powerplay
Well-known member
This was a nasty job. It isn't one I would care to do again. The dash has a copper double side tape which holds the foam/vinyl dash to the plastic understructure. The copper foil lets go over time due to heat I believe. This is also complicated by the degradation of the foam. The foam becomes very dry and brittle and loses it hold to the copper foil as well. So JB weld to the rescue. We use it, but it really isn't the better material to use. Some other adhesive that is much thinner with good holding properties would be better.
The problem:
The fix:
If you attempt this and use JB keep some alcohol handy as it will remove the JB weld from the vinyl. You can't help but get it on the vinyl and as long as you remove it before it sets up, it will come off. If you don't get it until it is hard you will have to take a sharp instrument and pick it off very carefully.
You have to clamp the dash piece from two directions. It has to be pulled up and over to get it back in position.
As you can see, you have to get JB weld underneath the copper foil and over the foam so it can hold both in place. If you don't get it on the foam, it will let go of the copper when you remove the clamps. The more JB you get into the foam the better holding power you will get.
here it is done. As you can see, it isn't back in the orignal place because of the thickness of the JB weld. Because you have to put the epoxy on the foam you can get it to return flat on the understructure.
In the car and hopefully it will hold over time. I hope this helps for members who are willing to attempt the fix. Maybe someone will come up with a better adhesive fix.
The problem:
The fix:
If you attempt this and use JB keep some alcohol handy as it will remove the JB weld from the vinyl. You can't help but get it on the vinyl and as long as you remove it before it sets up, it will come off. If you don't get it until it is hard you will have to take a sharp instrument and pick it off very carefully.
You have to clamp the dash piece from two directions. It has to be pulled up and over to get it back in position.
As you can see, you have to get JB weld underneath the copper foil and over the foam so it can hold both in place. If you don't get it on the foam, it will let go of the copper when you remove the clamps. The more JB you get into the foam the better holding power you will get.
here it is done. As you can see, it isn't back in the orignal place because of the thickness of the JB weld. Because you have to put the epoxy on the foam you can get it to return flat on the understructure.
In the car and hopefully it will hold over time. I hope this helps for members who are willing to attempt the fix. Maybe someone will come up with a better adhesive fix.
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