'67-'72 Dash Pads

[special-K]

I put a blue one in my '72 when I bought it in '01. The guy said it came from the same people LMC bought from. It was fiberglass base, no visible metal. I popped it in without ever putting the crews or nuts on. It sat there straight as an arrow looking good till I took it out to change colors about five years ago. I sold it to another member and it looked good as new. I don't think Dashes Direct was making anything for trucks in '01 yet.

[markcurry]

I hope it fits well. Will be waiting for your feedback before I purchase one. Thanks!
towing san jose

[Dieselwrencher]

I got one from LMC probably 5-8 years ago for my 72. It sat in the box uninstalled for probably 2 years in my house. It has a steel reinforcement panel. It fit decent enough, but not even a year later after I installed it, it looks warped at places and looks like crap. So sometime I need to replace it. I'm not sure what brand they were selling then.

[sdailey]

Seeing this thread reminded me that I needed a dash pad for my '69 so I recently ordered a Dashes Direct pad. I had a new Counterparts dash pad at one time, but donated it to a buddy because he needed one sooner than I did. One thing I do remember about that pad was that it was stiff and hard with little to no grain.



Fast forward to yesterday when UPS delivered my new DD pad. I returned from lunch to see this. Our dashes are "curved", right.






Then I see where someone was kind enough to tape the box back together.




It doesn't get any better from here......









A new pad is currently on the way, with a UPS call tag being sent for the damaged one.



I can give a little feedback on the Counterpart and DD dash pads since I've held both now.


Counterpart was rigid and firm (almost like holding a 2 x 4) with little to no grain, but did have the metal strip for support made into the pad.


The DD pad is way softer and more pliable by far. As the pictures show, it has a metal strip formed into it for the mounting bolts to anchor to, but no other metal for rigidity. See the last picture above as to how limber the dash is.


I can't speak for fitment on either pad because I haven't tried to test fit them.


Here's a close up of the texture of the DD pad for reference.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Originally Posted by sdailey

I had a new Counterparts dash pad at one time, but donated it to a buddy because he needed one sooner than I did. One thing I do remember about that pad was that it was stiff and hard with little to no grain.

I just re-checked my new un-installed Counterpart just now and the Grain is pretty nice really. Not sure how good it matches an original, but the Grain is pretty much "pronounced". A little more so than the DD in your picture.

I'll let you all know how it fits within the next few weeks.

Hope you have much better luck with your new shipment.

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by ...

I can give a little feedback on the Counterpart and DD dash pads since I've held both now.


Counterpart was rigid and firm (almost like holding a 2 x 4) with little to no grain, but did have the metal strip for support made into the pad.


The DD pad is way softer and more pliable by far. As the pictures show, it has a metal strip formed into it for the mounting bolts to anchor to, but no other metal for rigidity. See the last picture above as to how limber the dash is.


I can't speak for fitment on either pad because I haven't tried to test fit them.


Here's a close up of the texture of the DD pad for reference.

[URL=http://s127.photobucket.com/user/sdjohndeere1/media/IMG_4803_zps2cew58ui.jpg.html

[/URL]

That looks like the Dashed Direct one that I bought. Well, except for the damage. I ended up not using mine. It was/is saddle. It doesn't match the seat, it has very little 'grain' to it and with only the thin metal strip where the bolts are, it didn't sit down on the dash.

[54blackhornet]

After reading this I'm still confused ? No one makes a decent pad ?

[54blackhornet]

I found this when I removed my original dash pad. Thought it was cool to see the date pickup was built.

[harpo231]

UPS = Usidedown Package Service

[Cooper Restorations]

There are two kinds of dash pads from dashes direct, we sell both. The cheaper ones are urethane, and the higher quality ones are vinyl. The urethane ones very floppy. The vinyl pads have the internal stiffener, and can be dyed to match. They are a very good quality... and higher priced of course.
https://www.cooperrestorations.com/p...lity-dash-pad/ Give me a call or message me if you want more info. 765-661-1723. Jeff Cooper

[sdailey]

I bought my pad direct from Dashes Direct and I must admit that I was surprised as to how limber the thing is. I assumed they all had the metal reinforcement strip made into them, but I guess not. I'll wait for the replacement one to show up and test fit it before I decide to keep it or go back to a Counterpart version.

[Tash4]

cooper is the vinyl only available in black or parchment ? Also would the vinyl one last longer without curling up?

[Stocker]

Shannon, sorry to hear of your problems.

I ordered my Dashes Direct pad from board vendor Wes (Classic Heartbeat) and it arrived in perfect condition, in a plastic sheath and completely protected inside an extremely rigid round cardboard tube (4" diameter, 53" long) with extra padding at each end. Get one from Wes, you'll be glad you did, and it won't be damaged.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Right, it pays to pack one right. All my ship outs on a part like that get packed in a 4 Inch Diameter Plastic Tube, no matter who I ship it with, but especially when using UPS. I haven't lost a part in 26 years now.

[HO455]

I have verified that the dash pad I got from Truck Parts at the Portland swap meet was in fact a Counterpart pad. These pads are one of many parts that are hard to get solid information on. What someone received from a supplier three years ago may not be the same quality as what you may receive tomorrow. The suppliers are always looking for better deals or the last manufacturer went out of business or decided they didn't make enough money. So its a crap shoot unless you order one of each and return the ones that your not satisfied with. Even then you may be unsatisfied with all of them. I am satisfied with mine so far.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Well, it took me longer to get to it than expected, lol, but I finally got my Counterpart Dash Pad installed.

It fit pretty good. The only adjustment I had to make was on the Center Hole. I had to make it a little larger than the others and also bring it down and to the left a little. I did it with a round file. The rest of the holes fit fine including the small screw holes in the front of it.

I'm real satisfied with it, especially for the great price I got it for at the swap meet. I wanted to make sure that I got it in before the meet as, as mentioned earlier, the vendor told me that I could return it if I was not satisfied with it.

I saw him again and told him how good it fit.

Also picked up a Saginaw 4-Speed with a Hurst Shifter.

My next project, lol.