TR2/3/3A Dash coverin

I’m about to start recovering my dash on my ‘61 TR3a. The PO had painted it. I sanded off all the old pint and put it in primer until I got to this point. Now I’m wondering if I should strip off the primer before I put the contact cement down or is it ok to leave on there?

Yes, leave the primer. That is the way the factory did it too.

I don't know if this is documented or at what point it was done or how it was done but it appears that the later 3A had a molded vinyl covering on the dash. My '59 pre-60k has the standard vinyl glued on while my '60 post 60k had the molded vinyl. I mention this because it is difficult to reproduce the molded shapes with stretched vinyl. I think that there are stretchier vinyls available today as well as better glue so you may be a able to get a perfect job, otherwise look at older cars as your standard.
Tom

I just removed the vinyl from my 60s dashboard and it was really thin (molded?). Nothing but bare pristine metal underneath.

I am actually contemplating doing the whole thing in the wrinkle finish that I just did on the center panel. Thankfully, if I did (or do), my interior will already be black. Drawback, what will I do with my glove box door?

Ok, so the takeaway here is that the dash must be primered before gluing down vinyl?
Oh, BTW, VHT wrinkle finish says to cure by baking for one hour at 200 degrees, but I left mine under halogens for a week and it came out hard as a rock.

It has been sugested you should paint the back of the dash white it helps see back there when its all together and you are on your back trying to fix a problem?

Graham

Graham, totally agree with you, unless you're trying to do concours. Then you would want it as stock as possible (and clean and pristine). Maybe a silver?

I went into JoAnn's fabrics on a whim today. Found a PU vinyl (say pleather) that was very thin, rather inexpensive ($9 per yard) but it had a polypro back that was a little bit fluffy but quite removable though, it was 54" wide, so I could theoretically get about 6 dashes out of 1 yard. Inexpensive enough to ruin and not care. I am not sure how this stuff will work, but the grain looked good (three to choose from). I am certain I can strip it back off if I don't like it. the bonus is they had a bunch of different vinyls of varying thicknesses, but not a huge amount of colors. I originally went in to look at tan vinyls to surprise my dad with. None of them were the right color, so I'll keep looking.

Graham, let us know how it comes out.

quick update on JoAnn's: Some of their premium vinyls were $20 a yard and looked identical to the vinyl used in the interior kit from TRF. Too thick for dash boards, but for cap rails, and interior panels, it looked like a perfect match.

If you are planning on covering your interior panels yourself, you should check it out. They also carried a huge assortment of adhesives. Somewhere along the way, I guess JoAnn's Fabrics turned into a craft store. Pretty convenient since it's just a few doors down from my shop. I picked up the PU leather, adhesive and some blades for trimming.

A fellow TR owner went to a local auto upholstery shop and was sold a can ( I believe a pint or so) of their glue that they use. He got a lot more than he could use , so I help him out by using it also. Great stuff.
I have poured over the choices at various hobby stores and seldom find anything that good.
As to drying the wrinkle paint. I try to do that painting in the summer. But then it gets in the 100's here and I just use the sun to dry them.

I used the TRF vinyl which came in a kit with the leather for the capings.

Graham

I bought the whole interior from TRF in leather. They supplied some leather for the cappings and dash. It wasn't too difficult to do the dash in leather. A little help from a heat gun, and good contact cement and the dash still looks good seven years later. I used 3M Super 90 for the spray, and a bottle of Welwood in a jar.

If my budget was more fluid...

I like TRF, and have lots of parts all in packages from them. I believe my interior kit is for the capping all the way around, but no dash kit (unless it's that loose stuff in there). I won't be out too much if this stuff I got doesn't work out, but if it does I am way ahead. If that loose stuff is for the dash, well I'll have extra then.

Either way, your dash will really set off your car. It's the first thing everyone sees when they either look or sit inside. You'll see it over and over and over. I personally can't wait to see mine back in the car, with new covering, polished up gauges shining back at me.

Good luck and post some photos!

Ron