ltoolio

OK....onto my second night of fighting with this, so figured I'd give in and ask:

I am having one hell of a time getting my newly-covered Dash and both A-Pillars installed.

Getting the Dash in? No problem.

Getting one of the A-Pillars in? Minor problem, but got it.

Getting both A-Pillars in? Feels like I'm missing something....can't get both to cooperate.

I've currently got the Dash and the DS A-Pillar in. I have had absolutely zero success getting the other A-Pillar in. It needs to recede downward about half an inch, according to the clip orientation versus where they were before, but it feels like there's no more room to give.

I've got the headliner off, so ample room to move around. I've got both top dash bolts lightly screwed in to allow for a bit of shifting. I've tried shutting the PS door to push the Dash, but that didn't help. I've tried pushing / bumping / pulling the dash to the DS, but that didn't help.

Not sure what else to try, other than just keep trying to push the A-Pillar downward until it compresses a bit.

Anything else to try? Anyone else have a similar issue in reinstalling a refinished Dash & Pillars?

**Edit** - thinking about this a bit more. I've been installing the A-Pillars from the bottom up (attaching at the bottom and then working my way up).

Is it better to start at the top and then drag the bottom of the Pillar against the dash? I've avoided that as I'm afraid of tearing up / scratching the leather on the dash (although I do have it covered with Painter's Tape)

Rob M Budd

Reworking the A pillars sometimes makes fitting them troublesome.
When Porsche covered dashes and A pillars in leather, they trimmed away the underlying vinyl and foam so they will fit allowing for the additional. We do the same, however the pillars get distorted and trimming the right amount sometimes comes up short.
You should be lining the A pillar up to get a good fit with the dash and headliner. It may not line up with where the clip was before since both the dash and A pillar have been reworked.
Examine the passenger side A pillar carefully. Note where its getting caught or needs room.
You may have to peel back the new covering in that area, remove some underlying material and then put the new material back.

ltoolio

Thanks, Bob. Your work is damn fine, BTW.

Since I originally posted, I've added an edit wondering if I should be starting at the top and dragging the bottom of the Pillar against the Dash. Is that the better way to go?

WALTSTAR

Put in the a pillars first. But since the dash is in ( I had to learn the same way), just gently push and wiggle it while protecting the dash with a flimsy plastic notebook cover. It's thin, flexible, slippery, and tough.

ltoolio

That's genius right there...thanks for the tip.

WALTSTAR

No problem, amigo.

ltoolio

I think i'm going to go the route of removing the dash and starting with the A-Pillars.

In looking at the current orientation of the dash with the DS A-Pillar in, I can see that it's (dash) not centered within the car. The DS A-Pillar is pushing it too far to the PS, leaving an uneven amount of room (~0.5") between the the exterior car frame and the edge of the dash.

The tip-off was the screw hole for the small piece of trim that goes along the bottom of the frame, where the door bumps up. I can see the screw hole on the DS, but the dash completely covers it on the PS.

So...onto night 3 I go

(Go Hawks)

Crumpler

Ryan, I just wanted to tell you I think you are doing a great job...
All my best, Dave.

(Go Blues. Series leader)

ltoolio

Thanks, Dave. Can't say it's really feeling that way. Took the Dash and A-Pillars out, put the A-Pillars in, tried to get the dash to go in and no dice there, either.

So, Dash is back in, centered nicely. Going to try Walt's idea tonight. Man does this car make me feel dumb at times. Like drooling-over-myself-and-smearing-yellow-mustard-on-my-shirt-dumb.

And as a sign that I question the good job comment currently:

We had some neighbors & their young kids come over last night. We are all hanging out in the backyard while the kids are on the trampoline and having some beers. The night's coming to a close, we walk them all out through the house and then the garage to get to the front yard. The husband sees my '82 up on the lift bars and says:

"Oh....you are working on a Datsun?"

How's that for a kick in the groin?
(It's similar to having to accept your statement of "Series-Leading St. Louis Blues" as accurate)

Crumpler

Ahhhh. Ryan. You are welcome. That's just the type of guy I am.


Now, in regards to the Datsun: While a Z restoration may in fact be worth more then either one of our cars right now (or at least mine), at least you didn't call him a douche bag. Wait,... you didn't did you?!

I had one of those fairly recently, same trampoline and same beer -- except when we walked through the garage I said "hey, do you like old sportscars?'. He replies "Nah."

I resisted the urge to bust my beer bottle over his head.

linderpat

Priceless

Petza914

This is hilarious.

I had the same struggle with my recovered leather A-pillars and dash. I think I used some plastic hotel keys in key locations to give the leather pieces something to slide against each other on - essentially the same concept as the plastic notebook cover I think.

Never really got it perfect, as the bottom of one of the A-pillars isn't perfectly flush and a little wrinkled since it's too tight, but close enough.

I also think they're new leather shrinks a little bit over time as I have the Jager metal trim rings on my switches in the recovered pod and they wouldn't push in and out originally, but now they do.

ltoolio

My technical contributions here are largely worthless, but at least I bring some humor every once in a while

After doing a bit of trimming of the base of the A-Pillar, I've been able to get both mine in. Like yours, things are a bit imperfect at the base, but it's still lightyears better than things were before.

Onto the console I go....