Raven R code 281 Report post Posted April 2, 2014 what exactly does this mean? I'm looking at a new dash pad. I see one listed as being made with ford tooling. Does that mean someone bought the old ford equipment or has someone simply used an original to make new molds? I've been looking at other "ford tooling " parts as well and wonder if that is the way to go? thx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bomccorkle 12 Report post Posted April 2, 2014 As far as I know on body panels it means they are made of heavier gauge material, the repops are 1 ga. Lighter, as far as the steel goe s I really didn't see any difference in fit or finish.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike65 475 Report post Posted April 2, 2014 IIRC it meant that some manufacturer bought the old Ford manufacturing equipment & is producing the items on the original Ford equipment. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BuckeyeDemon 211 Report post Posted April 2, 2014 how much of the original tooling has to exist and be used for companies to claim, original ford tooling for a component? 10%? 90%? i'm guessing there probably is no rule. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
69gmachine 15 Report post Posted April 2, 2014 You're probably right about there not being a hard and fast rule, but the grain pattern is difficult if not impossible to reproduce without using the original ford tooling. NPD claims they use some of the original tooling to reproduce the fold down seat side panels. If you compare them with the other reproduction versions you should hopefully see a difference in the grain pattern. Comparing other reproduction rear panels to the originals I can clearly see a difference, but since i'm not doing a concours restoration I don't really care. Most people won't look that close or care either. Only the paint daub and sticker crowd will require that level of fidelity. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rsanter 152 Report post Posted April 2, 2014 Ford tooling means that it is being made on the tooling, mold, or die that ford used. In some cases the company that was doing the manufacturing for ford bought the tool from ford when they discontinued the part. In other cases the company has made a deal with ford to use the tooling and pay ford a fee or royalty Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pakrat 1,043 Report post Posted April 2, 2014 In your specific example of the dash pad, one made with Ford tooling and a regular repro will have a noticeable difference. The original has crisp edges at every in and out turn especially the sculpting of the leading edge. The standard repro while looks good has more smoothed out lines on it and not as sharp. There have been cases where screw holes don't always line up just right as well but some of that can be from the lower section not being lined up right either. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rwcstang 201 Report post Posted April 2, 2014 I bought a Ford Tooling hood, it is heavier and had sharper lines compared to non tooling. as for fitment I am unsure as I haven't talked to the painter, I will report back when I see him Friday. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wycked69 20 Report post Posted April 2, 2014 how much of the original tooling has to exist and be used for companies to claim, original ford tooling for a component? 10%? 90%? i'm guessing there probably is no rule. Good point Buckeye !. I never gave that much thought till reading your post. anyone affiliated with stamping and forming dies knows that they require repairs periodically including form sections, punches, etc. Ford tooling means that it is being made on the tooling, mold, or die that ford used.In some cases the company that was doing the manufacturing for ford bought the tool from ford when they discontinued the part. In other cases the company has made a deal with ford to use the tooling and pay ford a fee or royalty Bob I would agree. I would venture to say a lot of this tooling has been passed around from various manufacturers. I bought a Ford Tooling hood, it is heavier and had sharper lines compared to non tooling. as for fitment I am unsure as I haven't talked to the painter, I will report back when I see him Friday. I'm fairly certain that's mainly because that piece of ford tooling is still in North America and the material would also be sourced within N.A. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rsanter 152 Report post Posted April 2, 2014 Remember that the shape of the tool is different than the shape of the part. You have shrinkage, metal bend back/ relaxing. Warping from tempature....ect When they repo a part they often find the best used example that they can and engineer a mold or die from there. They can get it close but not exact. Often they short cut to reduce tooling cost. The original tooling can produce the most accurate part to the original. Remember that when a company was making the part for ford and foes stops making it so they make a deal with ford to continue on their own, that company has access to all the quality and inspection standards as well as the original tool geometry from ford. I have heard a couple of cases with the body parts where the company was using the original ford tooling but it was so worn out that it was not making a quality part any more. However they were able to do a correct restoration on the tool or make a whole new one from the ford engineering designs because they and only they have access to those. Everyone else is just copying the part. Some cope better than others. Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raven R code 281 Report post Posted April 3, 2014 guess I will go with the ford tooling dash pad. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave R. 85 Report post Posted May 20, 2014 I don't know the details but Ford has a obsolete tooling program. They apparently sell off tooling to the aftermarket companies. Goodyear and Firestone do the same with tire molds. As far as dash pads go Universal Urethane advertises Original Ford Tooling and sells them through Dashes Direct. Dave. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raven R code 281 Report post Posted May 20, 2014 As far as dash pads go Universal Urethane advertises Original Ford Tooling and sells them through Dashes Direct. Dave. Heard the same and was happy to hear it keeps americans employed too! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raven R code 281 Report post Posted May 20, 2014 Any comments on the ford tooling shaker hoods? I've heard that they may not be good because they are made from worn stampings. The way I look at it though..... Ford stamped hundreds of thousands of hoods from this tooling and you have to wonder how bad could the next 10,000 hoods (or maybe less) be that are made from the same tooling. As I understand, Ford trashed the dies/ stamps of their end of life tooling. So you figure the ones that were last on the line must still have life to them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beecj0 11 Report post Posted May 21, 2014 I have a ford tooling dash that was perfect after a lil trimmin on the AC vent. Very happy with the product. I would recomend it. Can't say much about the others, as I don't have them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stangnet33 88 Report post Posted May 22, 2014 Makes you wonder how many stamps/dies may of been used at a time as I'm sure there was more than just one to make a specific part. I'm guessing they got spread around ( the ones that were available and not destroyed ) to more than one company ? Unless someone bought/pay for specific rights to use it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raven R code 281 Report post Posted May 22, 2014 good point. The one thing I know for sure is that the parts that are stamped from original tooling these days are not stamped with the same tonnage presses that ford used. Those were giant presses. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
