Dash Restoration

[Ossipon]

Here is my three step process for dash and vinyl preservation. I have done this as both preservation and then in maintenance phase. I am doing this on my notch's door panels, dash and head liner. Have not really changed this on vinyl in 25 years.
Physical materials. Old cotton flannel, Aged out Ultrasonic toothbrush unit and toothbrush, plastic spray bottle and paper towels
Liquid materials: Witches Brew #1 and Witches Brew #2, Distilled Water
Witches Brew #1 recipe (Increase as needed) Use in spray bottle
+ 1 cup or 250 ml of Distilled water
+ 1-3 drops of a mild liquid soap (Ivory or similar
+ 1 oz or 25 ml of 3-5% Hydrogen Peroxide
+ 1 oz or 25 ml of 90% isopropyl alcohol

Witches Brew #2 recipe (Increase as needed) Use in Spray Bottle
+ 1 cup or 250 ml of Distilled water
+ 3 oz or 80 mL of 3M 09023 Marine Vinyl Cleaner, Conditioner, & Protector
+ 1 oz or 25 mL of 303 protectorant

1. Pre-clean all the surface with Witches Brew #1
-Use toothbrush and flannel to work in the liquid, Let stand wet for a few minutes and repeat.
-After step 1 rinse well with Distilled water and wipe dry with paper towels.
2. Spray on Witches Brew #2
- Let sit for five-ten minutes
- Work into surface with Flannel
- Wipe Excess off with Paper towel
3. Polish lightly with clean flannel making sure there is no residue visible.
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Ossipon
VWs in my life:
Air
Type 1 - 59, 62, 63, 71 Super 68 KGhia/ Type 2 - 59 Single Cab / Type 3 - 64 Notch
Water
GTI 83, Jetta 81, 85, 87, 91 TDI, 98 TDI, 09 / New Beetle 99 / SportWagen 05, 13 / Tiguan 18 / T3 92

[ALLWAGONS]

If you could find a large enough sheet of pebble grain material, could you do a vacuum wrap like they wrap Car parts on paper backing?. What I have done on my NOS dash, for long lasting protection, I did NOT tighten the screws all the way allowing for cooling heating warpage. And I used Meguiar's Vinyl protectant abundantly, Letting it soak in and after a day or two, wiping off the excess.
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I'd be UNSTOPPABLE if not for Law Enforcement and PHYSICS.

I recycle old cars and parts, other than when I rot, that's as Green as I am going to get.

Thanks to my Tesla driving neighbors, I feel more relaxed driving my SUBURBAN and old VW's.

NON INFLUENCER APPROVED

[Jason37]

[ALLWAGONS]

[ALLWAGONS]

Check this out! Who can do this here?

https://youtu.be/K7YCAofoDs8
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I'd be UNSTOPPABLE if not for Law Enforcement and PHYSICS.

I recycle old cars and parts, other than when I rot, that's as Green as I am going to get.

Thanks to my Tesla driving neighbors, I feel more relaxed driving my SUBURBAN and old VW's.

NON INFLUENCER APPROVED

[bigfish6025]

[Ossipon]

[Bobnotch]

Back when I built my 65 Notch, I used a JC Whitney reproduction dash pad (72 bucks shipped). Yes, I know it's wrong, but I didn't want to wait forever and not find a good replacement. In fact I built the car as a driver, so I didn't feel too bad about using the wrong part there. I did use the 71 and later rolled pieces that hold the pad in place. That allows the pad to float a little with it subjected to both hot and cold weather we get here in Michigan. It's been in the car since I built it back in 2000, and that car spends all of it's time (except when be worked on) outside. I have yet to add any type of dressing on it either. I don't know if it's a case of the manufacturer using a different type of vinyl or what but it still doesn't have any cracks after all of these years.

I did get one of Retrovan's reproduction dash pads for my wife's car, but I haven't installed it yet. It does look very nice, since I got one with the holes drilled in it. Some day I'll install it.
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Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120

[notchboy]

Every original dash I've ever owned has been cleaned with Windex and protected with Vaseline - Petroleum Jelly. Vanilla Smella preferably. Place on liberally, let set in the sun for 5-10 min. Wipe off residue/extra. Never an issue. I never understood why you put a water based product on an oil based product to "restore or protect". This is an old debate for as long as this place has been called the VW Planet. Putting oil on your dash will destroy it they say. Haven't seen it or at least the half-life decay if true isn't applicable to any desertion of care as far as a Type 3 dash is concerned. All I know is my dashes do not crack under my watch.

Present and past dashes I've lubed up.

If you find the right auto upholster guy - you recover the dash in 2 way stretch vinyl. This is the way I would go if I needed something closer to stock.

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[Ossipon]

[Erik G]

[ibldrc]

This turned out to be a pretty decent thread. Thanks everyone for their participation.
I got my quote back, and yes it was $1200 and quite a few months out.
I do respect their restoration abilities, but for that coin, it would have to be an absolute perfect match.

The good thing about the dash is that its a bolt on application. We can run what we can find/afford, and if ever a perfect piece comes along, it can always be swapped out.
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'64 1500 S
'65 Variant S
'66 1600TL
'67 Squareback

2003 Jetta "Variant" TDI
2008 Passat Wagon 2.0

1500 Build thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7904818&highlight=#7904818

[Ossipon]

[notchboy]

I think keeping it out of direct sunlight for weeks, months on end and extreme temp variations is the ticket. I noticed long ago when traveling between San Diego and Seattle that the metal in San Diego was super nice, but the interiors in Seattle were well preserved. These dashes come to you mostly from a storage place or from Europe. Not Spain but Germany and tempered climates that see more overcast.

This is where I think whatever works for you comes very true. I have to shield and protect in SoCal - replenish the life juice the sun here sucks out of it. Not so mush in Seattle.

Thanks Erik, 20 years? Wow we are old samba farts now.
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[Bobnotch]

[notchboy]