Malcolm! I'll be out and about in the next few weeks so I'll soon know.

Ken
Ken Shaddock

No luck thus far in the US and I have reached Denver, CO. I did find a product from Mothers called Back to Black which looks promising. Will try on the dash when I get back home. Ken.
Ken Shaddock

Ken,

Black to black is ok but it washes off easily if put on plastic on the outside. Is it the one in the aerosole can.

Malcolm
M Wright

No Malcolm... it's in a red plastic bottle and is like a liquid polish. The instructions do say that it must be applied liberally and used regularly so you could be quite right about the wash off bit.
Ken Shaddock

Ken,
Try Eastwood's dash repair kit. About $27.00USD. Use for vinyl, leather and plastic.
db
Doug Baker

Thx Doug... will look for that too while I'm being a tourist. Am immersed in Utah currently hiking myself into submission at all of your wonderful national parks. Ken
Ken Shaddock

I recently acquired a 1973 TR6. The dash pad is marred by red paint from the previous owner, and has some tears. I came across a website for "Darby Dashboards" that makes a replacement in black vinyl for $US90. Does anyone have experience with this option? I think restoration would be useless. Thanks for any suggestions.
S A Friedman

This thread was discussed between 04/07/2009 and 15/09/2009

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