[GTONUT57]

Looking for a good process for installing wood grain dash inserts on 68 GTO? I have used 3M spray glue on back of inserts and also contact cement and both seem to lift after a while.

[6869GTO]

The 3M stuff from a can is great stuff but more suited for insulation,headliners,door panels,other fabric kind of stuff.Contact cement should do the job. Clean both backside of insert and bezel w/denatured alcohol and apply coat to each,wait until all gloss is gone from glue/no longer wet and stick em together.Get it right the first time cause once it's stuck you won't move it.

[Greg Reid]

Just curious, but why are you having to glue the inserts in? The two that I've done were peel and stick.

[Half-Inch Stud]

""""""The 3M stuff from a can"""""

I've been put-off by the modern """"""The 3M stuff from a can"""""": not as tacky as the 15year-ago product, Not as durable adhesive as the 15year ago product. OR product variation has crept in.

My effort has been to REUSE stock woodgrain (because it was so nice) by removing from old-cut-dash ( a 2-step process):

1. Using Mineral Spirits along all edges & gentle pry (take it slow & easy for perfect results).

2. Remove any "adhesive balls or high spots from good dash & woodgrain.
==================================now the install:
3. Spray Woodgrain with a Known-good-batch of 3M Spray Adhesive, ALSO spray a test-pad so you can check tackiness & install while tacky to the good-dash-in-car ( firmly bolted-down dash I suppose).

Stay seated in Driver-seat while woodgrain just sits there looking good & all.
4. Cut small square of Tee-Shirt, wet with Mineral Spirits, and clear-out excess ashesive from the edgings.

5. Sit & stare at Dash assemble and ponder how easy that was. HIS

[GTONUT57]

Thanks for the info. I understand that no glue was applied to dash just wood grain. Also how long is "stare" process? Thanks again.

[Half-Inch Stud]

My opinion: it is "IMPOSSIBLE to apply any adhesive to the dash.

The "sit & stare" process (Step 5) takes about 15 minutes as you take a small "single AA battery-powered flashlight" and go around ALL the edges again and ALL the woodgrain print looking for ANY sort of adhesive balls or smears to remove. During this process you press lightly here&there on the woodgrain to check for contact. Cannot help but ponder between these 2 thoughts "is this it" & "wow this is stunning".

[Greg Reid]

The dash is one of the main things I prefer in the '68 over the '69.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Greg, Your statement is correct & true>

After spending several months inside the 70 Judge with the Stunning Sandlewood Dash assembly with all items & Tilt & Hoodtach working. The 70 OO Judge drives away, & I put the 1968 GTO into the garage and....opening the driver door, I'm presented by the 68 Dash assembly that seems-to-mean-business and promotes a feeling of "yea, this is a welcoming feeling." 68 Interior feels more roomy & 68 Dash imparts a better man-machine interface.

[webfoot]

Which 3m adhesive are you using? The 77 is not suited for places which will see a lot of heat and will eventually let go. I used a different 3M spray adhesive (98? 99?) and it works much better. The 77 let my dash insulation sag after a few months. With the other (I can look if you want) it survived summer with regular temps over 100 and is still as installed.

Test fit that stuff first, my glove box piece didn't fit right and I didn't install it. also I had to sand some areas of the woodgrain prior to gluing to the dash. Came out nice though. (I also glued the woodgrain to the dash because it seems it would easily unpeel in the heat we get here.)

[Half-Inch Stud]

Jeremy, I have had problems with the 77 letting go on other stuff. I used the 3M Super 77, and GEEZ, You are likely correct that the other 3M (98, 99) is the right stuff to use.

[GTONUT57]

Jeremy - Thanks for the info. I prep surface with cleaner then used 3m 80 sprayed on vinyl and waited until tacky and laid it right on and used washers for weight. Worked like a champ. A lot better than the 3m 77 I used the first time. The 3m 77 starting peeling back around gauges.

[newtoGTO]

Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud

My effort has been to REUSE stock woodgrain (because it was so nice) by removing from old-cut-dash ( a 2-step process):

HIS

HIS, if some of the corners are curled how do you "soften" them so they re-lay flat?

[Half-Inch Stud]

My 1968 dash is quite excellent but I did notice it does have a curled edge to the upper-right corner of the radio: Looks like some sort of delamination due to shrinkage. Looks like some heat is needed to de-stress, then try some carefully-APPLIED crazy glue gel to re-lam the Woodgrain film.

IF the curled edge is the within the entire woodgrain thickness then your likely "stuck" with the curl unless you want to apply a cracking stress, followed by glue. Local HEAT is the likely cure, that is best done while the woodgrain is off.

My 1970 woodgrain had no peel or curl issues. But it did have a 3-4 cracks that repaired nicely (this will sound crazy): Masking-Tape taped on the crack's woodgrain side (for alignment & splint support, & JB-Weld on the adhesive side & within the crack. Level-off the adhesive by scraping away. Tape was put to the adhesive side for stablilty & epoxy flatness during cure. Remove tape from adhesive side, keep tape on wood grain side during install. I removed woodgrain-side tape after installation adhesive set-up and the epoxy held. Rather amazed, and it looks quite good.