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These pads offered by every vendor out there are made by the same company so it doesn't matter who you buy it from, it is the same pad...now on to my review....This is the poorest quality reproduction part I have EVER seen! Don't waste your money. I am a vendor and refuse to sell such a poor quality product. When these were first introduced I put in my order happy to have a replacement part...when they arrived, I took one look at them, examined them and shipped them all back...REJECTED! These pads weigh 15lbs! and if you hold them in the middle, both sides will head straight down and try to touch each other! What happens in 5 years if you remove the pad and it bows? maybe split in half?!? Aside from that the fit/finish is very poor, I even went so far as to install one into a customers car(per his request and against my advise) and as of this date(well over a year later) it looks even worse than it did new! None of the lines are correct and it is wavy at best, installed the pad is not straight and looks like a dead tuna draped across your dash. The pad looks like it was molded from a used cracked original and some of the crack impressions transferred to the reproduction. Any Mustang parts vendor should be ashamed to sell this product, I would be which is why I refuse to sell it. Ofcourse if you have NO pad at all, it is an improvement but I would suggest one of the coverlay plastic covers for $60 before wasting $189-$209 on this poor quality product. Hopefully the company that produced these will take the constructive criticism offered by myself and other vendors and make a proper pad. If anything changes in that aspect I will post it here....
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I agree pretty much with what Paul says. The pad weighs more because it is reinforced with steel in the center, but doesn't seem any stronger for it. The fit along the bottom edge is poor and there are gaps at the bottom of the ends where it fits up with the instrument panel. Comparing the color with the unfaded portion of my original, the repro is slightly darker.
On the plus side, the mounting holes line up and it was easy to install. The material and foam also looks to be more robust than the original, which baked to death here in the Mojave Desert sun.
If the company that makes these would rework the bottom edge so that it is molded like the originals, rather than just cut off, they would have a lot better product. As it is, I agree with Paul, it isn't as good as it should be for the money it costs
Last edited by Eyelawdoc; 09-18-2002, 03:04 AM. -
Reskin
Looks like it might be worth getting the original re-skinned. There are several companies that do it. Seen them in FL and CA.84 SVO 1 owner, 02 S.Crew, 69 Mustang, 85 McLarenComment
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Thanks for the help, KevinK and Bud!
I've deceided to return the repro dash pad to the vendor. I also talked to Justin at Universal Urethane, Inc. the maker of the reproduction. He tells me that they are well aware of the repro's shortcomings, but they have chosen to sell them anyway as long as people are buying them. How ironic and sad that the packaging that came with the repro included a sheet extolling the quality of their dashes "proudly made in the USA". He also told me that they are trying to acquire the original Ford tooling to make a better reproduction, but have only gotten two of the three tooling pieces needed to do this.
For now, it seems reskinning is the only way to go. Forget the repro dash pad!
I've asked Just Dashes for an estimate on fixing my original and am waiting to hear from them. They're almost local (1hr. drive away) to me here in Palmdale, CA. I'll report how it comes out.Comment
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BUMP
I resurrected this thread to ask about the Just Dash estimate, or if anyone else found a repro pad of quality.......Comment
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I was flipping through my new Mustangs Unlimited catalog that came with my new cover for the 1B. I noticed they show dash pads with the "Made from original Ford tooling" logo like Daniel Carpenter always puts on his stuff. I'm wondering if DC has gotten around to making dash pads for 79-86? I'd hate to order one to find out it's a Chinese or Mexico knock-off. I'd feel comfortable with a DC repo.Comment
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The Just Dashes estimate to reskin a dash pad starts at $400, not including shipping!
I have never been able to ascertain if the "newer" repro dash pads being touted as being made with Ford tooling are really any different from the old repro ones (made in the US without much of any tooling ). The old ones were done by Universal Urethane in Nevada. I don't know who makes the newer repros.Comment
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At the 40th show, I meet with the Ford Lic. Rep. and told him the repros were crap. He looked shocked and led me to believe the problem was fixed but the new ones were would take a while to get out there. I suspect no one is buying them after hearing about the bad quality.84 SVO 1 owner, 02 S.Crew, 69 Mustang, 85 McLarenComment
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Who was the rep? Was it Daniel Carpenter? I know he does dashes for other years / vehicle types so he has the equipment and experience. I've been kinda hoping he would make them sometime. I could use 3 or 4 in our SVO grey, and 1 tan for my new 86 4E coupe. The market is there... just need a good supplier!Comment
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I have the same problem.
I refuse to put one of these repo's in my Saleen after reading many report's similar to this one.
If any of you guy's can varify that the newer one's are any good PLEASE reply to this.
BTW if you j/y hounds need to let me know if you come accross a good FORD pad in tan.
kyle1991 Camaro. NASA cmc #20 1986 Saleen 1986 GTComment
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