Dash wood attachment tape?

[scoot]

I am removing and replacing the wood dash in my 63 220Sb.  My refinished wood is ready to install and I just removed the old wood.  I notice that the old wood has a strip of what looks like black masking tape along the top edge -- I'm wondering what this is for.  Possibly adhesion, possibly to prevent squeeks/rattles?   Any ideas?  Pics attached.  It's still gummy on the backside of the tape.

[paults1]

My early 230sl had the original black felt glued on the back. I replaced the felt which I purchased at a Hobby Lobby store.  Maybe the factory put on the masking type tape on later cars.

[perry113]

I am doing the wood on my 63 220seb and found the identical tape. My guess is that it for the prevention for squeak/rattle and not adhesion as the wood is secured to the dash via small sheetmetal screws.
Not factual, just my guess.

[Bonnyboy]

My 69 280sl had felt on the back of the wood in strips and soem masking tape at the adge where it went up against the windo - looked original.   I lost thetape but glued the felt back.

[ja17]

My guess also, squeak prevention.

[wwheeler]

The black tape is for adhesion as well. My W111 wood stuck in various places where the tape had been overlaid on the metal structure behind. It holds the vertical dash wood panels on while the various switches are installed which ultimately hold it down. Also for squeak prevention with the chrome trim.

Big job taking the wood off carefully. It will be really nice to have that done. I am also going to replace the front windshield and gasket. Easy access now.

[Garry]

Mine also had the thin layer of felt behind the wood and when I re-did my wood I replaced it with new thin, like 0.05mm felt. I don't know if it was original but have nothing that suggested that I was doing it for a third time.

Garry

[ja17]

Two products used for this I believe. One is a felt material the other is a black masking tape type material. Years ago you used to be able to buy a black "photographic" making type mounting tape. It looks identical. Most likely both were used for anti-squeak purposes. Why the black color not sure. Most likely less visible. Originally the front grille screens had masking tape between the body and the screens. Also for anti-squeak purposes. In this case the tape was white.

[scoot]

Big job taking the wood off carefully. It will be really nice to have that done. I am also going to replace the front windshield and gasket. Easy access now.

The wood isn't really that difficult to remove.  It's the dash pad that is more challenging.

So far Lesson Learned:    Parts from one car don't fit another car sometimes.  Switching the dash pad has been "challenging" and some of the wood is slightly different in contour, one of the studs for the anchors is in a different spot on the piece under the windshield, etc.   It's all going to work but it would have worked a little better if I had have refinished the wood that is in the car instead of the wood from the donor car.

I probably get to fit my Becker TG (working!) today.