Topic: Scott drake dash pads

[69bossnine]

FACT: Scott Drake claims them as Original Ford tooling, urethane filled & will never crack (like originals, they never crack, only shrink) and when you see a photo of them, they are flimsey-looking, like the originals, not rigid like the DD or other branded aftermarket variety.

I think you must be confusing yourself with 65-66 dashes listed on the Drake site, for which the original Ford tooling does indeed exist. But for 1967-1968, there is no original Ford tooling.

And on the Drake website, plain as day, when you click on any of the 67-68 dash pad offerings, it says right there in the description that they buy their dash pads from Universal Urethane. Universal Urethane IS Dashes Direct. Dashes Direct is Universal Urethane's trademarked "DBA".

Drake does not manufacture their own dash pads, they buy them all from Universal (Dashes Direct), which is across-town from them in 'Vegas.

We also buy directly from Universal. Just because a business is a Drake Dealer, doesn't mean they buy everything through Drake. There is quite a bit of product in the Drake portfolio that can be sourced directly to the actual manufacturer if you've got the sourcing and can qualify for the dealer-status.

The unfortunately-incorrect-grained Dashes Direct 67-68 dash pad is the "best" option out there currently, short of finding a nice original. There's no holy-grail repro dash available elsewhere, otherwise, that's what the whole world would be buying...

There's such a huge demand however, I've gotta imagine that someday, someone, will come out with a more proper dash for 67-68.

Rick
NPD

[DKutz]

DKutz recently posted a thread on an original tooling dash pad from NPD, they go for $197

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=8110.msg46695#msg46695

Actually thats what I ordered, what I GOT was an NOS pad!!  SCORE!!

[drummingrocks]

There's no holy-grail repro dash available elsewhere, otherwise, that's what the whole world would be buying...
There's such a huge demand however, I've gotta imagine that someday, someone, will come out with a more proper dash for 67-68.

I can't believe someone hasn't already come out with a better reproduction.  It's hard to see why this isn't higher on any manufacturer's list.  In an era when we have things like leaf springs and power steering hoses that are almost 100% correct (in some cases, reproduced from Ford's original blueprints), I can't see why something like a dashpad isn't a priority.  When we strive for correctness on so many other parts, it seems like something as visible and "in-your-face" as a dashpad is would be high on someone's list. 

[67gtasanjose]

I can't believe someone hasn't already come out with a better reproduction.  It's hard to see why this isn't higher on any manufacturer's list.  In an era when we have things like leaf springs and power steering hoses that are almost 100% correct (in some cases, reproduced from Ford's original blueprints), I can't see why something like a dashpad isn't a priority.  When we strive for correctness on so many other parts, it seems like something as visible and "in-your-face" as a dashpad is would be high on someone's list.

+1 million

[CharlesTurner]

I can't believe someone hasn't already come out with a better reproduction.  It's hard to see why this isn't higher on any manufacturer's list.  In an era when we have things like leaf springs and power steering hoses that are almost 100% correct (in some cases, reproduced from Ford's original blueprints), I can't see why something like a dashpad isn't a priority.  When we strive for correctness on so many other parts, it seems like something as visible and "in-your-face" as a dashpad is would be high on someone's list.

I agree with the logic, but part of the issue here is folks have become too accustomed to opening up a catalog and buying whatever part they need.  A lot of other owners restoring other cars/makes have to be more creative and repair original pads or find nice originals.  For the small amount of concours-level cars, I don't see finding a nice original piece being that much of a problem, but it can be costly. 

[67gtasanjose]

I am now awaiting a used OE pad to see how well it fits/looks. Wish me luck! I sure hope it meets up to my satisfaction since it also was a Resto-Reject (replaced during restoration) part. The single picture is foggy but the description sounds like it is good.

Anyways, since I already had the aftermarket, that is one I believed to be a Dashes Direct (may not be, no markings on the box or the dash pad), I test fitted it today to my bare-naked dash. It fit so poorly that it won't slide in over the stamped steel "eyebrow" supports    I bought this back in '07 as an item "checked off" of my list. If I remember right, I bought it on eBay from a fella who had "extra parts" when he was done with his project. I wasn't thinking along the concours level at the time even, so wasn't expecting a perfect match, just perfectly acceptable is all.  When it arrived, I was very unhappy with it's quality anyways without so much as test fitting it yet.

Now, 6 years later when simply "trying" it to take some photos (for relisting it to sell) all I can say is WOW!  How can this junk be marketed even? I had to "THUMP" very firmly along the eyebrows  and the center to get it most of the way down in place only to see the center was pushing down well into the AC vent area and pushing way down into the area over the glove box where the right side dash bezel goes. After removing it, I can see why it wouldn't go in right. The stamped steel support (of my car), especially in the center, has a face edge shaped into it. The dash pad is formed with only a slit about 1/2 inch max wide while the steel part of the dash is closer to an inch wide (above the center AC vent). I suppose if I trimmed off the metal of my dash it woud go in!    I DON'T THINK SO!!! I imagine the individual I bought it from test-fitted it as well. People will do anything to sell their junk, won't they.

If somebody wants to pick up the shipping, I have a FREE black dash pad available! Cut your dash pad support down and I'm sure you might be happy with it. (non-concours level of course) I'm afraid to list it for sale say on eBay, once the buyer tried to fit it he would scream "foul" and eBay would likely snake me for the shipping costs & fees too. I wouldn't do this to somebody, like what was done to me.

Talk about a "swing and a miss!"


Richard

[CharlesTurner]

List the repro on your local craigslist, I sold one for $125 with no problem.

Not everyone cares that they aren't correct in appearance.  I'm sure with a little work it would go on.

[67gtasanjose]

...  I'm sure with a little work it would go on.

I was still a bit P.O.'d when I wrote this yesterday. I'm a whole lot less aggravated today about it.
Everything is a lesson. No better way to learn than the school of hard knocks.

I'm sure with some work it would fit too. I imagine the best way would be to hog out the area in trouble. This stuff is rather dense, (much denser than the original foam) so maybe with a rotary chipper (or a chainsaw) a person could remove the material causing the interference. The jury is still out on what I am going to use just yet but it more than likely won't be this one.

Like evrything else I have needed for this job, it seems the best way to go is to go for broke. Buy EVERYTHING you can so you have the best sample pool of parts, take your "pick of the litter" and store or sell the rest. That way of doing things seems to work the best. I only wish my pockets were deeper so I can keep the house and wife too!

Richard

[CharlesTurner]

Easy to see the benefit of buying a good parts car...

[67gtasanjose]

 

Easy to see the benefit of buying a good parts car...

I imagine this has a lot of truth in this approach too. I had looked for an affordable donor for years but had little success locating one. Several things I have needed could have been provided for in this way.

Then there are the many, many more (countless) items that are rarely available from any single parts donor. (interior pieces and rare option items) This has been my dilemma all along. Far too many "little things". Very few "common" things such as a dash pad have been needed. Most of those common things needed have become available in good reproduction. This item is one of those which in reproduction, doesn't yet make the grade.

Richard

[CharlesTurner]

I don't want to get off topic, but will just say that a good car will cost you $5-10k, but if it's really nice with a good stash of parts, it will be a gold mine.  Not to mention all the time saved from having to search out individual pieces.  The nice thing about a parts car is it can be pieced back together with parts that weren't good enough for your car and probably re-sold for close to what was paid.  Agree that some of the high end options would be tough, but it's not unusual to find a coupe with say deluxe interior, a/c and other options.