Tom (Pinecone Ford) and I had a discussion about painting the oil impregnated cardboard firewall pad. Tom said after I put in a new floormat and painted my heater that I need to dress up my firewall pad. It is dirty, faded and has water spots. Observe:



So has anyone ever cleaned up their pad? Can it be painted? Wouldn't the paint soak in? Tom mentioned a Bulldog product. Would it work for a cardboard firewall pad?

 

I use a product called "Black Trim Kote" by Detail King Car Trim Restorer - Black to restore many black trim parts. I would recommend applying it with a foam brush, too thick to spray furthermore a brush on application will be far less messy.

 

You want more of dye than a paint ,an old trick from years past....Black liquid shoe polish, that will will fix it up to like new and makes touch up's a breeze

 

Shoe dye? With the foam applicator dingus?

 

No you can buy liquid shoe polish's/liquid leather dyes and use it in a spray gun or even paint brush you will never get proper coverage otherwise. That will colour beyond just the surface and any small nicks will never show up as it will soak in to the substrate and help seal it from further discoloration from moisture intrusion. Ideally you want the old alcohol based dyes and the not the new water born acrylics.

 

I have used a vinyl spray with good luck on similar applications, good bond and remains somewhat flexible. It will handle the misc kicks and pokes well and is cleanable.

 

Ok guys. Thanks for the tips.

 

Abe, you can do like this guy did on his 54 and put in the ABS firewall pad.

 

Hmm, but that guy is probably rich and can afford such niceties!

Besides, I am a stocker and don't like plastic stuff!

 

I'm interested in how you make out with this. Yours is a real nice looking cover. I ended up replacing mine with ABS, but it just doesn't look or feel the same. I've still got my original, but some of the holes for the buttons that secure it to the sheet metal are ripped out. It appears to me that the original is a sort of asphalt impregnated felt paper. I thought about attempting repairs on mine using #30 roofing felt and asphalt roofing cement. I considered painting it with a flat black solvent based paint after any repairs, the thought being that a solvent based finish would penetrate the cover material and help stiffen it back up. I look forward to seeing what you end up doing.

 

I've often thought that coating the ABS ones with roofing tar paper would simulate the original ones pretty closely.

 

I am surprised the pad looks so good in my 55. The one in my 54 was way beyond repair back in1999 when I got it the truck painted the first time. If it is like felt paper it is a thin piece. I think it is more like cardboard that is treated with something like asphalt like you said.

Don't hold your breathe waiting for me to do this. It might be a while as it ain't broken, it just looks dirty and stained and faded. I'd hate to ruin it by doing something nasty with out proper research. Thanks for the tips.