Topic: rear seat underlayment

[RichardM68]

I'm disassembling the interior of my new 8F02J166xxx barn find and when I removed the rear seat underlayment, it broke pretty easily.  I believe it's original.  There's no salvaging it.  All the AM products don't appear to be the same.  Here are pics of mine.  It's yellow fiber, foil, and asphalt.  A) is this actually original?  and B) if so, where can I buy a replacement?  Everything I see at NPD and CJPony, etc, are very different.

Thanks,

-Richard

[67gta289]

There's an article in the library that Jeff made on how to make your own.  There is not a faithful reproduction that I'm aware of.

Found it - https://concoursmustang.com/speegle/Articles/Article_Trunk_Underlayment.pdf

[RichardM68]

Thanks for the reply.  I was hoping it wouldn't come to making my own... but this car is so original I know an inaccurate reproduction will keep me up at night.

So, is mine original?  I've not seen anywhere that Ford used yellow fiber insulation.

-thanks,

[ruppstang]

  I've not seen anywhere that Ford used yellow fiber insulation.

Yellow fiber insulation is used above the headliner in 67 and 68s.

[RichardM68]

So this is odd to me.  The PO was pretty specific about what he replaced, and even had the receipts.  The underlayment isn't one of those things.  I suppose he may not be 100% accurate.  I guess what has me puzzled is that, to my admittedly untrained eye, it looks original.

Presuming I don't want to make my own, as 67gta289 pointed out, who makes the closes reproduction?

Thanks,
-Richard

[ruppstang]

You're under lament is without question original. Sorry I missed the quotation marks on your statement in my above post. You should look in to making your own underlayment. I find it very satisfying to make something that not everyone with a catalogue and a credit card will have. 

[J_Speegle]

Presuming I don't want to make my own, as 67gta289 pointed out, who makes the closes reproduction?

There is no one currently that I'm aware of for that piece of underlayment. Just not enough call for it.

[RichardM68]

So, not to beat a dead horse... but before I posted the original question here, I emailed VA Classic Mustangs about their underlayment.  Their website says "Material is made by an OEM supplier in Michigan to original standards.  It features a durable asphalt layer with a soft needled cotton backing just like the oriignal material used in the 1960s and '70s".  When I asked about the foil, they said "The originals did not have any foil in them" and "our ST841 underlayments are made like the original".

So, is mine really original, or is VA Classic wrong?  If mine is original, I will, as suggested, make a replica.  I'd rather not replicate something that isn't even original.

Thanks... and sorry for the dead horse.

[J_Speegle]

What you showed in the first post is not a version of the underlayment I've experienced but its from a 68 Dearborn car, one model and year I've not seen as much as other years or plants. Ford very often used multiple suppliers and somethings this resulted in production differences. Since other have confirmed that they have seen similar stuff used before I believe what you have is something produced by one of the lessor used and in turn known versions not used as widely as others.  Even in the dark jut based versions we often see there are differences between the arrangement of the layers and final top and bottom layers.

So IMO (having not seen either your version nor a picture of what VA is offering) you both have correct or decent examples of what was possibly used during 1968 and Dearborn plant built Mustangs

[RichardM68]

Ok.... well... I guess I need to start the daunting task of sourcing similar materials to make my own.  I prefer the car, as much as practical, match what it rolled out of the factory with.

Thanks,
-Richard

[J_Speegle]

Let us know how it goes and if your successful and pleased with the results. It will go a long way helping others faced with the same issue. That's how we came up with the process I wrote that article about.  Was so happy with the results on the first try.  Good luck

[RichardM68]

If there's one thing I'm good at... it's documenting the crap out of what I do.  I'll write up a procedure and include measurements, SKU's, etc.

thanks again.

[warwick]

Richard, for what it is worth; I have a Dearborn built 68 Cougar and the rear seat underlayment is a yellow (pretty bright in color) fiber . It is has a asphalt based layer (1/8") covered with paper (oil soaked I would guess from asphalt material). It is original to car.

[RichardM68]

Really!  That's interesting.  Does it have the foil too?

[CharlesTurner]

I've found that style under the rear seat on some NJ '68 cars also.  Thought it was odd to use glass insulation like that, especially on a convertible.   It looks like the same material used for roof insulation, behind the headliner.