1971 E body dash pad options

I am getting ready to have my dash pad re-skinned by one of the vendors that provide this service but am wondering if I am just better off buying one of the new repro's that are available. Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.

ABC Moparts

I did a full concourse 6 year rotisserie resto on my '71 cuda, I sent my dash pad to Just Dashes, and my gauge cluster to Instrument Specialties. I redid/repaired resprayed the frame and did the reassembly with all NOS switches and new wiring...the dash came out unbelievable...for me, I'm very happy with how the Just Dashes pad came out and it fit perfectly the first time, no headaches...wasn't cheap, but no headaches either...my 2 🍀🍀

Just Dashes doesn't replace the foam. They just patch the bad spots. Had them do a couple in the past and won't use them again.
ABC Moparts does a better job at about half the cost. Bob is a stand up guy that is great to deal with. Sent him your core.

I have called them and got two different answers on this subject. Just this last time I was told they complety strip the old foam and start over. Before I’ve been told the better core with less cracks you send them, the better one you get back. I just sold a car to a friend with pretty cracked up dash. He delivered it to CA the last time he was there. They would not let him in the shop. I’m waiting to look at it when it’s done.

Every E body pad I've seen done by Just Dashes over the years in restored E bodies was "puffy" looking, and crack repair was barely visible under the "new" vinyl skin, I have never been impressed by JD's work on E body pads, personally I've had UR's/Carolina's/ Dash Pro pads over the years in my vehicles and have been happy with their products (even though all 3 companies are/were owned/run by Alan Fox, Ebay purchase was/is the best procedure for purchase to avoid the bait and wait) I'd love to see ABC Moparts come out with a 70 E body pad for the Challenger and Cuda .....hint, hint

Thanks for all of the input, I spoke with Bob from ABC and will be going with his product.

So right now ABC only makes the 71-4 E Body pad ?

Ya think so.
I'm fixing to order one up for a customer's 72.

Jim, all I see offered currently is the 71-4 E body pad, I'm sure the 70 pad is destined for production (I'm praying!), but like all the other manufacturers/recovering operation the 70 only pad, esp the Challenger pad is very detail oriented and difficult to produce correctly, I'd love to see ABC pull it off for $800-$1000 would be a good seller


Mike

Hell yes it would - I would get two at least two if not more

Mike-How is the grain pattern? I heard one time that JD uses GM material (wrong grain pattern) because it was already available and was too expensive to have the correct grain pattern made.

Jim, here's a comparison between Stock dash pattern vs Just Dashes grain pattern...

Stock top, Just Dashes bottom...

Here's a quote saved from a Moparts member who had Just Dashes outline what is done procedure wise for an E body dash...

The 70 E body dashes are still elusive for most of the manufacturers to get right, I have some 70 Barracuda dash pads that were done by Carolina Super Dash/Dash Pros (Alan Foxx) and I was more impressed by the finish/looks of these, than ones I had seen done by Just Dashes (reason I never pulled the trigger on Just Dashes doing the work)The 70 Challenger pad by Dash Pros "looks" very good/correct, but I haven't pulled the trigger on that, because 1: I have a mint 70 E body black single speaker Challenger pad to use on my Challenger, that I'd rather sell, even though it's been safely stored for 30+ years, 2: I'd rather put my faith in a newly made dash (new materials), and 3: I'm sure some of us have experienced installing that super nice "original" pad we scored, only to have it crack almost overnight! after a few days back out in the world, only to live with it, or pull it again, to either have it recovered/replaced...DAMHIK

Just Dashes 70 Challenger dash in these saved pics from 4 years ago, while better than nothing, is still lacking the really sharp lines the 70 Challenger stock pad has, grain is different (not a big concern for me, but for some) and it has a "puffy" appearance to it IMHO, and the emblem area and stitching just cry "close but no cigar" IMO, nice but not $1500+ nice...

Perhaps ABC Moparts might "pull a rabbit out of the hat" for 70 E body guys?

Mike

...

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We will be at the Fall Fling with all of our E body dash pads including the 70 Challenger. So stop by and check them out. They are new foam and vinyl, not filled in and you can easily see for yourself. These are like our other pads and are made on a heavier vinyl than what is used elsewhere.
Thanks, Bob

Thanks Bob for letting us know the availability of the 70 Challenger dash pads. The other dash pads that you have brought to the market has been a huge gain for the hobby.

Anyone looking for any dash pad components, arm rest pads and other molded foam parts should check out www.abcmoparts.com. The parts have always been worth the price that he charges.

Bob - where will you be? Do you have a vendor name?

Thanks

Chris, Bob is ABCMoparts... if you meet up with him, some feedback on the 70 E body pads would be appreciated by the Moparts collective that can't attend...


Mike

ABC Moparts. Since Van Nuys is a relaxed venue I will be in the general swap area. I will have arm rest pads and dash pads out.

Bob can be found in spaces J105 through 110 at Fall Carlisle for anyone with questions or wanting to look at his various dash pads.

Matter has been resolved

Do you have pictures you could post of this problem? I was hoping we would finally get an ebody dash worth having.

matter has been resolved

Thanks for the pictures. I assume that is an a body pad?

matter has been resolved