Installed and ready to go...
Installed and ready to go in our '66 convertible subject car, a new dashpad is a nice upgrade for any vintage Mustang. The pads are quite different for '65-'66, '67-'68, '69-'70, and '71-'73 Mustangs, so installation procedures vary. This time we're concentrating on the earliest generation.
Mustang Country carries a...
Mustang Country carries a full selection of pads for all '65-'73 Mustangs. A black '66 pad is one of the more popular year/color combinations, so we were ready to begin installation upon arrival.
The dashpad in a vintage Mustang is a rather high-profile interior component that's often one of the first pieces requiring replacement. Constant exposure to the hot sun is the main reason, and the result is usually cracks and/or surface warp.
The latter happened to the pad in Debbie Starr's '66 convertible, likely due to the fact that the car was her only means of getting to and from her job as an elementary school teacher for more than five years. Driving the car daily meant it sat in the school parking lot every day under the hot sun. In fact, on hot days, you could easily fry an egg inside, especially since this car has a black interior.
Now that Debbie has another vehicle to drive, her Mustang has become more of a hobbyhorse of sorts. Now she can concentrate on a few restoration upgrades and other general improvements knowing the car will lead an easier life.
We decided to begin with a new dashpad. It turns out Mustang Country International was also able to spend some time on a few other things while installing the new pad. This included a new pair of defroster ducts as well as pointing out the variations between '65 and '66 pads. Check out the end of the installation instructions to learn more about the differences between the two years.
1. We began by removing the...
1. We began by removing the line of screws located directly below the windshield.
2. Once the screws are out,...
2. Once the screws are out, the trim pieces can be removed. These are set aside to be reused with the new pad. If needed, you can repaint the trim strips for a better appearance.
3. There are four screws...
3. There are four screws above the gauge cluster and four above the glovebox door. Remove these eight screws to prepare for taking the pad out of the car.
4. Next, remove the screws...
4. Next, remove the screws that hold the speaker grille, and remove it from the top of the pad.
5. The dash speaker-in this...
5. The dash speaker-in this case, what's left of a dual aftermarket setup-needs to be removed as well. This typically involves a few screws and unplugging the speaker wire from the radio. Next, remove the pair of defroster ducts, which attach to the top of the dashpad with special clips.
6. With the speaker and defroster...
6. With the speaker and defroster ducts removed, access is gained to two nuts that need to be removed from inside the dashpad. In this car, one of the aftermarket speakers was sitting inside the dash, and we were able to reconnect it after putting everything together again.
7. There are a total of eight...
7. There are a total of eight screws (four above the gauge cluster and four above the glovebox door) and four nuts (two at the center and two at each end) that hold a '66 dashpad in place. Once these 12 fasteners are removed and the dashpad trim pieces under the windshield are removed, the pad can come out. The two nuts at either end of the dash aren't visible when the pad is still in the car. Reach inside the dash with a 1/4-inch-drive ratchet and socket to access them.
8. This is the new pad with...
8. This is the new pad with its outer nuts still in place. Here you can see where they go once the pad is in place. After the pad is in position, these nuts are installed and secured by threading them behind and up inside the dash. Although they are the hardest to access, it can be done by feel.
9. Another pair of nuts hold...
9. Another pair of nuts hold the pad in place at the center. As shown, these are easily accessed from the area where the speaker grille resides. These nuts aren't used on '65 pads.
10. Because the defroster...
10. Because the defroster ducts in our car were damaged, we replaced them with a set of reproduction ducts from Scott Drake Enterprises; they are also available from Mustang Country.
11. Mustang Country likes...
11. Mustang Country likes to trim some of the foam away from the edge of the pad to allow it to fit snugly against the windshield base. Be careful, however, as you can easily end up going through to the top of the pad if you remove too much.
12. Now we're ready to install...
12. Now we're ready to install the new pad. At this point, the new piece is basically a drop-in replacement for the old one.
13. With the pad in place,...
13. With the pad in place, install the new defroster ducts next. They thread into place and attach to the heater box just like the old ones.
14. These specialized clips...
14. These specialized clips hold the ducts in place on top of the pad.
15. Some slight trimming...
15. Some slight trimming may be required; it will vary with each car. Here, a small amount of pad vinyl is trimmed away to make room for the speaker and speaker grille.
16. With the pad in place,...
16. With the pad in place, the only task that remains is reinstalling the fasteners. The two inside nuts shown earlier are already back in place as are the speaker and speaker grille. Here the windshield trim pieces are reinstalled.
17. With the four nuts installed,...
17. With the four nuts installed, eight screws remain to complete the installation. New holes need to be created in the new pad to secure the pad to the dashboard. This is relatively easy, as shown here, using a small punch and a flashlight to locate the threads that receive the screws.
Although installation of a...
Although installation of a '65 pad is similar to the '66 shown in the article, there are some differences. The two nuts in the middle of the '66 pad aren't there for the '65 pads. However, the '65s have a pair of chrome strips that run along the front edge of the pad where it meets the gauge cluster and glovebox door. Also, the blue '65 pad has a different shape compared to the black '66 pad. The '66 pad also has a pair of "wings" in the center that the '65 pad lacks.
This is a set of dashpad strips...
This is a set of dashpad strips for a '65 Mustang. The long and short strip join together to make a complete strip for each side of the pad, one above the gauge cluster and the other above the glovebox door.