Plus 2 Under Dash Trims

[gwiz22]

I'm attempting to restore the under dash trims on my Plus2. Each side is made up from three components (see pic). One is a metal component covered in black vinyl. This connects to a plastic part with some two legged pins that are splayed out. This plastic part is fixed to the piece of trim that actually goes under the dash. Attached are pictures, one showing the pins which have been bent together again in order to get the components apart and another showing the pin in place.

The shaped plastic parts are are all broken and cracked, particuarly where the pins mentioned above connect the two components together. My plan is to cover both sides of the plastic parts with fibreglass to strengthen and allow new holes to be drilled to take new pins.

Has anybody undergone a similar restoration? If so, I'm particularly interested to know if you managed to obtain new pins or found a suitable alternative to successfully fix the two components together.
Regards
Graham

[Bud English]

The "pins" are called split rivets, here, and are easily available. I did a search for "split rivets, UK" and didn't come up with anything. They might be called something else over there. https://www.mcmaster.com/rivets/rivet-t ... erview=new

The plastic, I believe, is ABS or polystyrene and polyester resin melts it. I had good luck making the repairs using glass fiber cloth and Gorilla Glue by saturating the cloth with the glue, applying the patch, and misting the area lightly with water. That fix remains slightly flexible and sticks better that epoxy resin did. I tried both.

Added: ABS sheet material is available in various thicknesses for thermoforming. ABS can be formed by hand by placing it in boiling water. https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from ... t&_sacat=0

[ericbushby]

Try bifurcated rivet,
Eric in Burnley

[gwiz22]

Thanks Eric. I've found bifurcated rivets on the net. So that's one problem solved.

Bud, thanks for the warning regarding stryrene and ABS plastic. I had aleady done a bit of glassing on one of the items as a test to my competance mixing and applying the mat before I posted my questions yesterday. Looking at the item this morning, the fibreglass seems to have adhered to ABS ok without any severe distortion. Maybe I put in a bit too much hardener so the resin set before it could penetrate the ABS. I've attached a picture of this first attempt.
Graham

[mbell]

If it doesn't work out:
https://www.sjsportscars.com/parts-and- ... 0B0044.htm

[Donels]

I have done exactly what you have described. I taped all the bits together then a layer of G/F mat followed by a layer of tissue and it worked brilliantly. Much stronger than the original. Most difficult bit was cleaning all the old glue off the plastic bits.

Ref split rivets. Easily obtainable off eBay.

Dave

[gwiz22]

Hi mbell
Thanks for the tip. I checked out the SJ sports cars website. Tempting but 180 quid is a bit rich for 5 bits of plastic. Hopefully my tenners worth of resin and mat will do the trick.
Graham

[gwiz22]

Hi Dave
It’s encouraging to know that someone has successfully undertaken this trim refurbishment. Gives me confidence that it can be done. I concur with the difficulty cleaning off the old glue. What did you find most successful? Did you manage to get the impact adhesive off the back side of the vinyl covering?
I found the split rivets and have a pack on order.
Graham

[mbell]

Tempting but 180 quid is a bit rich for 5 bits of plastic.

Yeah they're not cheap but when you consider the cost to make molds to form them for the volume they're going to sell in it's not a ridiculous price.

If you're paying by the hour for the work is probably cost effective to buy these than have the original patched up. Doing it yourself much cheaper to repair.

[Donels]

Yes I successfully cleaned vinyl using cellulose thinners. It also cleaned the plastic.

Dave

[gwiz22]

Thanks for that. I also meant to ask where you managed to get replacement foam from. All I can find is on the net is a quarter inch and I think that is too thick.
Graham

[Donels]

I had some laminate floor underlay lying around and used that.

Dave

[gwiz22]

Good idea, thanks. I have some left over from when I refurbished the heater and never thought of that.
Graham

[mikealdren]

I had some laminate floor underlay lying around and used that.
Dave

Excellent stuff for replacing foam on heater flaps too.

[10kph]

Hi, If your units are just broken but you have the leatherette covering then I have a set in fibreglass ready for your covers to be reglued on. Holes have not been cut because each cover can have holes in diffent places.Cost £30 plus post if interested then pm me
Tony