Replica "original' firewall pads

[George Des]

Dan,

These are not for the fibreboard underdash panels as you have correctly pointed out as still available. The footwells under the carpeting on the interior firewalls are covered in the same material as the exterior firewall pad and there are three other pieces that are up under the dash on the interior firewall.

George

[Sableco]

Hi all
I do agree if the quality is matched and price is reasonable.
I would need 2 sets as well

Basem

[Nate]

Count me in for 1.

[ricrose]

Count me in for one also

[JamesL]

RHD pls

No pressure here Garry. We are not counting on you, oh no...

[Garry]

No pressure, much

I have a 70% confidence rating at this point that my upholsterer can match it but I haven't pulled my wrong firewall pad off the car .......yet. I have looked very closely at it to see how easy it is going to be.

Maybe the question ANDY, note, ANDY should have asked is who doesn't need one.

[George Des]

My bet is that if they can do a faithful reproduction and they are reasonably priced, they will sell very well. This is like the ZF 5 Sp of trim items to many of us with these cars.

[Drewtee]

Hey Garry, I don't mind you taking the pressure on this one  

If you can get this organised through your upholsterer then you are the man  
Although,  the pessimist in me says it can't be that easy, can it?!

The great thing is there is the demand to get these reproduced somewhere somehow.

I take it the sample has not arrived as yet?

[Garry]

Hi Andy,

Not arrived yet.  UK to Australia, another world so takes light years.  If it was to do with cricket it would have been here yesterday!

When I get it I have to take it to the upholsterer who is about 200km away so it is all a bit of a slow process.  So long as I keep it moving forward and we have a good idea of numbers so that i can convince him to push on with getting a roll or two it will all be worth it in the end.

They say it might snow here tomorrow, coor blimey, what is the world coming to.

Cheers
Garry

[hands_aus]

Hello Garry,

Dependent on looks of the replicas, I am interested in one RHD set for my 250SL automatic.

Thanks

[Garry]

Hi Bob

If he cannot get them pretty close to original then I wont be going there. I saw the Torana XU1 Fire Wall pad compared to the original and it was near replica. Hoping he can do the same for ours.

Garry

[Garry]

I have received the sample from Andy and also had a talk to the upholsterer.  The sample from Andy is a very old and well worn piece whilst the photos that i have received from several of you show a much more distinct pattern.

Does anyone have a piece from under the dash in the footwell area that is in reasonable condition and possible a better example that I could have.   I only need an inch or two square.

I ask because I am a bit concerned sending this example to Malaysia and they get the wrong idea of how deep the depressions and how distinct they are.

Garry

[George Des]

Garry,

Any more headway on this?

George

[49er]

Not sure if this pics will be of any help. Original firewall Pad on my '69SL

John

[Garry]

Update:

I had a meeting on Monday with the Aust Distributor for the material and gave him a set of photos and the sample that Andy had sent me.

He has asked me to bring my car to him (next week) to get an idea of the thickness of the material that is currently being used as the replacement. The bit that Andy sent appears to be bitumen based with a foam backing but was fairly brittle and he indicated that he will probably need a better sample to ensure he replicates it correctly. I am certain that I have seen pads that appear to have coconut fibre on the back side, not foam? And much thicher than 2  - 3 mm that is the current sample thickness.  Has anyone seen that?

Also 1000 meters will probably be the minimum order. So it is critical that the item is correct otherwise someone is going to be left with a lot of material without a  market.

I am hoping that I will be able to get several samples at some point before commitment that I can send to a couple of you to confirm that it is a  match.

This is not going to be a quick outcome but slowly getting there step by step. I am in Perth week after next looking at a Pagoda in bits and hopefully I can get another sample from the interior firewall if it has not all been pulled off.

Garry

[bogeyman]

Garry:
I have original unmolested material on the interior footwell of my '69.
PM me if you want me to send you a sample.

[Garry]

Great,

PM sent
Garry

[thelews]

The replacement pads I've seen, with the fiber backing are MUCH thicker than the original.

[mdsalemi]

...and the originals were dreadful quality.  I do not know what they were made of, but they certainly were one of the least long lasting items on the car.  If an original style and pattern version were made, I would hope it were not the same material.

[thelews]

...and the originals were dreadful quality.  I do not know what they were made of, but they certainly were one of the least long lasting items on the car.  If an original style and pattern version were made, I would hope it were not the same material.

Did you look at my firewall pictures above?  That's 44 years and 150K miles old!  The material in my interior, floor boards, etc., looks like brand new.  I'd submit that care of the car has more to do with the current condition of the material than the quality of the material.

[Garry]

John,

Is the back of yours the foam or the coconut fibre?  and what is the thickness?
The plan is to get the surface material correctly done in Malaysia and any backing would be added later here in Aust.

Garry

[thelews]

John,

Is the back of yours the foam or the coconut fibre?  and what is the thickness?
The plan is to get the surface material correctly done in Malaysia and any backing would be added later here in Aust.

Garry

I'll look and measure it tonight.  I know the fibre you're talking about and mine is not that and much thinner.  Look at the pics below of the fibre backed replacement and compare to my original several posts above and below.  They lay down entirely differently.

[49er]

I'd submit that care of the car has more to do with the current condition of the material than the quality of the material.

 I would have to agree with John on this.  Considering the extreme conditions in my  engine compartment that this material has to exist in, I think it has held up pretty darn well for the past 43 years ( just celebrated her 43rd anniversay of her build:-) Keeping it clean all those years probably helped. If the repro material holds up half as long, you should be happy.

 No foam backing and barely over .12" thick

John

[49er]

I stand corrected, there is a foam backing but the total thickness remains about an .12". The foam has disintegrated around the edges in the engine compartment.
 Haven't had my 2nd cup of coffee yet:-)

John

[bogeyman]

Garry:
I just cut out the piece I am sending you and it looks like 49er's - with thin foam backing.
I believe the 230s had a thicker pad originally, but examples I have seen recently are basically in tatters. Apparently they upgraded at some point to the later style.
I think if we can replicate the original color, texture and pattern on the surface with maybe a better under layer would be the best solution.