Step By Step ~ Recovering A 360 Dash

Ferrari 360’s and several other models are unfortunately the victims of dash shrinkage! With the sun beating down through the front windshield on top of the dash's black leather it tends to shrink over time.

Here’s the step by step process for recovering the Ferrari 360 dash. This process can be applied to most models as well.

The old leather is stripped off and cut apart to use for as a pattern. Where the leather has shrunk, usually around the front air vents will need to be patterned off the dash itself.

With the old leather cover now off now the foam underlay needs to be scrapped off.

Once the old foam is stripped off the dash is sanded smooth especially around the air vents glove box opening and all small crevasses

The dash surface needs to be clean and smooth.

The entire dash is wiped down with lacquer thinner so it’s clean and ready for the new foam.

The 360 dash is re-foamed in 1/8 inch ensolite foam.

Ensolite foam is used so the new leather can be lifted and adjusted if needed without lifting up the foam as well and making a big mess!

All the foam edges are rounded off with sand paper. All air vent openings and glove box openings are rounded off as well.

The dash is re-covered with new AutoLux leather. This dash was done with red stitching.

New plastic air vents will usually need to be installed.

SPECIAL NOTE: The leather is left long and stapled underneath the front portion of the dash to help keep it place and shrinking up again.

The completed Ferrari 360 dash re-covered in AutoLux Leather.

The re-installed Ferrari 360 dash looks just like factory.
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hessank: That's an interesting thought to make a cap, I like that! I'm sure I could design something that would do the trick. Making it with some kind of a backing for the leather that will keep it stiff and in place will have to be included.

tian2bing: yes, if you want a leather cap like hessank was asking about I can certainly do that. I only have a pattern at the moment for the 360. I can make whatever you might need if you would want to send me the parts.

GordonF355: If the dash is sent to me, to recover it in AutoLux Leather is $1600. If your local I have a shop that will do the R&R I could refer you to. They're less than 5 min. away from me.

rmarchjr: yes, I would certainly be interested in doing more. I can get the alcantera, but would need to check on the price. I know the "Mouse Fur" for the Daytona's & C-4's is around $235 a sq. meter, give or take a few dollars.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or more info. Thanks
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tian2bing, to be honest, never having made one before I would have to do one, kind of a prototype and see what kind of time it takes, the best way to attach to the dash so it stays in place. I can tell you it would take a half hide of AutoLux leather which is about $250 - $275, I could use something other than AutoLux as an option.

I would have to price the Alcantare and see if I can get a half meter. If there's good interest for this I can start on a prototype in vinyl. Thanks

 

Kevin Rev'n, If it didn't look like something that was a Ferrari made item I wouldn't make. It will look clean with hand rolled binding around the edges. If an interior is two toned with different colored stitching etc. that could be incorporated into it as well. As I mentioned, the best thing is to design a prototype first work out the bugs so it does look like a Ferrari item. Thanks

 

Ok hessank, only using it while the car is parked is an easier option to come up with something less complicated.

I was just thinking maybe several leather covered aluminum tabs that would hook into the front vent openings and someplace on either side of the dash. Possibly on the lower ends of the center pod as well if not to visually intrusive? Thanks

 

Hey thanks for the kind words SizzleChest, I appreciate that. I can also say that SizzleChest is amazing with his work and what he can do when it comes to bringing tired paint back to life. He showed a photo that I thought was a selfie and was actually a reflection on black paint he just finished working on! Great Job!!

I'm going to start working on a prototype tomorrow for the dash cap. I'll post some photos when I get something ready to show.

 

Hey Guys, Earlier this week I starting working on a rough mock up, a very rough mock up at this point for the 360 dash cover. I'm thinking this would work best as a "Dash Pad" as opposed to a hard dash cap. It could be rolled up and stowed behind the seat or in the trunk when not used.

The current mock up is in vinyl, it will need a stiffener along the front edge and the edge under the windshield. There would be stitching along these edges to help keep the stiffener in place and would add some additional detail as well. I'll probably use the same type of plastic that is used on a convertible top window.

I could also have the Cavallino embroidered in the center of the dash pod piece, but this would probably be a copyright infringement? Any thoughts or comments on this would be appreciated.

I have a couple of free days this week before I leave on vacation to do some additional modifications. I'll be back at the end of October and will get the pad refined, completed and Ferrari ready with photos.

Special Thanks to Black Horse Motors in Naples, Florida for the use of one of their 360's to do the mock up.
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KevinRev'n, making one to stay in place would not be impossible and yes openings for all the vents would designed into it. It would take a bit more engineering to make it permanent. Possibly some plastic tabs sewn in several strategic places would keep it secure. The front edge would definitely finish out and follow the stitched edge on the actual dash.

I would be able to do the Alcantera, but it is a bit pricey. I would need to get one designed first as a removable dash pad, once that's done then could do the adjustments to make one that is permanent.