Bringing a Dash pad back from the dead

I got lucky and scored a crack-less 1971-74 B-body dash pad in green! I had to buy the whole car to get it (trashed) but it was worth it.

Even though it has no cracks it's very dry. I've tried several products that are supposed to condition vinyl and leather; Mequire's, Mother's and Vinylex, they just absorb into the vinyl like a spouge. Anybody have any tricks to moisturizing/conditioning vinyl?

I’ve used petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on my 70 Cuda per a friend of mine in the upholstery business.. he said never to use Armor All because it would destroy the material under the top vinyl. It stays on longer. Let it set for a few days then wipe off the excess. My pad has stayed perfect all these years.

Go to You Tube. Search for "sweet project cars restore old vinyl".

I don't think it can be rejuvenated after all the decades exposed to UV rays. Once installed it should be safe from any impact or things that would damage it. If you apply a rejuvenating product I believe you'd want to re apply that product on a regular basis for the rest of its life.

Never had any success with renewing dryed/ hardened dash pads. It seems like once it is gone it`s gone but it is always worth a try.

I’m agree it won’t get really completely rejuvenated but just a bit better. Or at least save it from get it worst.

I covered it with vaseline for a day and it seems to have worked pretty good. The vinyl is mostly shiny again. I'll have to try leaving it on longer and see what happens.

Internet says products with petroleum distillates can be harmful to some rubber and vinyls

Have not tried it, but brake assembly lube, aka Syl Glide, might work? People use it on rubber weather-striping, etc. all the time.

i have used ATF with good results for 25 years does not leave it greasy. just use a tiny bit on a cloth

I assume you're talking about Mercon/Dextron? I'd be concerned about what the additives in more modern ATFs like ATF+4 or ZF fluid might do.