Please Help!! 67 Firewall Insulation
HELP!!!! I've purchased 2 sets of firewall insulation for my 67 and cannot get the pc. on the driver's side to line up. The pc just doesn't seem to be long enough for the holes to align with the firewall mount holes. This is the brand made by the company in Kansas with all the wrinkles in it. I can't find another type anywhere else to try. Is there a secret to installing this type or does anybody know anyone selling the correct kind that fits? I've tried using bolts to temp. secure it to the firewall, hoping to push/pull into alignment, t*******, etc. w/o any success. I'm about out of patience. So, guys, Please help if you can! Al
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Re: Please Help!! 67 Firewall Insulation
Al,
Last year I had the same problem on a '67 I had here. I had to trim the area under the pedal-box frame to get it to fit better. It wouldn't go up high enough above the carpet edge and the mount holes wouldn't line up. See the 1st photo where I trimmed it in 2 places just under the frames. It wasn't wide enough either. As you can see it did not line up with the passenger side piece at the 2 mount holes near the gas pedal.
I had to open up the holes in the pass side piece to get it lined up with the drivers' side. I was disappointed with the fit but it was the only one I found available. I got this one from Zip. I believe all vendors get it from the same place, maybe this was from the Kansas supplier too but i don't remember.
BTW, it came with blue-backing, but I cut out pieces from the old one and spliced them in at the openings for a more original appearance when you look under the cluster. The underdash sound deadener insulation was also blue and as it has no "covering", we had to use it as-is.
Rich
p.s. We had the same problems on a friend's '65 using the similar product. -
Re: Please Help!! 67 Firewall Insulation
I got mine from long Island Corvette for my 66. I had the same problem. The one mount hole won't match up. They are obviously made wrong. I have talked to others locally who have the same issue.Comment
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Re: Please Help!! 67 Firewall Insulation
Thanks richard, the passenger side lines up good, just the driver's side is the problem. Right now, I have a 6x6 wood block with a 4x8x16 concrete block sitting on it, hoping to flatten it out enough to work.AlComment
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Re: Please Help!! 67 Firewall Insulation
Is this the insulation that has the "asphalt" like front, or is it the plastic crap that some of the vendors sell?Dick WhittingtonComment
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Re: Please Help!! 67 Firewall Insulation
Al it looks like you added power brakes, you should remove the spring on the brake pedal as this was only used with manual brakes. At least in 1966, I think 1967 would be the same.Comment
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Re: Please Help!! 67 Firewall Insulation
Dick, The one in my photos is the asphalt type. I actually bought the plastic type and when I opened the box it looked horrible. I sent it back and got the other type.
I'm not sure but I believe Al's is the asphalt type since he's putting weight on it to help form it better.
RichComment
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Re: Please Help!! 67 Firewall Insulation
Sorry to be so long getting back The one I have is indeed the asphalt type. I was also wondering about the spring. I saw it was correct for non-power, but didn't see it listed in the AIM for powered brakes. Anyone else tried placing weights on the asphalt one to stretch it out. If so, did it work & if so, has it remained stretched or did it shrink back? Just wondering. ALComment
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Re: Please Help!! 67 Firewall Insulation
Just installed one I bought from L.I. corvette and it lined up fine. One trick is carefully use pliers to pull the rubber plugs through the firewall while pushing with the end of a hammer handle. The tool that looks like a cut off screw driver will never work.Comment
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Re: Please Help!! 67 Firewall Insulation
Charles -
The dash mat plug tool works fine - GM installed 25,000 dash mats every day for 40+ years using it. The key is to have the washer brazed to it so there's 1/4"-3/8" clearance between the washer and the head of the plug, so the plug is stretched slightly when you push on the tool; we also pre-heated the plugs under a heat lamp and dipped them in a 50-50 Joy soap/water solution just prior to installation, and a second operator on the engine side pulled that end of the plug with duckbill pliers while the inside guy pushed the plug through to seat it. Photo below shows the home-made version.
DashMatPlugTool640.jpgComment
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Re: Please Help!! 67 Firewall Insulation
Hey all, sorry to be so long getting back. Yes Dick, mine is the asphalt looking one like the one that Richard posted. Has anyone else tried putting weights on one to stretch it out? If so, how did it go and did it remain stretched out after installation on the car? Charles, do you recall if yours had a small sticker with the name of the mfr on it. If so was it the mfr in Kansas or another mfr? One question I had got answered -- that was on the spring usuage on the 67 powered brake pedal. I knew mine did not have it (1-owner, I'm the 2nd), but you never know if it was lost or broken. ALComment
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Re: Please Help!! 67 Firewall Insulation
The plastic repro is a real POS. The asphalt type should be somewhat adjustable.Dick WhittingtonComment
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