New dash leather completed!!!

[ptooner]

   After many hard and hot hours in my garage (I really need to get that thing air conditioned) I finally finished replacing all the leather on the dash.  I'll be happy to share any details or info for anyone else contemplating this form of self flagellation.
Gerry

[66andBlue]

Looks very nice - now take a rest and pad yourself on the back! 

[pj]

Hi Gerry,
I can't find a thread where you described the early steps of doing your dash. My dash also is cracked and will need to be rejuvenated some day. Thing is, I really like the crisp, almost sharp upper edge of the dash (and the foam underneath?) and it disappoints me to see so many "restored" examples that have a round edge that frankly looks stuffed. So, how did you manage to retain that clearly-defined upper edge?

[ptooner]

Hi Gerry,
I can't find a thread where you described the early steps of doing your dash. My dash also is cracked and will need to be rejuvenated some day. Thing is, I really like the crisp, almost sharp upper edge of the dash (and the foam underneath?) and it disappoints me to see so many "restored" examples that have a round edge that frankly looks stuffed. So, how did you managed to retain that clearly-defined upper edge?

I felt the same way and had noticed the same thing.  When you remove the old leather you will find that there is a rubber strip about 1/2 inch thick and about 1 inch wide that runs along that front edge.  In my case it protruded a small amount above the aluminum at the top which would have created an unwanted line on top 1/2 inch back from the edge.  In fact, that is what had happened and the old leather was splitting at that point.  I purchased some very thin batting from a local hobby shop and carefully filled in behind the rubber strip to make a level surface on top but I did NOT bring the batting over the front of the rubber.  The dash leather covered areas consist of 5 aluminum pieces and one wood piece.  They can all be removed and covered separately.  Of course that doesn't include the pieces along the sides of the windshield or the kickpanels or the windlaces. 

Gerry

[garymand]

Wow, that's just like mine. and I need to do the same and I have wondered, too, how they got the square edge.  but I'm afraid I need to pull the wind screen and spend many hours upside down under the dash.  I've replace all the other interior surfaces, but I feel more comfortable pulling the FIP appart than trying to get the wood out and the dash apart.  Any encouragement is greatly appreciated!

I'm not an interior/apolstry guy.  Can't even spell it.  How do you " remove the old leather "  Is the process documented somewhere?

I have a good story: I replaced my rag top.  After 3 tops replace by amatures I figures I was as good as am amature as anyone... I had just recieved the box of cloth when my neighbor's brother from Germany came to visit her.  She had told me he was a MB 'mechanic'  so when I met him I was in the 250SL and we had an instand bond.  I had the box in the trunk.  I stopped and presented the box to him and he about pooped a brick.  His expression was a little scarry.  He is actually an appolstry guy specializing in SL restoration.  He said he was on vacation! and refused to touch the car.  Then he smile and said if I had a few cold beers, he would sit and harrass me as I butchered the top.  At least that was my interpretation of the Germinglish I heard.  We had a few hours of laughs, he drank all my beer and the top looks great.  I would be afraid to ask him to watch me do the dash  next time he's here.  He also sent me a replacement little spring for the levers in the top retraction mechanism.  I couldn't find one here and hated pulling the top up with the retaining levers not working.

[lurtch]

Hey Gerry,

I have been over this same road a couple of years ago. I lost track of how manhours I spent on this project because there were more than a few "do-overs". If you do door jamb to door jamb and up and over the windshield, I think there are 14 pieces! Can any one imagine doing this on an assembly line?

Nice work,

Regards from Larry in CA

[garymand]

Thanks for the picture Larry, I spotted the 'horn button vinal.  How did you do that??  Please illunimate.  I have a replacement star for my chrome rimed 250 button and a 280 pretty good one to prcatice on.  How to get the old off and what do you replace it with and how?  Where do you get the thin vynal? 

Gary

[ptooner]

Hey Gerry,

I have been over this same road a couple of years ago. I lost track of how manhours I spent on this project because there were more than a few "do-overs". If you do door jamb to door jamb and up and over the windshield, I think there are 14 pieces! Can any one imagine doing this on an assembly line?

Nice work,

Regards from Larry in CA

I was about to say I only had 13 pieces because I have a Nardi wheel but I think you missed the door windlace. 

[66andBlue]

....  How to get the old off and what do you replace it with and how?    ...

Larry and I gave a presentation at PUB 2009 on how to recover the hub pad with leather.
It is described here: http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Interior/SteeringWheel