Soft-covered dash pieces

[GTOger]

Driving the ZR-1 into work this morning I caught myself noticing how much hard plastic is in the cockpit. I love the car, but let's be honest... the fit/finish is not on par with what is out there today. The water mark for "high end" has moved substantially since our cars were designed.

This leads me to wonder about having the individual dash pieces wrapped / covered in a soft-touch material. Leather, or leather-like. It would need to be thin enough so as to allow room around the seams.

I'm sure I can't be the first to consider such a thing, but I haven't found any examples after searching around the Interwebs for a while. Has anyone heard of such a thing, or better yet tried it and has pics to share?

Off the top of my head, I'm thinking it should be easy enough to source some used dash pieces, which wouldn't even have to be in great shape, just complete. Then select an appropriate material, trim it up, use some spray adhesive and mount it to the plastic pieces, then insert back into the car.

I wonder if there might even be a little cottage industry for an enterprising craftsman. :)

The A-pillars could really use a similar treatment, as well....

[Racinfan83]

There is a material out there called "pleather" which is a thin leather look with a white backing. I have used it on things like rear package trays and dash top covers. And if you wanted a little "poofiness" you could always put some quilting batting behind it...
I actually think you have a good idea! Wouldn't want to use good stuff to practice on though - def find some used pieces...

Here is a link I found right quick - look at the black textured one - http://www.joann.com/pleather-many-colors/xprd757783/

[Fully Vetted]

There was another thread on this topic a few months back. It may have been more about resurfacing these pieces instead of covering them. I'll look for it.

[Fully Vetted]

On another note, GTOger, we should hook up when I get back from BG. We're neighbors. I'd like to see your car. Were you out at the car show at the church in Richardson a couple of weeks ago? My Dad was there and said he saw a red ZR-1. Just curious. Sorry for hijacking. Now back to the regularly scheduled programming...

[-=Jeff=-]

http://tonys.dontexist.net/#/interior-page-1/4525792421

there is some ideas in that link

[Z51JEFF]

Years ago I covered some of the interior panels in an 84 I used to own with grey wool,looked really nice.Im planning on doing the same thing in my Z here pretty soon.The panels covered will be the halo trim,rear window trim,seat backs and I want to make a fiberglass panel that goes over the instruments that ties into the panels that flows into the shift plate.Ive got a hard cover for the console door that will be covered as well.Im rounding up the spare parts I need for this so I wont use any of my stock parts in the car now.Im getting pretty bored of the car so I need something to change the look abit.

[GTOger]

http://tonys.dontexist.net/#/interior-page-1/4525792421

there is some ideas in that link

Yeah, I really like what that guy did. I may go for something in that direction, yet not all-out on the dash with the stitching. Although it's nice, it's nothing like you'd see on a Corvette and so (in my opinion) it looks a bit out of place. I had a little wedge constructed for my 8" sub, and it sounds fantastic, but I'm really impressed with the way that he fit those subs in to where you wouldn't even know they are there. I may need to revisit that sometime.

But yeah, back to the dash, I'm really thinking about going with a fabric (ie: leather, leatherette, or some cloth) instead of "flocking" it. I'm far more confident in my ability to wrap it in fabric than I am in getting a nice evenly applied coating.

The wife really liked the idea so we're working on getting some used pieces for the A-pillars, windshield header, radio trim and center console that we can experiment with. The one I get won't be from a ZR-1, so I'll have to drill a hole for the power key.

[GTOger]

On another note, GTOger, we should hook up when I get back from BG. We're neighbors. I'd like to see your car. Were you out at the car show at the church in Richardson a couple of weeks ago? My Dad was there and said he saw a red ZR-1. Just curious. Sorry for hijacking. Now back to the regularly scheduled programming...

Hi David, yup, we met your dad @ The Heights show a little while back. Super nice guy! Sounds like he needs to get his car on the road! ;)

[Corbusa]

The link to Tony's has some serious nice seats .. thanks Jeff.

[GTOger]

The link to Tony's has some serious nice seats .. thanks Jeff.

100% agreed. I almost wish my seats were in rough shape so I'd have an excuse to cover them with something other than the faux-sandpaper from the factory. If that's leather, that must have been one mean cow.


For now I'm just going to take little baby steps. I've been through the full body-off resto before and this time around I'll try constant little projects rather than a massive full-scale automotive assault! ;)

Assuming that I can get the plastic pieces reasonably, I will post with my success and/or failure.

[-=Jeff=-]

I want to do something like Toni did with his dash pad.. just not sure exactly how I want it to look

My current dash pad is starting to curl and has a few issues so I am swapping it with another one that is better for the curling but has a couple other minor issues..

[WydGlydJim]

Put a 415 in it....you won't notice such things!
:D

[Fully Vetted]

Yes, cubes cover a multitude of sins. As does boost. Neither of which I have!

[Fully Vetted]

Hi David, yup, we met your dad @ The Heights show a little while back. Super nice guy! Sounds like he needs to get his car on the road! ;)

Yes, he does. Ok, I'll touch base with you in a couple of weeks.

[GOLDCYLON]

This thread from my memory banks came to mind. He went all leather

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-general-discussion/1408445-minor-interior-tinkering-modem-burner-3.html

[RICKYRJ1]

Yeah, I really like what that guy did. I may go for something in that direction, yet not all-out on the dash with the stitching. Although it's nice, it's nothing like you'd see on a Corvette and so (in my opinion) it looks a bit out of place. I had a little wedge constructed for my 8" sub, and it sounds fantastic, but I'm really impressed with the way that he fit those subs in to where you wouldn't even know they are there. I may need to revisit that sometime.

But yeah, back to the dash, I'm really thinking about going with a fabric (ie: leather, leatherette, or some cloth) instead of "flocking" it. I'm far more confident in my ability to wrap it in fabric than I am in getting a nice evenly applied coating.

The wife really liked the idea so we're working on getting some used pieces for the A-pillars, windshield header, radio trim and center console that we can experiment with. The one I get won't be from a ZR-1, so I'll have to drill a hole for the power key.

The stiching is used for a reason, it allows the leather to lay properly on the surface you are covering. The better the quality of the leather the easier it is to work with. To wrap the Interior pieces mentioned is a straight forward job that can be done by most. Pieces that need stitching to make them work would require someone of a superior skill set.