TR6 Dash Refinish and Dash Pad Replacement -- Part 2

To replace my top dash pad, I had to first remove my dash panel. I had done this as part of the dash refinishing, so that was out of the way. The second step was to remove the windshield frame. This was a bigger problem.

The real reason that the first dash top pad (which we replaced in 1991) peeled loose is that we were unable to remove the windshield frame. Its brackets were rusted absolutely solid. Every attempt at levering, banging, hammering, etc yielded nothing. Eventually, I got one of my neighbors to come over and help yank on it. I eventually ended up getting out my torch and heating the bracket- Heat did the trick! (and I did not set the car on fire).

With the windshield frame out, I was able to peel the old dash pad out easily and install the new one. I did glue the new pad in place. I did not want it peeling up 10 years from now.

 

TR6 Dash Refinish and Dash Pad Replacement

Before the 2015 driving season was to start, I decided to refinish the dash in my TR, as well as finally replace the top pad of my dash area. The dash itself had a little sun and water damage, and frankly I had not really finished it correctly in the first place. The top dash panel itself had released from the scuttle and from under the windshield frame and it was curling up. It looked terrible!

To re-do the dash panel, I had to remove all the instruments and separate the panel from the car.

From there, I block sanded the panel with 320 grit paper. This process took quite a while as I wanted to take it down past the sun/water damaged areas. Next up, I used Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil Gunstock finish to finish the dash panel. The way I did this was by using progressively finer grits of paper and 'wet-sanding' the dash. The lubricant for each grade of paper was the Tru-Oil itself.

My process was to put a drop of Tru-Oil on the dash, sand in small circles with the paper, then wipe the slurry off the board, across the grain so that I would push it into the grain and fill it. I did this 4-5 times with the 400 grit paper and 2-3 times with the 600 grit paper. Finally, I used 1000 grit, 1200, 1500, 2000 and 3000 grit paper.

Finally, I 'French polished' the dash with straight Tru-Oil with a little cotton buff. After letting this sit for a week, I buffed this out with a microfiber towel and Meguiars plastic polish. I chose the plastic polish because it is very gentle.

The results are wonderful!