Topic: 65 Firewall Pads (Specifically San Jose)

[ChrisV289]

Here's my firewall pad:

[NEFaurora]

Have seen that square type firewall pad used in fairlanes of the same vintage but never a mustang..... Bet a million bucks its probably a fairlane firewall pad that repurposed along the assembly line..

Tony Kovar
1966 Sprint 200 Registry
MCA#70001

[J_Speegle]

Have seen that square type firewall pad used in fairlanes of the same vintage but never a mustang..... Bet a million bucks its probably a fairlane firewall pad that repurposed along the assembly line..

Which surface pattern Tony?


Don't believe so (not sure if a Fairlane will even fit - didn't know the firewalls were interchangeable)  seen a fair number of them out of San Jose . IF that was true why not do it from the beginning of production since it looks like that was the second version?

Just trying to identify what period at this point.  Easy enough to take a Fairlane and a Mustang one and put one over the other to compare.

[livetoride60]

Here's the pad for my Oct '64 K Fastback.  A/C holes look hacked out.  It was the victim on an add-on A/C.

[J_Speegle]

So far (unfortunately all of these may really have been built different months) we have three different pads (AC hose area) showing up on cars with projected dates of Oct 64.Sure appears that that period os a change over one between suppliers or at least a design change

[Bossbill]

Are you going to do one on 66 SJ pads or are they all the same?

I have a pic of a 6R07C185xxx pad if you need it.

[J_Speegle]

Are you going to do one on 66 SJ pads or are they all the same?

I have a pic of a 6R07C185xxx pad if you need it.

Thanks but since there was only one version confirmed so far not going to be a big need to post a thread. If I need on for illustration likely have 30 or so examples in picture for currently. Took a couple of pictures of one pulled a couple days ago from a 6R165xxx

[CharlesTurner]

Jeff:  On the 65-66 SJ pads, have you seen variances in the surface appearance?  I've seen some that look 'flat' and some that are 'shiny/smooth'.

[J_Speegle]

Jeff:  On the 65-66 SJ pads, have you seen variances in the surface appearance?  I've seen some that look 'flat' and some that are 'shiny/smooth'.

Most of the time there is a light or thick coat of dust and little particles of the padding that have stuck to the visible side. If clean and at the right angle they have a slight shine to them - more of a semi-gloss that I believe is what they looked like when installed originally. You can often find the protected area behind the heater that is shinier/smoother than the exposed area just above the heater for example. If the particles have been on the surfaces for a long time they can bond themselves into that side (possibly in those very hot 120 degree and higher) where its almost impossible to get them all out. I think this is what can also contribute to the flatter and less smooth (not lessening the dimple pattern) visible side.

Some of this may just be a result of poor quality control during manufacturing resulting on the difference. So for me - bottom line there are allot of things that cause what we're seeing and its likely a combination of one or all.

Couple of pictures comparing dirtier and cleaner examples







Dearborn/Metuchen surface texture/pattern

[J_Speegle]

In response to a discussion in another related thread I thought I would spend the afternoon going through what I have records of, add to it what has been posted by members and create a graphic to illustrate what we have so far. We have a mid year gap with no data. Will up date once we get more solid info. As usual didn't include examples from restored cars since they are more likely to be replaced or changed out during the process.

Interesting that we see what is considered the typical 66 style version pop up for a short period but not at the end of the year. Guess I need to recheck those examples to see if I can confirm they don't suggest that a PO changed out a different version for the more common - easier to find 66 style.  And of course we can't see the back side and the coding often seen there

[CharlesTurner]

That firewall pad that I posted with the rectangular knock-out for A/C lines was from a 26A scheduled build date coupe, 178xxx... the gold parts coupe you helped with...

[J_Speegle]

That firewall pad that I posted with the rectangular knock-out for A/C lines was from a 26A scheduled build date coupe, 178xxx... the gold parts coupe you helped with...

Will add that into the graphic. Think we might collect some new examples since we're reviving this discussion

[ChrisV289]

Here is a pad off another SJ car.  05L scheduled build date. 5R09A154XXX. Car had AC original but was taken out by the current owner.

[J_Speegle]

In responding to a related subject the other day else where the subject of the mold mark on the back (unseen once installed) came up. Not enough samples to make an educated guess as to their decoding - most likely related to plant, time of production and or mold

Thought they should be added to this older thread to keep things together




For orientation. The "markings" have been found in other locations during different time periods