Aftermarket FJ40 Dash Pad
- Thread starter fjgoober
- Start date
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- Joined
- Oct 31, 2008
- Threads
- 67
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- 815
- Location
- Napa Valley California
- Website
- www.mosscreekwinery.com
Ok, I bought a pad from Greg. I did not read the part about it not fitting a 1969 fj40. Good thing because I lined it up today on my FJ40 and it seems to work. The only thing needed is a little stretching for bolts to screw in and a couple of holes for the knob bolts. Looks great and I am very pleased with purchase. I have a couple of old pads for sale and a brand new pad cover. pm if interested.
george
george
Kayaker
SILVER Star
FJ40Dash Review
Ok, here's my personal experience with this product:
Right out of the box, the FJ40Dash has a solid heft with and is cushioned, not unlike the OEM dash. The surface is more textured and has a non reflective, matt finish. It has the same metal strips molded into the foam material on both the top and bottom, just as with the OEM dash, but doesn’t include the removable bracket required on the top edge to mount it to the body below the defroster ducts at the bottom of the windshield. It has the same dimensions as the OEM dash in terms of the shape, size, number and configuration of mounting holes.
The FJ40Dash did not come with instructions for installation, which I took as a compliment as I would not have resorted to reading them anyway and not including them means the manufacturer figured if I was smart enough to order his dash, I must be smart enough to install it. The most complex part of the installation is removing the bracket from the old dash and installing it on the new one. The manufacturer drilled two pilot holes, one on either end of the FJ40Dash, to align the bracket, after that, all of the hidden holes line up perfectly with the holes in the OEM bracket, so I just place the stock screws in the holes and gave them a few turns to snug them down.
The holes for inserting the two dash knobs that secure the windshield frame, are molded depressions but not cut out. I cut an x in the center, and pushed the screws through but left the excess material in the depression. This seemed to work fine though I may end up going back and cutting out the excess material.
More to follow....
Ok, here's my personal experience with this product:
Right out of the box, the FJ40Dash has a solid heft with and is cushioned, not unlike the OEM dash. The surface is more textured and has a non reflective, matt finish. It has the same metal strips molded into the foam material on both the top and bottom, just as with the OEM dash, but doesn’t include the removable bracket required on the top edge to mount it to the body below the defroster ducts at the bottom of the windshield. It has the same dimensions as the OEM dash in terms of the shape, size, number and configuration of mounting holes.
The FJ40Dash did not come with instructions for installation, which I took as a compliment as I would not have resorted to reading them anyway and not including them means the manufacturer figured if I was smart enough to order his dash, I must be smart enough to install it. The most complex part of the installation is removing the bracket from the old dash and installing it on the new one. The manufacturer drilled two pilot holes, one on either end of the FJ40Dash, to align the bracket, after that, all of the hidden holes line up perfectly with the holes in the OEM bracket, so I just place the stock screws in the holes and gave them a few turns to snug them down.
The holes for inserting the two dash knobs that secure the windshield frame, are molded depressions but not cut out. I cut an x in the center, and pushed the screws through but left the excess material in the depression. This seemed to work fine though I may end up going back and cutting out the excess material.
More to follow....
Kayaker
SILVER Star
Continued
I set the FJ40Dash in place and kept it loosely in place with the two dash knobs, then proceeded to install the screws at that bottom of the FJ40Dash, before securing it in place with the dash knobs. The screw holes along the bottom of the FJ40Dash are molded in place and drilled through, and lining them up with the threaded holes in the metal dashboard required very little adjusting. The total installation from box to dash, took under 30 minutes.
The FJ40Dash looks great installed, very similar to the OEM padded dash save for the small name molded into the front just to the right of the steering wheel (photo 1). It’s not obtrusive but does distinguish it from the OEM, if one couldn’t already tell from the difference in the rougher finish. It is not perfect however. Some of the problems I detected are mold lines along the top leading edge and an apparent void in the material just above the name stamp that is not visible, but can be easily felt when pressed lightly (photo 3). I would not consider any of these issues “deal breakers”, but they do show there is some room for improvement. After mounting my FJ40Dash, I noticed that the curvature above the glove box was not perfect (photo 2). I later learned from the manufacturer that the metal insert here could be adjusted (flexed) to achieve a perfect fit and was able to easily make this adjustment. For those of you with early model FJ40s without the dash light, I was able to retrofit my FJ40Dash with the light from a later model. It's a tight fit and requires some drilling of the dashboard and rewiring of the light switch but is an option for those looking for a second project.
Overall, I am impressed with the quality and fit though only time will tell how it holds up compared to an OEM replacement.
I set the FJ40Dash in place and kept it loosely in place with the two dash knobs, then proceeded to install the screws at that bottom of the FJ40Dash, before securing it in place with the dash knobs. The screw holes along the bottom of the FJ40Dash are molded in place and drilled through, and lining them up with the threaded holes in the metal dashboard required very little adjusting. The total installation from box to dash, took under 30 minutes.
