3/15/2024 0 Comments 1961 thunderbird dashThey can also do this for original door panels, but I wouldn't hesitate to get the reproductions with plastic backing: I have a set of repros in my car and am happy with them." To do this you'll need to set aside around $800 or so. The high-end alternative is to send the pad to get it recovered with new foam and vacuum-form vinyl over the pad: this is what "Just Dashes" does. There aren't a lot of low-cost options other than a plastic cap that's molded to fit over the dash, which isn't as pliable as original vinyl, or sewing a vinyl cover to go over the dash. Good condition used late '62-'63 dashes are few and far between: I was fortunate enough to score one for my car, but that was in 1985! Repairing the vinyl is only a band-aid cure as you still have 45+ year old vinyl that has lost its plasticity, is brittle to the touch and prone to crack again if exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations. Look at a '61-mid '62 and you'll see the upper front corner pushes out to meet the dash pad corner, while your car doesn't. End of dash is different between this and the late '62-'63 pad in that the ends splay out further. "Replacement pads from the original tooling have only been available for '61-'62 through mid-April '62 build date. I also found a bit more info in the archives on the difference between the 63 and 61-62 dash pads: Bummer, as I'll need one myself within the next year. which may the only way to go, since from what I've found so far there actually are not any good new replacement dash pads being made for the 1963 model. I found a recommendation NOT to buy from some seller called AZBob on ebay and lots of complaints about how tricky a quality replacement is to do on Bullet Birds, but only found one recommendation that applied to the specific case of the 1963 dash, and that was to pull the original and send it to Just Dashes for restoration: So if anyone has any recommendations for a '63 that isn't summarized below, please do speak up. I'm all in favor of searching the archives for past info/knowledge on a question, as suggested - but I just did a search for "dash pad" and while I got 3 pages of results there was precious little info about a best supplier for a replacement, particularly for a '63 (which is different from a 61-62 dash pad). You might want to check with the used parts vendors to see what they have both Pat Wilson and Bob Mench frequently have good used pads in stock. I also have a mint '63 blue pad in my parts car, already installed on the frame of course, but I'm not sure I want to part with that one, and like any used pad, it is faded and would need to be re-dyed. I have an extra NOS '63 pad in red, so it would of course need to be dyed. The only other option is to find an NOS '63 pad and they are hard to come by. The radio speaker grill will also no longer fit as it did originally, and will have to be secured to the pad instead of the frame. ![]() Be aware that the new pads are much thicker than the original, and a bit difficult to install on the dash frame. As far as I know, all the vendors use the same source for their reproduction pads. The pads are only available in black or white, so you will need to dye it before installation. You will need to order the available '61-early '62 style pad and order new combo door panels ($$$$) so the ends will match up. I'll keep an eye on this post, or if you want to call, my number's 61. I'd like to know who sells the HIGHEST quality pad out there and can it be orderd in blue? ![]() I need input from anyone else that's gone through this before. The day before they announced a shelter in place order I picked everything back up and ordered the upholstery kit from Birds Nest as well and I am knee deep in that process now.I'm about to order a new (blue) dash pad for my 63. I had sent them to a local shop in December but they sat and sat and he had a plethora of excuses whilst other work went through the shop ahead of me. ![]() Most of the interior back together and ready for seats. I was constantly getting something installed in front of something else which need to go first, I am a better man for it all? My biggest issue has been order of precedence for the re-installation which has probably cost me a week of lost time over the course of this project. This has all been a learning curve for me but after doing things once, twice or even three times to get them right I can confidently dive back into this project again if the opportunity came up. I gave up and sourced one from Birds Nest, perfect fit, nice and tight. Headliner done, Note: The liner I purchased from Original Auto interiors was a bust, a bit of a one size fits all for 1963 Fords, it required a lot of modification and cutting. Significant progress made when you are working from home and have weekends to dedicate.
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