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Triumph TR3 - Dashboard re-covering

After removing all parts from a pathetic dash, which is removed from the car, I found that there was a blue, elastic (plastic)material on the sheet metal. I removed that material assuming that it was the glue for the original cloth covering. Could someone tell me what that blue material is and also how do you fasten the new vinyl without wrinkles in the glovebox door area or the center instrument panel corners?
Jerry Goulet

Hi Jerry, I am restoring my 58 TR3 I bought in November. I have recovered all the interior pieces. THe dash isnt to hard to do. I can't tell you what the blue stuff was. My material stripped off with no problem. Then I used laquer thinner to remove the glue residue. My metal dash is a dirty red colored metal. It cleaned up nice. When you cut out for the glove box and gauges leave at least two inches of material larger than the holes. With a razor blade you will need to slit the overhanging material into many tiny pie sections. The straight areas can be like 1-1 1/2 " long pie sections. It get critical around the corners where you must make many slits. Just do not slit furthur down in the material than about 1/4" from the metal dash. Now, the secret is a blow (hair) dryer. When your glue is ready to set, heat the overhanging material with the dryer. It helps to heat the marterial some which is covering the dash around the same area. You can get all the wrinkles out this way. With the material warm, it is very easy to work with. Don't pull the material extremely hard because when it is warm, it will strech easily and you will see the strech marks ound the cut out in the front of the dash. It may sound complex but it is real easy to do once the material is warm. Use the hair dryer to warm up any material which has to cover around corners. Such as the elbow caps behind the doors. It wont take long to get the hang of it. Another secret is the right glue. I used the upholstry glue from Moss Motors I think. It is in the catalog, quart can. Put on with at paint brush. I expect contact cement might work as well, but the glue I used let you pull it back up if you made a mistake. It made the job easy to work with. Good Luck. Joe
Joe Lackey

This thread was discussed between 02/05/2000 and 09/05/2000

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