Topic: Firewall Pad Repair

[speedgeek]

My 70 firewall pad is missing the top left portion of the large pad and the top right piece of the smaller left pad.  I would like to repair the original pad if possible.  Any thoughts on what I can use for the plastic layer or where I can get pieces off an original pad?  I've checked locally and no one has anything considering the age of these cars and the poor condition of alot of the pads.

[J_Speegle]

Your likely left with finding a donor pad for the parts then (I assume that your doing a Dearborn or NJ car since you didn't include that in your post) splice and redo the texture across the whole pad to blend and hide the repair. Another choice would be to purchase a cheap repo and do the same

If you use the search you will find a number of threads where others have accomplished this and share their experiences - success and failures

There have been a few that have used the wanted section of the site to locate a donor or patch sections

The  face is not a plastic layer but a tar based one like the underlayment

[1970 Snake]

This does not surprise me speed, you are describing exactly how my firewall pad was when I disassembled the car for restoration. I am pretty much sure the piece where removed on the assembly line for whatever reason possibly to make it easier to install item going through the firewall like the wiring harness and other. I have attached two pictures of exactly how my pad was when I removed the dash and under dash components. I have also decided to put them back the way I found them with the pieces missing. Mine is also a 1970 and Dearborn built.

[Bob Gaines]

This does not surprise me speed, you are describing exactly how my firewall pad was when I disassembled the car for restoration. I am pretty much sure the piece where removed on the assembly line for whatever reason possibly to make it easier to install item going through the firewall like the wiring harness and other. I have attached two pictures of exactly how my pad was when I removed the dash and under dash components. I have also decided to put them back the way I found them with the pieces missing. Mine is also a 1970 and Dearborn built.

FYI stock wiring does not typically require tearing of the firewall pad. I understand how you came to your conclusion . I don't necessarily agree with it but it isn't my car ether.  Restoration is all about choices. 

[1970 Snake]

Thanks for the input Bob, I am not saying that is why its missing, just seems odd almost the exact same issue in both cars of the same year and possible build location.
The top over hanging piece of the large pad I am guessing is pretty flimsy at best so if it gets damaged or torn at all during assembly of the steering column or other components and if already mounted ans secured on the firewall it would be easiest to just tear off rather than replace the entire pad. I don't see any other reason why this damage would occur later to much stuff in the way, but may have, guess we will never know.

[speedgeek]

Mine is a Dearborn car. Although I’ve owned the car since 1981 I’m at least the 11th owner, so who knows may have happened.  Thanks for the info Jeff, I’ll try the wanted section.

[Bob Gaines]

Mine is a Dearborn car. Although I’ve owned the car since 1981 I’m at least the 11th owner, so who knows may have happened.  Thanks for the info Jeff, I’ll try the wanted section.

Dearborn firewall pads in general regardless of year are the easiest to repair because of the random texture surface. Not to say "easiest" means it is real easy just that you can repair them and get pretty good results . I have worked with dozens and dozens of 69 Dearborn cars many of which had to have firewall pads repaired to make show worthy . By contrast the SJ firewall pads are the hardest because of the uniform pattern they have .
Do a search on  how to repair the Dearborn firewall pad.

[J_Speegle]

Here is one modified from an earlier thread. In this example it appears that they had a "San Jose" style then added texture over it at the supplier for some reason . Have seen a half dozen or more originals like this out of Dearborn




Couple of closes ups of another 70 Dearborn

[speedgeek]

Jeff, if I’m not mistaken, the top picture is my pad I posted several years ago.  My build date is 6/70.

[1970 Snake]

Jeff or Bob would you have a picture of the 1970 Dearborn firewall pad that is complete so I can see what the complete pad looks like around the brake booster and steering column entry? Thanks

[1970 Snake]

Sorry Speed not seeing any pictures of firewall pads in that link

[J_Speegle]

Jeff, if I’m not mistaken, the top picture is my pad I posted several years ago.  My build date is 6/70.

Might be. It was used to illustrate the type of rubber retainers for the firewall pad to the firewall

Sorry Speed not seeing any pictures of firewall pads in that link

Have to be a member to see some of the pictures (depends on how they are stored and posted)  And not really cool to grab from another site and repost here

[speedgeek]

I didn't mean to cause a problem. I removed the post.