[Redpiston]

Man with all this action I should get a commission LOL.
Seriously though, you mentioned you had core to redo one. Send me PM of cost

[mgarblik]

Yes, there is definitely a market for dash pad restoration business that has the proper skills, materials and processes. Think of the tens of thousands of classic cars out there with cracked or damaged pads and the only vendor in the US I could find is Just Dash's. I have had a few done by them and have been satisfied with the work but since they are the only vendor, their prices have gone off into the stratosphere somewhere.

[Willshire]

My quote the other day was astronomical and then shipping on top with cdn exchange. I just about puked. Almost as much as the quality restorations steering wheel. Now, if an honest guy like Phil came along and produced a similar product with respectable margins that would be a different story lol.

[Redpiston]

I recall reading posts in the past of a company in Sweden that had the capacity to do them. Did they ever make any in roads to doing this?

[66 Wagon]

Here's a pic I took two weeks ago at Power Big Meet in Västerås, Sweden
that shows what the dashpads for '65 Pontiac with AC looks like.
This is a restored dashpad, made in Sweden, by RD AUtoline

[mgarblik]

They need to open a branch in the US somewhere. It looks beautiful. I found them when I was "searching the world" for a vendor to do my 62 Catalina pad. Sending it to Sweden was just going to cost way too much. About 20 years ago, I had Just Dash's do my 66 Catalina AC pad in that same color. It came out great and was around $650.00. It would be close to $2500.00 today. I don't think I am a penny pincher, but that seems like allot of $$ unless I am out of touch with current reality.

[66 Wagon]

They are like $800 in Swedish money for a non-AC Pontiac pad. They do '59-60 Cadillac as well but they're twice as much I think.
Other cars is available too. You need to send the core but I think that some of the more popular models,
like 65-66 Pontiac, they have some in stock so you don't have to wait for them. They can do any color.

[70ra455]

mgarblik got the pics and will bring them to my guy tomorrow ... looks way more complicated than the '66 but I'm not sure.

[70ra455]

I emailed Sweden for prices and they have not gotten back to me.

We should be able to get quality pads done (your core) for $800. Plus shipping of course.

Redpiston I will get pics of cores I have ... '66 right?

[Redpiston]

Yes 66 with AC

[mgarblik]

I think the only difficult area will be where the core metal ends and the pad continues to the windshield. That could be difficult. the rest of the pad is almost flat and much simpler than a 66 AC pad for example. But the experts should know for sure. Thank you.

[70ra455]

Redpiston can you give me your phone # and I'll send the pics. I'm going to one of my 2 partners in this venture to show pics of the '62 dash ... I'll bring with me all the pics everyone sent.

I'll give pics of my '66 a/c dash in NOS material (which is different that new vinyl and it even has a metallic sheen to it as original). The grille and deflector were only put in there to ensure fitment.

[Willshire]

What did you use under the vinyl? molded foam?

[Redpiston]

That looks really good. I noticed your speaker grill. Do we have a source for replacements?

[70ra455]

I'm not sure what a "molded" foam is? Do you mean "pre formed"? We need to stretch and sand the foam when necessary for the proper contours.

Redpiston the speak grill was just an extra that I had. I have a bunch of them. I just lost the opportunity for another one as well ... it was sold out from under me ... grrrr .. vacations are killers! lolol Oh well, marriage is more important than extra car parts ... did I just say that?

[Willshire]

Yes I meant shaped foam to meet original shape. The pics I emailed you last week or so I just stretched vinyl over some 1/8" open cell foam. Just wondered how you created the foam backing

[70ra455]

Each situation is different depending on the condition of the original pad and it's foam. Closed cell foam works great for shaping with a sander.

[mgarblik]

I will wait to hear from you and your associates. I could probably make a cardboard template to show where the new restored pad needs to go to meet the windshield. It's a strange way to make a pad with really no core material for the last several inches as you approach the windshield. I guess they assumed the moulding would cover the area which it more or less does. The defroster cut out is another slightly challenging area.

[Redpiston]

I think I may have made a mistake on getting a core. I picked up a good core with no rust out of a 66 Bonne 4dr. I'm not sure it will work on a Cat.

I saw Vidan's post for selling pads and he references GP and Bonne but no Catalina. Sounds like the Bonne pad will not work in a Catalina.

Did I make a mistake?

[Deadhead]

Should be fine. Chrome front is same. I believe that SOME Cats only had part and not the full padded. Could be wrong.