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Braukuche
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004
Posts: 11197
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 Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:24 pm Post subject: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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I couldnt find any pictures of how to do this so thought I'd document my efforts.
My car's interior is pretty original so I took a bunch of pictures to insure the replacement pieces fit the same.
The first step was to remove the dash pad which meant I had to remove the wiper assembly and glove box to get to the nuts. The pad came right off.
I then removed the gauges which push through the dash. Removed the switches which required me to make a special tool to remove them. The brake warning light simply pushes through.
I then removed two bolts holding the steering column up, removed the ashtray and bracket, and then the kick pad.
I was now ready to remove the dash cover.
I was mostly interested in how the holes for the gauges and switches were dealt with.
Obviously they cut and folded in the sections around the gauge holes but simply cut around for the switches. The glove box was also folded in.
Removing the veneer was easy. The glue was brittle so it just peeled off.
I then used acetone and a green scrub pad to remove the glue residue.
I bought the dash cover from KGPR along with the recommended spray glue they sell. The glue tacked up super fast, maybe too fast? I sprayed both surfaces and then simply pressed it on with my hands. It acted like contact cement so I simply rubbed my hands over the surface to avoid and bubbles.
I let the cover dry over night. I then used a hot knife I bought off of Amazon to cut the holes. I had to cut a series of them on the top of the dash for the studs for the dash pad to fit through. I then installed the pad which fit perfectly.
I used a heat gun to heat the material enough to fold it into the gauge holes. I got the area too hot in a couple spots which caused some partial delamination around the radio, so be very careful with the heat, you just need enough so it bends and stays bent.
For the gauges I had to make a series of small cuts, for the glove box I made larger ones.
I did the glove box door last. It comes apart and you glue the face on, then trim, heat and bend and reassemble. The material seems thicker than the original so the back didn't fit as tight as originally.
After the dash face was installed and the gauges and switches installed I put on the kickpad. Dash is done and looks much nicer than the before.
_________________
Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now
1989 Westfalia |
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sputnick60
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007
Posts: 4111
Location: In Molinya Orbit
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TRS63
Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2017
Posts: 1130
Location: Stuttgart - Germany
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davidmelton
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2013
Posts: 160
Location: Folsom, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2019 10:01 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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| Nice! |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32987
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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sputnick60
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007
Posts: 4111
Location: In Molinya Orbit
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| Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 2:42 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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... but Dave, some people love to get a car back to original shape. How can you not appreciate a successful attempt at a goal like that in contrast to your own personal targets that are quite different.
I'm not really going to put wood grain over my 66 plastichrome... but if I had a 67 or later I would.....after seeing this.
Nicholas
_________________
'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32987
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Kingavery
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2019
Posts: 10
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 12:56 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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| Nice job on dash. I'm working on 74 Ghia which will be for my wife. She's funding it mostly. I bought a black plastic dash cover from Jbugs but after reading a few posts, I decided to leave the dash face painted which someone had suggested. I just finished (Eastwood single stage urethane Fireball red pearl). I didn't want to hassle with the cutting and fitting so I welded and filled in the spots on the dash that were open from the factory and done. |
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heimlich 
VWNOS.com
Joined: November 20, 2016
Posts: 7462
Location: Houston, Texas
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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Is the original a veneer?
_________________
www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here) |
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KGCoupe
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2005
Posts: 3580
Location: Putting the "ill" and "annoy" in Illinois
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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| heimlich wrote: |
| Is the original a veneer? |
Yes, ... it is a faux wood veneer. 
In other words, the original was a thin one-piece hunk of molded plastic that was made to resemble wood grain.
It was all the rage in many automobiles from the 1960s and 1970s.
Only the higher end automobile manufacturers like Mercedes, Audi, and Jaguar used real wood. |
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heimlich
VWNOS.com
Joined: November 20, 2016
Posts: 7462
Location: Houston, Texas
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 1:15 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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You might be able to do a real wood veneer. Getting all those curves would be something though.
Or you could mix wood with resin and then sand it to shape. You'd have the wood in there but it would also have the resin.
_________________
www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here) |
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ghiamanjc
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2020
Posts: 160
Location: Vancouver BC
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| Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:05 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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Great job. Looks like excellent work. How long did it take you to do?
How did you get the Karmann Ghia Script off? DId you re-use it or buy a new one? How did you affix it?
