It's hard to believe that the "all-new" '79 Mustang turns 31 years old in 2010, which makes it a contemporary Mustang classic and the beginning of a new generation of Mustangs that arrived during the disco era. With the '79 Mustang came new features we'd never seen on a Mustang before-McPherson struts, four-link coil spring rear suspension, horn button in the turn signal lever, serpentine beltdrive, turbocharger, LED advisory lights, and a host of other features that made these cars fun to drive. In time, Ford would weave performance back into the Mustang with a return to powerful V-8s and hot turbo fours.
Although the '79-'86 Mustangs haven't proven as collectible as the first generation classics, they continue to have a loyal following committed to saving and restoring them, not to mention having bunches of fun with them. Among the more desirable Fox-body derivatives is the '85 Mustang GT, not only the last carbureted high-performance Mustang but also the first with roller tappets and fast-burn combustion chambers for improved performance and reduced emissions. It was also the first with the Quadra-Shock rear suspension, borrowed from Mustang SVO for improved traction. Although mild by today's standards, the '85 Mustang GT was a significant step toward the hot Mustangs we enjoy today.
Our '85 Mustang GT's original...
Our '85 Mustang GT's original dashpad shows the effects of Los Angeles living with extreme deterioration from harsh sun and ozone, which bleed the life right out of soft parts. Replacement is easy because dashpad replacement in '79-'86 Mustangs doesn't mandate major disassembly. The greatest challenge is installation, which calls for patience.
We're working with a 100,000-mile '85 Mustang GT hatchback, a Southern California freeway cruiser suffering from the rigors of desert climate and a different kind of deterioration from Mustangs east of the Rockies. In the east, Mustangs tend to rust into oblivion. In the desert Southwest, they turn into dust from an extremely dry, sun-bleached climate.
Our '85 GT's interior shows the effects of 25 years of desert Los Angeles operation. We're going to reupholster the side-bolster bucket seats, replace carpeting, and fit the Fox-body with a new dashpad. Where possible, we'll seek out new-old-stock interior pieces to complement the reproduction parts available from Latemodel Restoration Supply.
The dashpad is retained with...
The dashpad is retained with 11 Phillips buttonhead screws around its perimeter. All are identical screws. There are no hidden studs or retainers to disconnect because it's all out there in plain sight. Here, we're removing the three screws across the top of the instrument panel, which frees up the bezel.
We contacted Latemodel Restoration Supply to see what was available for those of us who appreciate the Mustang's second big wave of performance. They graciously provided us with everything available for an '85-'86 Mustang GT with Charcoal cloth interior. We're going to begin our renaissance with the dashpad replacement.
The instrument bezel comes...
The instrument bezel comes out like this. Three screws secure the bezel on top. The bezel has tabs across the bottom to secure it underneath.
The pad is also secured in...
The pad is also secured in two hidden locations....
....(upper corners) behind...
....(upper corners) behind the instrument bezel.
Two more screws above the...
Two more screws above the dashpanel to the right secure the pad on the starboard side. Don't forget the defroster outlet screws, also on this side.
Two screws are located at...
Two screws are located at each defroster outlet. Make sure you don't drop a screw down the defroster outlet. Stuff rags down the defroster outlet or use tape as a block.
The old dashpad lifts out...
The old dashpad lifts out easily once all the screws are out.
Tinnerman's nuts are transferred...
Tinnerman's nuts are transferred from the old dashpad to the new one.
Because this is a molded dashpad,...
Because this is a molded dashpad, screw holes need a little help with a center punch or a #2 Phillips screwdriver.
Attachment points on the right-hand...
Attachment points on the right-hand side may need mild modification with duck bill pliers and slightly larger screw holes (no larger than 1/8-inch) to align with the right-hand dash panel nut plates.
We were impressed with the...
We were impressed with the fit of our Latemodel Restoration dashpad from Dashes Direct. It dropped right into place with ease. All we had to do was some finite adjustment to achieve proper screw hole alignment.
This dashpad is not pre-drilled...
This dashpad is not pre-drilled behind the instrument bezel because every dashboard is different. Determine screw hole locations and mate the pad....
.....with the dashboard. Mark...
.....with the dashboard. Mark the screw hole location with a felt tip pen and drill a 1/8-inch screw hole.
On the right-hand side are...
On the right-hand side are two attachment points. You may have to drill out this screw slot to 1/8-inch for proper screw hole alignment. Push down on the dashpad until the screw holes line up.
The instrument bezel tabs...
The instrument bezel tabs drop in across the bottom, allowing three screw holes across the top to line up for installation. We like the '85-'86 aircraft instrument pod look, which was also used late in 1984 on the 20th Anniversary Edition GT350 cars.
Look what you can do for a...
Look what you can do for a '79-'86 Mustang interior in about one hour for under $200, not including shipping and potential sales tax. This is the LRS-04282D Light Gray dashpad, which has improved this interior's demeanor. Now we just need some soap and water on the rest of the dash...