Meet Red, my 81 Restomod Build

[Randyzzz]

Randy, no first hand product experience with this company Metro Moulded Parts Inc.
They have been sponsors of the last few National Scrambles.
They offer a cowl seal. Might be worth giving them a shot.
Hit me up if interested and I'll get you a 25% off coupon (that goes for anyone else as well.

Catalogue

metrommp.com

Sent you a PM. Sounds great- I’ll give it a try.

While waiting for some clamps, I swapped out the aftermarket dash pad for the factory pad. It fits so much better. I’ll get it looking good and use it.

 

[FLCJ8]

While waiting for some clamps, I swapped out the aftermarket dash pad for the factory pad. It fits so much better. I’ll get it looking good and use it.

Looking forward to your restoration of this to guide me in repairing mine.

 

[Randyzzz]

Looking forward to your restoration of this to guide me in repairing mine.

I’ve never really done one before, at least not the way I’m going to try and get this one done. Stay tuned!

I did contact “Just Dashes”. They will restore a dash to make it look new. They fill the cracks, cover it with a base material, and heat/vacuum form a new top layer so it looks like new. However, it ain’t cheap…they gave me an estimate of $900 plus shipping and a 4-5 month wait. Ouch! Looks like I better do a good job.

http://www.justdashes.com/?s=Jeep

 

[FLCJ8]

I’ve never really done one before, at least not the way I’m going to try and get this one done. Stay tuned!

I did contact “Just Dashes”. They will restore a dash to make it look new. They fill the cracks, cover it with a base material, and heat/vacuum form a new top layer so it looks like new. However, it ain’t cheap…they gave me an estimate of $900 plus shipping and a 4-5 month wait. Ouch! Looks like I better do a good job.

http://www.justdashes.com/?s=Jeep

From your past builds I have no doubt that never having done one before will keep you from doing a great job.

 

[Randyzzz]

From your past builds I have no doubt that never having done one before will keep you from doing a great job.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I going to give it my best.

 

[Belizeit]

Looking forward to how the Metro gasket fits

 

[zr10054]

Sent you a PM. Sounds great- I’ll give it a try.

While waiting for some clamps, I swapped out the aftermarket dash pad for the factory pad. It fits so much better. I’ll get it looking good and use it. View attachment 102831View attachment 102832

 

[zr10054]

I might copy your center console design.

 

[Randyzzz]

Worked on the dash pad today. I block sanded it until it looked great, but once all is said and done it’s maybe an 8 out of 10. You can still see where the dash was repaired. This is why I don’t do body work! I don’t know what caused it… Here’s some pics.

I may get another can of the texture, sand the top more, and give it another several coats. Waiting to take the masking off the lettering until I decide.

It looks a bit better out in the sun. Another few coats of texture then more paint might help…or it might totally screw it up. Hmmm.

 

[Randyzzz]

My gut it telling me to let it cure for a couple of days, add a couple more coats of paint, and be happy with it. And if I’m not at that time look for a nicer used one.

I’m also considering some sort of tray like on the newer JK’s. That would cover the less-than-perfect areas.

Edit: I can’t leave well enough alone. I ordered another can of texture- going to resand the top and shoot it again. And then paint with a more matte color, maybe Plasticote. Like I said- it will either look better or be worse. Hoping for the better result.
Wow- that 3rd picture makes it look worse than it does in person.

 

[RockTractor]

Wow- that 3rd picture makes it look worse than it does in person.

I love your build and your drive for perfection...
That third picture is the only one I really notice anything at all on.

 

[Randyzzz]

I love your build and your drive for perfection...
That third picture is the only one I really notice anything at all on.

Thank you! I did a lot of research last night. I don’t think I can ever expect perfection from this pad without having it professionally restored. And $900 isn’t in the budget. I did, however, find some good advice and tips on the texture coat. I’m going to go round 2 this afternoon once it warms up.

Honestly, the texture looks like the LizardSkin product I used in the cab, on the first coat where I had too much pressure. In retrospect, I wish I had done the dash with the LizardSkin back then. It’s so much easier to get a consistent surface with a spray gun over a rattle can.

So, I’ve re-sanded the top to where it’s as smooth and level as it’s going to get. After spraying several more coats of the texture, I’ll let it harden and delicately sand the whole pad to get rid of the “flocked” look. Basically knock the tops off the peaks. Then I’m going to paint it with some black bumper paint- matte black. Pull the masking off the lettering and go over those with silver. Pics to follow later. Wish me luck.

 

[Randyzzz]

Although, I still like the tray idea. I found I was always stuffing things between the dash and the windshield frame back when Copper had a dash pad. A tray would be a great place to keep the sunglasses!

 

[Randyzzz]

Coming out a lot better with the second coat. The top looks pretty smooth now. I’m halfway through the second coat series here. (Each coat takes 4-5 individual coats 5 minutes apart.)

 

[Randyzzz]

The last texture coat. I am really pleased. Sorta liking the rough texture too. I’ll wait until tomorrow, hit it with a light sanding of 400- just enough to blunt the tips of the texture. Then I have some bumper paint to top coat with.
It’s a really interesting texture. Like velvet? I don’t know if I should risk the sanding, or just topcoat it.

 

[Belizeit]

Looks really nice. I’ll have to farm mine out to you after you get to NC.

 

[designerRob]

The last texture coat. I am really pleased. Sorta liking the rough texture too. I’ll wait until tomorrow, hit it with a light sanding of 400- just enough to blunt the tips of the texture. Then I have some bumper paint to top coat with.View attachment 102966View attachment 102967
It’s a really interesting texture. Like velvet? I don’t know if I should risk the sanding, or just topcoat it.

Can you test the finishing combination on something else first?

 

[Randyzzz]

Can you test the finishing combination on something else first?

I’m going to spray it on the overspray area on the bench. The bumper paint I have is a matte finish. It’s really hard (for me at least) to get an even color coat on a rough surface. I experimented in the cab when I did the LizardSkin. I tried satin black, because I had a bunch. Came out super splotchy. I went over it with flat, looks even.

 

[Randyzzz]

I can’t tell you how impressed I am with the SEM texture coat. Here’s another couple pics, close up of the texture.

This is a close up of the area that looked so awful before. I’m really nervous about the top coat- it looks so great now I’d hate to screw it up. But it needs the top coat for durability.

 

[Belizeit]

I’m wondering with all that texture, if that would make it a dirt / grime collector and be hard to clean. Not that yours would be getting out and getting dirty.