Dash top curling

jdesk · 10-16-2008, 02:33:12 PM

Can anyone give me some advise on how to fix this?
My dash is near mint, only problem is where it meets the metal part on top
its comming loose and curling up. Is there an easy way to fix this?
Please help....
Jerry

wilnotsam · 10-17-2008, 02:35:16 AM

well. you COULD go ahead and just do what my 71 camaro's previous owner did and screw as many wood screws of various lengths into the dash pad until it almost sort of stops curling up >=/

or not, whatever.

honestly though, im interested to see if you guys come up with a solution for this, because i could use one as well.

72BIGBLOCK · 10-17-2008, 03:26:27 AM

anyone? I need one too

Matt T · 10-17-2008, 02:17:40 PM

Search for "dash curling" and you'll find several ideas. There used to be pictures of using a metal strip to screw it back down from the top, but I think they disappeared when the site was converted a while ago.

This is one of the more useful ones I noticed:

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showth...t=dash+curling

delaware67 · 10-17-2008, 04:14:54 PM

A friend of mine repaired his using Gorilla glue. Use a small amount because it will expand abit. Put a board like a 2x4 across the edge and set some weights on it to hole it down while it dries. It worked for him

Southern72 · 10-17-2008, 06:53:19 PM

One guy on this board manages to fix his and at the time it had been two years and was still holding. I made note because my dash is also mint but curling. He removed the dash from the car and cleaned inside the lifted area. then he poured a two part epoxy from Napa in the area placed a 2x4 o the top and bottom and held it in place with a C clamp. Let sit for a day or two and it has worked. I may try this before I order a repop dash.

Jazn_84 · 10-18-2008, 12:53:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilnotsam

well. you COULD go ahead and just do what my 71 camaro's previous owner did and screw as many wood screws of various lengths into the dash pad until it almost sort of stops curling up.

My car's previous owner did the same thing

Blue70 · 10-19-2008, 09:04:34 AM

You can see my fix here.. worked for me, and never will curl again
(and no one ever knew anything was ever wrong)
http://community.webshots.com/user/95red1

72BIGBLOCK · 10-19-2008, 02:38:03 PM

blue70 can you please explain what you did I like your results

Blue70 · 10-20-2008, 07:13:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72BIGBLOCK

blue70 can you please explain what you did I like your results

If you take a look at the photos in the link I posted you might be able to see, but my stock dash was TRASHED, it was all goopy, and warped BAD!
I took the warped dash, trimmed the top layer of material and padding back about 1".
Then I took a tiny drillbit and drilled a few holes, and put in some tiny screws to pull the pad back down.
Once the pad was back down I epoxied a rubber strip down over the screw heads to bring it back up level to the stock dash pad (It about 1/4" rubber if I remember right)
Once the rubber was set I glued down a dash cap..
Looked great, and as you can see by the photos a HUGE improvement for less than $80

**Fbodywarehouse** · 11-01-2009, 10:08:02 AM

You can use a heat gun and heat the fiberglass inner liner AND / OR the top wrap then restaple down in place.

Use 1-2's to get it even. It is a B___CH to do though.

OER offers a new dash pad also you can get from us or any of the other larger companies in the industry

1971CamaroGuy · 11-01-2009, 10:32:44 AM

On the 85-92 Firebird, the center consoles had a habit of curling / separating by the shifter plate. I fixed that with some 2-part epoxy and clamps.

I was curious if anyone has heated the dash to flatten the curl and using lord fusor panel adhesive? It's about $40 -50 a tube, but I used it on my corvette body panels and it held like a charm. You would have to chisel the area where the door metal is glued to the fiberglass skin.

http://www.azautobodysupply.com/lordfusor1.html

qn60e6 · 11-02-2009, 04:02:15 AM

To fix my curling dash,, I used a heat gun on both sides of the dash working at 12 inch sections. I used files on both sides and clamped them together to get them flat, let it cool then worked my way down the dash. Once that was relatively straight I bought some 1/2 inch aluminum channeling from Lowes and bent it to fit the edge. The channeling I bought was about a foot shy I have to find a longer piece or have it welded together. Next is to secure the channel to the dash by gluing or some other method, I can't finish it just yet because I am playing in the mid east sandbox. I'll post pics later today to show you what I mean. This is my idea to fix the curl, it may work for you. I think once you polish the channel up it will match the lines of the car.

kngfsr184 · 11-02-2009, 04:37:52 AM

I used the heatgun and epoxy method too. My dash was absolutly mint except for the Camaro curl....I removed it from the car and SLOWLY heated it with the gun, otherwise the fiberglas cracks. The wife hated it cause it did it in the livingroom watching TV...Anyway after I had everything relatively flattend and clamped. I used the slow setting, high hold epoxy. On the dash re-install I ordered an extra set of repop dash clips and fastened them in with small self tapping machine screws. It is a bitch to get a gun underneath but you can do it...I would recommend hex heads for any under dash drilling...GO slow and keep your finger above the screw...I was able to just barely feel the screw tip and then just backed it off an RCH....I fixed mine over a year ago and it is still holding good. If (when) it ever goes bad I will spring for the OER replacement dash, not just the cap. Just my .02

1971CamaroGuy · 11-02-2009, 09:02:47 AM

I noticed that the material on my stock dash is extremely hard at the curl. I think a lot of it has to do with cold weather, but do you think a heat gun will make it flexible enough to lay flat again to glue it?

Right now ants could use it as a ski slope