Cracked Dashboard Repair - Padded Dashboard

This Datsun 280Z dash has a large split in the vinyl, exposing the underlying urethane foam. The vinyl is puckered at each edge, which will require a fairly wide repair. This video shows the step-by-step procedures for restoring this dashboard. We will fill the missing foam with FiberFlex welding rod applied with an airless plastic welder.

At the end of the video, we demonstrate how to use Polyvance’s Flextex VT to re-texture the dash after it has been repaired.

Do not attempt to weld the FiberFlex rods with the nitrogen plastic welder.

Check out our Padded Dashboard Repair SOP and FlexTex VT SOP!

Always wear proper safety gear while working!

Let us know your thoughts on this video by leaving a comment on YouTube!
Click here: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x8qtvG-Y8U

Products Used:

Note: This is a list of the Polyvance products that can be used to make this repair. This list does not include sanders, grinders, or other common tools you will need. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call technical support at 800-633-3047.

• 1000 Super Prep Plastic Cleaner (three options available) OR 1001-4 EcoPrep Plastic Cleaner
• FiberFlex Welding Rod and Reinforcing Mesh (choose a method below):
• 5210 FiberFlex Repair Kit (230V kit available here). The kit includes 15 feet of FiberFlex welding rod.
• FiberFlex Welding Rods with the airless plastic welding side of a nitrogen plastic welder or an one of our other airless plastic welders.
• 5700HT Mini-Weld Model 7 (230V kit available here). The 5700HT kit includes a 15 foot starter pack of FiberFlex welding rod.
• Note: Make sure you are using the 6031 flat tear drop shaped welding tip when using the flat FiberFlex rods.
• 1060 Filler Prep Adhesion Promoter
• 2050-9 Padded Dash Filler
• Plastic Magic Adhesion Promoter (several options available)
• Waterborne Primer Surfacer (several options available)
• Flextex VT (several options available) OR PROTEXB Aerosol Texture Coating

Video Notes:

• Super Clean plastic cleaner has been renamed Super Prep.
• Many of our do-it-yourself customers do not have an air compressor and spray gun that are necessary when spraying Flextex. Since we don't make an aerosol texture spray, we are now stocking PROTEXB Texture Coating in an aerosol can. This is the aerosol texture spray seen at 5:53 in the video.
• English Closed Captions have been provided for this video. Click on the CC button to turn them on or off.
• The length of this video is in no way representative of the actual time required to perform a complete repair and therefore should not be used for estimating purposes.

English Transcript:

This Datsun 280Z dash has a large split in the vinyl, exposing the underlying urethane foam. The vinyl is puckered at each edge, which will require a fairly wide repair. This drawing shows a cross section of the damaged dash with the split vinyl curling up and the cratered out foam underneath.

This is the first step of the repair sequence - opening up the crack and removing the curled up vinyl. You should bevel the edges of the vinyl as much as possible to make a smooth transition. The next step of the repair process will be to fill the missing foam with FiberFlex welding rod. Note that the FiberFlex is applied over the edges of the vinyl. Our last step will be to apply Padded Dash Filler over the entire area, making sure the edges of the repair area remain buried underneath to minimize any haloing effects.

The first step is to clean the surface with 1000 Super Clean plastic cleaner to remove any silicone dressings that may have been applied.

Using a Dremel tool with a drum sander, or a rotary sander, sand back the puckered vinyl cover until the cover is fairly flat. Sand back to expose vinyl that still has a solid connection to the underlying foam. V out the urethane foam with the sander to expose the foam underneath. Bevel the edges of the vinyl as much as possible with the sander. Feather back the repair area with 80 grit sandpaper in a dual-action sander.

Use a Polyvance airless plastic welding tool with the FiberFlex welding rod to fill the v-grooved foam completely. The FiberFlex will link into the foam and form a solid, yet flexible, foundation for the filler that will be applied. Once the FiberFlex cools, sand flush with 80 grit in a DA sander. If any low spots remain, reapply FiberFlex, let cool, and sand again.

Blow the area dust free with compressed air.

Apply 1060FP Filler Prep to the area that will be filled.

Mix 2050-9 Padded Dash Filler with cream hardener. Mix completely until the putty turns a uniform color. Apply Padded Dash Filler over the repair, several inches on either side of the welded area to bury the edges of the v-grooved area. Sand filler with 80 grit, then 180 grit sandpaper. When finished, the filler should still cover the edges of the vinyl so as to keep them buried under the filler.

Sand the entire dashboard with 180 grit sandpaper to remove much of the existing texture.

Apply 1050 Plastic Magic overall to help the primer stick to the dashboard. Apply a Polyvance waterborne primer to fill the existing texture.

Sand overall with 240 and 320 grit paper.

Apply spot putty over the repair area if necessary, sand, then reapply primer. Keep sanding and priming until the surface is fairly smooth and the repair area is hidden.

The dash can be retextured with our aerosol texture spray for do-it-yourselfers. Apply three light coats by "splattering" the paint droplets on the surface to simulate texture. For more control over the texture appearance, use Polyvance's Flextex VT texture spray with a 2.0 nozzle spray gun. Apply three light coats by splattering the paint droplets on the surface. Keep the gun moving and don't allow the paint to load up or flow out.

The finished dash looks nearly brand-new thanks to plastic repair products from the innovator in plastic repair, Polyvance.