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  •  » Dash pad installed

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    12/30/2024 8:21 AM  #1

    RTM
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

    Offline

    From: Cape Coral FL
    Registered: 5/22/2019
    Posts: 1,675

    Dash pad installed

    I actually had to remove some material from the back side of the pad where it hit on the center part of the metal dash.  I also had to open up the mounting holes so I didn't have to pull down on the dash to get the studs in place.   The issue was the pad would not sit correctly into the speaker opening.  Took a lot of testing, putting foil in there to find the tight spots and way too much time put into it, but it's in place now. 

    Some how I ended up with dash trim from a 65 so I thought it was from my 66.   After a lot fussing around I realized my labeled bag did not have parts for this trim.   Then I realized I didn't need the trim.  You should have seen me fighting that trim.  lol





     

    12/30/2024 5:57 PM  #2

    RCodePaul
    FYI FORD Member

    Offline

    From: Fresno CA
    Registered: 10/04/2023
    Posts: 57

    Re: Dash pad installed

    Good on ya. Patience is a virtue. Looking awesome. Same fight this weekend myself. 
    I have a 65 and earlier this year when I removed the decades old POS dash pad, I knew I was in for it. Valley heat had form fit the old one (before warping and cracking.) The trim came out OK,  no bends but one, just one of the clips broke coming out, so of course needed a new set. The old trim had a bit of PO damage so I carefully pounded that out using aluminum scraps and a plastic backer. Sanded and polished the trim. Dash pad was completely wonky in the speaker area. The newly painted (and temporarily glossy - is actually semi gloss) speaker grille wouldn't even fit in the recess. Some heat gun, some Xacto knife, more heat gun, hand pressure, zip ties from underneath, more heat gun. 
    Yikes. 
    It's in. It was a giant PITA. Far, far more work than anyone would guess. Looked simple. 

     

    69 SCJ Mach1 Acapulco Blue/Black Ram Air  65 Fastback 422W C4 Disk brakes, 9in
     

    12/31/2024 12:55 AM  #3

    rpm
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

    Offline

    From: Bakersfield, Ca
    Registered: 9/17/2013
    Posts: 3,618

    Re: Dash pad installed

    Nice work guys. Paul is that one of those ultra rare 65 glove big doors that was NOT signed by Carroll Shelby?

    Bob. 69 Mach 1, 393W, SMOD Toploader, Armstrong  steering, factory AC.
     

    12/31/2024 12:29 PM  #4

    RTM
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

    Offline

    From: Cape Coral FL
    Registered: 5/22/2019
    Posts: 1,675

    Re: Dash pad installed

    RCodePaul wrote:

    Good on ya. Patience is a virtue. Looking awesome. Same fight this weekend myself. 
    I have a 65 and earlier this year when I removed the decades old POS dash pad, I knew I was in for it. Valley heat had form fit the old one (before warping and cracking.) The trim came out OK,  no bends but one, just one of the clips broke coming out, so of course needed a new set. The old trim had a bit of PO damage so I carefully pounded that out using aluminum scraps and a plastic backer. Sanded and polished the trim. Dash pad was completely wonky in the speaker area. The newly painted (and temporarily glossy - is actually semi gloss) speaker grille wouldn't even fit in the recess. Some heat gun, some Xacto knife, more heat gun, hand pressure, zip ties from underneath, more heat gun. 
    Yikes. 
    It's in. It was a giant PITA. Far, far more work than anyone would guess. Looked simple. 

     

     
    I borrowed a new dash pad from a friend that was made by Direct Dash, think that's the name.  The speaker area for the grill is very tight and would have needed some attention to get it to fit.   Speaker grill fit fine in the Ford tooling dash I have.   I guess it's to be expected, after all how many dash pads have these molds produced.   I'm sure maintenance of the molds isn't high on the list.

       •Thread Starter
     

    1/03/2025 5:49 PM  #5

    RCodePaul
    FYI FORD Member

    Offline

    From: Fresno CA
    Registered: 10/04/2023
    Posts: 57

    Re: Dash pad installed

    RTM wrote:

    I borrowed a new dash pad from a friend that was made by Direct Dash, think that's the name. The speaker area for the grill is very tight and would have needed some attention to get it to fit. Speaker grill fit fine in the Ford tooling dash I have. I guess it's to be expected....

    You are right. No doubt. I was in my inexperienced overly optimistic view being completely unrealistic. My first bit of a wakeup was when I had just shoved the dash pad in place temporarily, no hardware installed. I was glad to have the ugly Falcon dash with metal extensions covered up. Not long after, RPM asked me if the dash was the original. WHA??? What looked "pretty good" to me was obviously not. 

    Little did I know...
     

    69 SCJ Mach1 Acapulco Blue/Black Ram Air  65 Fastback 422W C4 Disk brakes, 9in
     

     

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