The FJ40Dash looks great installed, very similar to the OEM padded dash save for the small name molded into the front just to the right of the steering wheel (photo 1). It’s not obtrusive but does distinguish it from the OEM, if one couldn’t already tell from the difference in the rougher finish. It is not perfect however. Some of the problems I detected are mold lines along the top leading edge and an apparent void in the material just above the name stamp that is not visible, but can be easily felt when pressed lightly (photo 3). I would not consider any of these issues “deal breakers”, but they do show there is some room for improvement. After mounting my FJ40Dash, I noticed that the curvature above the glove box was not perfect (photo 2). I later learned from the manufacturer that the metal insert here could be adjusted (flexed) to achieve a perfect fit and was able to easily make this adjustment. For those of you with early model FJ40s without the dash light, I was able to retrofit my FJ40Dash with the light from a later model. It's a tight fit and requires some drilling of the dashboard and rewiring of the light switch but is an option for those looking for a second project.
Overall, I am impressed with the quality and fit though only time will tell how it holds up compared to an OEM replacement.
Last edited:
Kayaker
SILVER Star
fine'
And, the finished product installed
And, the finished product installed
- Thread starter
- #166
Going up tomorrow morning to review the patterns and fit of the roll bar pads. Next will come tooling......... However we have five to six tools ahead of these that we have to address before I can get to the pads.
They look good in the pictures.
They look good in the pictures.
Awesome, looks great! As soon as you sell the one piece lower dash pad for later model 40s 
I'll be buying a set! Good job and super nice product.
I'll be buying a set! Good job and super nice product.
- Thread starter
- #169
Just Saved Another One from Crusher
Just saved this from the Crusher. Got a buddy that owns a Scrap Metal Yard with a Car Crusher.
Just saved this from the Crusher. Got a buddy that owns a Scrap Metal Yard with a Car Crusher.
- Thread starter
- #171
It will sit in the lot like everything else.....I'm a hoarder....afraid I might need a part some day that I can't get or have a crazy idea at 3 am and no part stores are open.
skully3
SILVER Star
Nice job. Hate to see these or any old trucks crushed. Obama's cash for clunkers awhile back took alot of classics. Good save!
Wow, I'm surprised. That hardtop looks in good shape, and tub even looks 1/2 decent. Why?
- Thread starter
- #174
I'm posting this reply because I'm getting interest from guys looking for parts.
The fj40 is rough, questionable if salvagable. Hardtop has a hillbilly plexiglass "moonroof" cut into it and a bad job at that. Tub isn't that good either, someone along the line took diamond plate aluminum and riveted it to the outside of the quarter panels, running boards, floor board, etc. anywhere where there was rust. It looks pretty bad close up.
I bought it so I would have spare parts. My brother found out about it and wants to save it to rebuild. Doesn't want to part it out. I know what he really wants to do is find another fj40 and do a frame off restore and save this one for parts for his rebuild. He's done several of them. I may beat him to it. Can't really say no to him as I steal parts from his inventory all the time.
About 8 years ago I found another one sitting in a guys field. Tried to buy it but he wouldn't sell. Every year I go back and try to buy it but he still won't sell. I'd love to have it just for a spare parts vehicle. Sad thing is this thing looks progressively worse every year not much left.
I am going to be up there tomorrow morning if you still want that dash.
The fj40 is rough, questionable if salvagable. Hardtop has a hillbilly plexiglass "moonroof" cut into it and a bad job at that. Tub isn't that good either, someone along the line took diamond plate aluminum and riveted it to the outside of the quarter panels, running boards, floor board, etc. anywhere where there was rust. It looks pretty bad close up.
I bought it so I would have spare parts. My brother found out about it and wants to save it to rebuild. Doesn't want to part it out. I know what he really wants to do is find another fj40 and do a frame off restore and save this one for parts for his rebuild. He's done several of them. I may beat him to it. Can't really say no to him as I steal parts from his inventory all the time.
About 8 years ago I found another one sitting in a guys field. Tried to buy it but he wouldn't sell. Every year I go back and try to buy it but he still won't sell. I'd love to have it just for a spare parts vehicle. Sad thing is this thing looks progressively worse every year not much left.
I am going to be up there tomorrow morning if you still want that dash.
- Thread starter
- #175
Roll Bar Pads:
Thought I would post an update. Don't get a chance to get on here much as I would like.
I've been selling quite a few of the dashes. Several guys said they were going to post pictures of the installs. I haven't taken the time to look to see if they have. Sometime or another I probably need to build a place on our website for the install pics.
Just got the tooling back for the roll bar pads. Looks good but still have to machine, port, texture, fit, etc. It's moving along however now is where it slows down as the lower dash pads have been at this same point for quite awhile.....Waiting for my dumb hind end to find time to get over there and finish them. I could have them available within the next three to four weeks.
Thought I would post an update. Don't get a chance to get on here much as I would like.
I've been selling quite a few of the dashes. Several guys said they were going to post pictures of the installs. I haven't taken the time to look to see if they have. Sometime or another I probably need to build a place on our website for the install pics.
Just got the tooling back for the roll bar pads. Looks good but still have to machine, port, texture, fit, etc. It's moving along however now is where it slows down as the lower dash pads have been at this same point for quite awhile.....Waiting for my dumb hind end to find time to get over there and finish them. I could have them available within the next three to four weeks.
Lower Dash pads sound great!
YES!!!
Get off your butt and get these lower pads and roll bar pads done! Nice work!!!!
Nice work!!!!
