after market firewall cover questions???

[kaptnkaos]

Hey guys,

Has any one replaced the interior fire wall cover with one of the aftermarket ones...
I'm gonna need to replace my original one...
Who carries a good one?
What's involved in replacing one ???
I'm still aways away from doing that, but am gathering information about doing it so I know what to expect...
I was looking at one in the NPD catalog... $168 plus shipping... Ouch.. Dang
I know finding and removing one with out it decentegrating at a wrecking yard is probably impossible...
Anyone got any other ideas ???

Thanks again
KaptnKA S

[convincor]

I did a replacement I think it was from Dennis Carpenter. That was back in 93-94? Very well made. Perfect fit.

[fordman]

sharkdance also did one about a year or so ago. it was one of the abs ones. i think he said it fit fine.

[kaptnkaos]

Anyone know what's involved w/installation ???
Do you have to pull the steering column and everything to get it in ???

KaptnKA S

[fordman]

i would sat you have to pull colum heater box and possibly the windshield wiper motor. i think it covers everything that the original did.

[F100builder]

Hey Kaptn, have you considered something like this?
http://store.bobdrake.com/fibin1.html
I was planning on something like this if not this exact one for my bump as I too have ripped the original out (it was torn up anyway and pieces missing). I was going to put it from the very top where the dash meets to all the way back to just above the fuel tank. I also will be putting it on the ceiling above the headliner and perhaps inside the doors. This will all be done after using some POR-15 or Rust Bullet over the same areas.

[kaptnkaos]

Yeah...

I was thinking of using some stuff like that under the firewall cover, the rubber floor mat, under the door panels, and under the headliner.
My firewall cover isn't tore up yet, but I need to do some rust management behind it, and I can't see being able to remove it without tearing it up.

KaptnKA S

[1971fordcustom]

God Yes!

All I have to say is ya need to pull ever thing on the dash! Other then the wireing! and yes even the steering column. Me and the body man found out the hard way! we had to make a split to slide the column in and do some triming but if we had ever thing off we woud not had any problem, I guess thats what ya get when ya try and rush. I got mine from Npd its great.

[fordman]

kapt if you havent tried to take your cover out yet and it isnt messed up you can try and tap out the pins that hold it to the firewall. if they spread or bend then cut them off with some dykes and then use a punch to drive the pins into the cab. if you can get it of in one piece you can get new pins to put it back on with. if mine wasnt ripped i would be able to save mine like that. i have done it on parts trucks for practice and that is how i did it.

[kaptnkaos]

ahh, that's some good news...

I'm not looking forward to doing this job, but I gotta get this rust taken care of or I'm gonna be lookin' at replacin' the cab...

KaptnKA S

[Darrman]

Yeah, I picked up one from NPD, havent installed it yet, but had to pull everything to get all the old nasty one out.
Word of advise, the NPD one does not come with fasteners, you have to buy them seperate. Seems with the $170 spent you could have some thrown in for free. I am going to try to convert over to the christmas tree style plastic retainers, I have lots from different projects.

[floyd67]

the fasteners that npd sells for the older trucks are the same as the bumps they works great the only problem i had is the holes in the firewall cover don't line up exactly

[ford4x4fun]

I don't have one in my cab at the moment, I was thinking about using some sort of a spray on liner thing? And than putting my carpet in. Do you think that would work?

[kaptnkaos]

That might work...

The '71 CS I parted out had the the entire cab floor and fire wall covered with bed liner paint after they took care of all the rust...

Personally, I don't want any carpet in my truck...
I primarily use my truck for camping and love the way you can just the wipe mud and dirt out with the stock rubber floor covering...
If I used mainly in town or on the highway, it wouldn't be that big of a deal.

KaptnKA S

[ford4x4fun]

Never thought about cleaning it out! I haven't got to use mine much yet, but when I get home, it will be all over the place. So I might go with the rubber. Did the spray in look decent?