[grivera]

Does anyone have experience with quality and fit of the OER dash pad for 69 Bird? The most recent thread I could find was from 2016 and curious if product has improved since then.

https://www.jegs.com/i/OER+Equipment...SABEgJdDfD_BwE

[JLMounce]

I have it in my bird that I just redid the interior on last april.

If you're looking for an exact replica of the original dash, this is not it. There's no metal flashing or structure like you see on the original piece. It's one material throughout, not a foam/metal structure covered in vinyl. Instead of a soft stud for mounting it has threads, albeit smaller, so you have to source that stuff. In that area, the connection is a bit more secure than how it was mounted from the factory.

All that said, I like the look and soft touch feel. The fitment is also pretty good.

For a showable driver it's a good piece. If you are doing a numbers match concourse or higher level show car, you'll want to have the factory dash pad rebuilt or find an NOS.

[grivera]

Thanks Jason - How is your gap near the windshield?

After making this thread I called Ames about their dash pad and they said it is also OER brand as well - The phone rep cautioned against it. Here are the comments in the catalog:

"**FAIR TO POOR QUALITY USE ONLY AS LAST RESORT** NO STEEL PLATE FOR MOUNTING TOP OF CLUSTER, ALSO NEEDED -4-A259W NYLON INSERTS; STEEL CORE ALONG TOP IS NOT AS THICK,WHICH MAY LEAVE 5/16" GAP ALONG BASE OF WINDSHIELD **"

[JLMounce]

Honestly I haven't looked that closely. Their description is likely on point, but my frame of reference was an extremely poor condition factory pad with a plastic cap over it.

So even the OER piece I have no is a massive improvement. I will say that it's fit is good enough that I don't notice anything weird and it "looks right" when viewing from the outside of the car, through the windshield.

[grivera]

gotcha- thanks

[maxepr]

I got one from Al Knock as a stand in, Not too bad at all, Then sent my metal core to them and they redid it , came out very nice and went in very nice. I'd go with Al knock .

[north]

I’ve tried both the plastic core repop and the metal core repro, forget who made each, both were lousy compared to factory. The metal core one looked better at first but it went wonky the first hot day in the sun. So I had the original done by Just Dashes, fit beautiful but much puffier than the factory one in my sprint, most noticeable at the front leading edge viewed through the windshield, much “fatter” edge than stock. In the end I found a good used one, which was perfect other than the price and the years needed to find one ;-)

[maxepr]

I guess I wasn’t clear. Al Knoch recovered my original metal core I took out of my car. It fit well and looked great

[grivera]

I found a good video on You tube by a fella named Tom Rogers - he does a good job illustrating the differences between the factory dashpad, the OER urethane dashpad and the basic Al Knoch dash pad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry9nSVXtiIY

Just Dashes quoted me $750 plus shipping to recover my original.

I sent Al Knoch two inquiries for a quote on recovering my original but no reply so far. Maxepr - do you recall what Al Knoch charged to recover yours?

[maxepr]

I believe it was 200-250, I dropped it off at Carlisle swap meet and it made its way home only a month or two later. That was Pre covid.. The repop they sold me needed a little work but not bad to put in, the Metal core i sent fit right in with very little effort an looks great.