And...What are your plans for the Dash Pad and Knee Pad? |
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Braukuche
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004
Posts: 11197
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| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 7:30 am Post subject: Re: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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| ghiamanjc wrote: |
Great job. Looks like excellent work. How long did it take you to do?
How did you get the Karmann Ghia Script off? DId you re-use it or buy a new one? How did you affix it?
And...What are your plans for the Dash Pad and Knee Pad? |
Thanks.
Took me three days messing with it after work. One to remove and clean up, one to Glue the face on, one to trim and put stuff back.
There should be a picture of the complete dash on the thread? I used the show quality dash pad from Airhead and knee pad.
The KG script was held on by one clip so I was able to get it off without breaking it.
_________________
Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now
1989 Westfalia |
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ghiamanjc
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2020
Posts: 160
Location: Vancouver BC
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| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:41 am Post subject: Re: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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Thanks - a few more questions:
- What order did you remove and re-install - Face vs Dash Pad vs Knee Pad?
- The PO left me with a Dash Pad Cover. Is it worth putting a new cover on an old DashPad or should I sell this Cover and do a full replacement? |
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rcooled
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2008
Posts: 2749
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 12:00 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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| ghiamanjc wrote: |
| What order did you remove and re-install - Face vs Dash Pad vs Knee Pad? |
Condensed from the original post ↓
| Braukuche wrote: |
The first step was to remove the dash pad which meant I had to remove the wiper assembly and glove box to get to the nuts. The pad came right off.
I then removed the gauges which push through the dash. Removed the switches which required me to make a special tool to remove them. The brake warning light simply pushes through.
I then removed two bolts holding the steering column up, removed the ashtray and bracket, and then the kick pad.
Removing the veneer was easy. The glue was brittle so it just peeled off. I then used acetone and a green scrub pad to remove the glue residue.
I sprayed both surfaces (with glue) and then simply pressed it on with my hands. It acted like contact cement so I simply rubbed my hands over the surface to avoid and bubbles.
I let the cover dry over night. I then used a hot knife I bought off of Amazon to cut the holes. I then installed the pad which fit perfectly.
I used a heat gun to heat the material enough to fold it into the gauge holes.
I did the glove box door last. It comes apart and you glue the face on, then trim, heat and bend and reassemble.
After the dash face was installed and the gauges and switches installed I put on the kickpad. |
| ghiamanjc wrote: |
| The PO left me with a Dash Pad Cover. Is it worth putting a new cover on an old DashPad or should I sell this Cover and do a full replacement? |
A full replacement dash pad will look a whole lot better than a cover. Depends on how picky you are about details like this.
A couple of additional tips: The woodgrain veneer will need to be trimmed up a bit on the ends for a good fit. Just trim a little bit at a time so you don't cut away too much. Once properly trimmed, hold the veneer up to the dash and draw a pencil line around the outer edges along the top & bottom so you know how far to go when applying glue to the dash.
And when applying spray glue to the metal dash, pack some newspaper into the instrument holes to keep the glue from getting all over the wiring and other stuff back there.
_________________
'63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone) |
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Charger1
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2018
Posts: 1
Location: Zanesville, OH
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| Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2020 7:40 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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| i am new at this and i have a didn't problem with my 1970 ghia. this ghia was all ready taken apart when i bouth it. i am having trouble figuring how my back seat go to getter.if any one could help i would appreciate it Thanks |
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busworks
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2004
Posts: 202
Location: Moncks Corner,S.C.
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| Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2022 5:03 am Post subject: Re: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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Has anyone had any trouble with dash face shrinkage? I’ve ordered two through WCM and both are just barely too narrow for my ‘74 stock dash. Any suggestions to “stretch” the cover?
Thanks. Any help is appreciated. |
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Braukuche
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004
Posts: 11197
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| Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2022 6:23 am Post subject: Re: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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If you are referring to the top that looks fine. The top of the cover is covered up by the dash pad.
_________________
Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now
1989 Westfalia |
|
| Back to top |
|
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busworks
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2004
Posts: 202
Location: Moncks Corner,S.C.
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| Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2022 7:38 am Post subject: Re: 1969 Ghia dash restoration tutorial |
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| I have a video that is too big to post. Sorry. Too narrow left to right. Gauge pods align up, glove box is off. If I align up the radio, both are off(1/16”). |
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