Firewall pad question for the experts
 

Hi thanks to a great site I have not had to ask too mnay questions in restoring a 1967 Lemans. That said ...I am in the process of putting my interior back in. My firewall pad is not salvagable. Heater box is out but almost everything else is still on the firewall. Is it possible to fit a new firewall pad in the car without removing everything from the firewall? Would you instead of using a pad, maybe just use dynamat instead and cut it around everything? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I did it last Summer in my '67 GTO. The reproductions are cut so you can maneuver around pretty much everything. I think I had to remove the fuse block. Just 2 screws.

Get extra plugs, they break easily.

If you are trying to stay original, remove as much as you can. The old pad is under the parking brake and fuse block . If the heater is out you are 2/3s of the way there.
Just unbolt the parking brake and remove the old pad. Unhook the harnesses from the fuse block on the engine side and take two screws out from the inside. Unhook the gas pedal linkage being careful not to lose the small parts(mine had a cotter pin, washer and small spring)and take it loose from the carb. Three screws hold the linkage bracket to the firewall The steering column is not hard to remove either and you can see if the firewall seal needs replaced.
I used a step drill bit to enlarge the holes by one size to make it easier to install the repo plugs.
I had to stretch my pad to make it fit. That is why I would not recommend cutting it.

I was lazy, and cut mine around the Column.
There is a company, do a search here, on the rubber plug's. The plastic ones will break.
I painted, behind mine, while it was out also.

I didn't know there was a problem with the repo plastic plugs.Good thing to know.

Mine all bent/broke when I went to tap them in. I used the rubber ones/like factory and pulled the tip into the firewall, from the engine side.
Looking back, enlarging the holes would be easier.