1970-72 Dash Pad with that Darn Dreadful BEND

Has anyone ever attempted to repair these 1970-72 dash pads that always seem to have this BEND/Curve to them. Must be a poor design, sun or high heat?

I have seen a lot worse than this one, but it just drives me nuts.:rant:

 

Typical warpage....leave it be....if you try to straighten it...you will break the vinyl

 

I'm just amazed that after 40+ years these things have held up so well.

 

How about the careful application of heat Then reverse the pressure by placing something on the warpage to straighten it out. I have a plan to try it on a AC pad I have

 

Thats what I would do^^^ Maybe use hot water or steam.

 

i wouldn't mess with it....

 

You can fix it. I have done it. Try this it works. Place the dash across two milk crates upside down with the warped part in the opening between the two crates. Put a small sqaure halogen lamp underneath it. The kind with the small bar under it and the cage over it. Plug it in so it points up towards the dash and put some small weights on it. I used 2-5 lb circular metal weights. Make sure there are a few inches of clearance. Watch it closely and you can see it move. Never walk away from it for even a second. It may take several tries. I keep touching the bottom to make sure I do not burn it. Use your judgement. If it gets too hot move it from the heat quick. I have fixed several this way. If you really need a picture I can try to set something up. This may take several attemps. Keep trying and removing it. The more attempts and quicker you do it the better it will work. Please do not blame me if you burn it. That is why I keep touchng it to check it.

 

Also the nice thing about the heat is it softens the vinyl lessening the chance it will crack.

 

I was thinking of a more indirect kind of heat to try to reverse engineer the droop. Think it did not happen all at once so I bet you can slowly add heat and get it to move.Steam might be a consideration. Anyway if I get it to work I will post pics of what I did

 

John. The halogen is quick and easy. No real long term stress.

 

Steam may also infiltrate the polyurethane inards and cause mold.

 

I will try that too, but I thought a slow process might be the best since it took 40 years to make it droop. I saw a NOS one on ebay about 3 or 4 years ago and it was droopy was well.
Not to dig these things out. and try it

 

Wife's hair dryer into action.

 

Hair dryer does not get hot like the Halogen. I fixed a dash that got left in a hot car bought at the GS nationals. It warped in an afternoon. They can warp just sitting out of a car for years. Best to fix it and get it right in car.

 

...and after you fix it, you might want to put one of those dash cover "rugs" on it when you leave it out in the sun...

 

All great comments, thanks! :gp:

 

hmmm.. looks like a non-A/C sedan dash pad, not exactly easy to find. Dan let us know if you are able to "fix it" because we've probably all got one laying around with that type of sag.