My firewall insulation (I think its original) is flaking at the bottom. Does anyone know if the original style is reproduced or available from anyone. I am leery of the ABS plastic type.

Jonathan

 

I have a new ABS firewall pad and it fits perfect, and looks great. The only thing I think to be leery about is that it won't satisfy the purist.

 

I made my own with pond liner, 45 mil thick. It's really cheap and easy to work with. Because of some non-standard stuff I didn't want to buy ABS and have to cut it. I put carpet insulation on the firewall first. Total cost under $50. Easy to clean.

 

Great idea Ross. I've been stewing over how to cover my firewall. Are those the original style spring push-in clips?

 

Yes, they work great

 

Dumb question, how do the buttons come off? My original was almost turned to dust and fell right off. I still have the clips/buttons in place. Are they reusable?

 

I am not sure if they can be reused. If I remember correctly I tried but they didn't grip so well. I bought an ABS pad and also bought new push in clips.

Ross, your homemade pad looks great!

 

I just squeezed the clips on their shanks and pushed out from the engine side. Some were broken or destroyed in the process. They are supposed to be re-useable. I used Christmas trees to make up for the broken ones, they actually work well but I used them where they are out of sight.

 

Thanks, I'll have to take a closer look at them and see if I can salvage any.

 

How hard was it to mold the pond liner into place?

 

Good thread...I don't think originals are around, even Mr Selzam has not seen one.

May just keep mine for a while. When I do a radiator flush and clean the heater core I may look at the abs piece from DC. DC also has a black fiberglass option also but the parts resource seemed to think the abs version mimicked the original better.

JB

 

The pond liner is very flexible. I didn't do any pie-cuts or anything to fit it around the center hump in the firewall.

The original pad was, as far as I could tell, asphalt-impregnated paper over corrugated cardboard. When I pulled mine out (in many pieces) I was shocked how much oil it had absorbed thru the many unused holes in the firewall. If ever a good spark hit it, it would have gone up like a candle.

 

No reason to be leery of the ABS type. I used one in my 49 and it worked great...

 

I think you can buy the ABS without any holes in it. Check Mid Fifty.

 

Christmas trees? Are those the plastic bits with the ribs on the shaft so to speak?