Dash Pad Install Help

[RPM 1,190]

When installing a new Ford tooling dash pad from NPD do I need to bend down vertical these silver tabs? This is for the two outer front attaching holes on the front upper corners of the lower dash. Are ya totally cornfused by now? The pad needs a vertical tab in order to mount to the lower dash, and this is the only piece remotely feasible. Or, is there a connector piece maybe between the pad and lower dash? My assembly manual has really small illustrations which doesn't help even with a magnifying glass. Btw, NPD was no help.

 

 

 

[1969_Mach1 333]

No, you have it correct.  That tab mounts directly to the hole you are pointing to with Phillips head screwdriver.  From your first picture it looks like the tab is bent close to 90 deg. from where it's supposed to be.  If it breaks when straightening it, you just purchased an unusable dash pad.  Will NPD exchange it, or are you past their 30 day exchange policy?  I got lucky, I got mine so long ago I purchased it from my local Ford dealer.  It fit without any issues.

 

NPD is useless regarding any technical help with any product they sell.  They usually don't know any more than what's in their catalog. 

[MikeStang 247]

yep you gots to bend her down bud... I bent mine down and it didn't break, just go slow and easy

[Ridge Runner 1,113]

Oh crap ! Now i have to take a look at mine 

[RPM 1,190]

Thanks guys! I'll go slowly. I just picked it up yesterday in Ventura along with a windshield which they wanted $150 freight, yikes.

[Ridge Runner 1,113]

Man ,do you know how to ruin a perfectly good day ....Jeeze!!!!

Someone is asleep at the wheel  .

[RPM 1,190]

Hey, don't kill the messenger!

[barnett468 418]

you will likely need to cut some of the foam out.

[1969_Mach1 333]

Man ,do you know how to ruin a perfectly good day ....Jeeze!!!!

Someone is asleep at the wheel  .

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The metal on those tabs looks thin compared to the original.

[MikeStang 247]

if im not mistaken once you bend it down and get it in place the little plastic covers use the end of the metal tab to secure them into place to give the lower dash the finished look as well.

so you may have to tweak the tab a lil more after you get the pad installed so the little plastic pieces will fit .

Are we having fun yet?

[Ridge Runner 1,113]

Yep the plastic trim piece hooks under the metal tab and screws at the bottom ,bending the tab may be needed to pull the trim tight to the metal dash .

[Ridge Runner 1,113]

I tried the plastic insert above the glove box and that at least fits ,didn't try the instrument cluster yet

[1969_Mach1 333]

You guys are more patient than I am.  I would have at least called NPD and complained about the bent tabs.  They should replace it and cover any shipping costs for the exchange.  Even you don't want to exchange it, NPD should at least know what is happening.  These tabs might be getting bent simply because how they are packaged.  My OEM Ford dash pad was simply in a box with no special packaging.  But those tabs on it look very thick and won't easily bend compared to the Original Tooling Repro's 

[det0326 179]

Mine were bent too. It did not fit really well around the instrument cluster, you would have to get down and look up to see the area I speak of and will not be that noticeable but sure am glad I got the perfect fit ford tooling one I sure would hate to see the fit of the other one.

 

Dave 

[RPM 1,190]

Ya, the pad eyebrows over the gauge and clock bezels ain't looking too good just sliding the pad into place. We'll see when it's screwed down. Good thing there's a lot of black going on there. 

[Rcodenewf 44]

Just installed an original ford tooling dash and they were bent up too..had to bend them down to attach. There's no reason at all for these tabs to be bent up.

 

..John

[MikeStang 247]

YEAH THE FIT on my repo around the cluster is crap as well but you cant see it once everything is installed and buttoned up, unless you get in the floor and look up Haha

[RPM 1,190]

Does it not cost just as much to make a crap part as a nice one?

[1969_Mach1 333]

Does it not cost just as much to make a crap part as a nice one?

Hey, that's usually my complaint!  I simply don't understand the reproduction market.  All the effort they go thorough to reproduce a part that doesn't quite fit or work and often simply will not fit or work.  I'd say patents will not permit identical copies.  But these parts are so old you'd think the patents have expired.  This is one reason why I settle for used parts if they still fit and function correctly even if they show some age.

[barnett468 418]

Does it not cost just as much to make a crap part as a nice one?

 

Yes, but where would the fun be in installing a part that fit properly?

[Brian Conway 264]

Gotta agree there. Not much of a challenge when your replacement parts are a direct swap and fit. Brian

[jjstang 51]

Gotta agree there. Not much of a challenge when your replacement parts are a direct swap and fit. Brian

Some peoples way of thinking is just plain sick........lol

[stangs-R-me 121]

I'm starting to wonder if these tabs have been purposely bent flat against the pad for shipping purposes ... so they don't work their way through the packaging & really get damaged in transit.

 

As some had said, they are easy enough to bend back into position for installation.

 

Just a thought !!

 

Doug

[skidmarky 50]

I bought a 69 pad from a guy on here, it was new in the box and I had to bend the tabs. Fit like crap. This was from Dashes Direct and the foam on the back was gray, not black. You could see the gray foam in spots after installation. I tried trimming it off, but it just fit awful. Called Dashes Direct and at first they didn't want to help, told me I needed to go thru the supplier I got it from, explained my situation and they reluctantly sent me a new dash. This one had the black foam on the back, had to bend the tabs, and it still fit awful, I've learned to live with it.