I declare myself as the 3rd generation dash pad guinea pig!!!

[72Rallye440]

Well, I decided to use the coupon offer from The Paddock (Nat's in CL) and buy the new re-popped 3rd generation dash pad. It cost me $400 (- the discount and free shipping) and I was expecting a pretty decent product. Unfortunately I was completely disappointed.

Please keep in mind that this is just my opinion and I wanted to share some pics. The gentleman on the phone was completely forthcoming and told me its not a "show car" piece. He explained that it has 2 defects (pictured) and that was fine, no big deal. What I was really disappointed in was the fact that the part really has no frame to it at all. It does have fiberglas sections for support on the underside but no actual frame. If you pick it up on one end it will literally fold in the center. As you can see by the pics the lack of of support is starting to cause a sag above where the steering wheel would be located.

Again, it is what it is and I'm only expressing my opinion. The part may be perfectly fine for some folks but I will not be keeping it. I have a fear that the sag may not come out once its installed and I'm not willing to take the chance.

[72Rallye440]

Defects...................

[72Rallye440]

Check out the bend (pic could have been better)!

[72Rallye440]

Take a look at the underside. The white sections is fiberglass but not a frame. It looks as if its embedded in sections as support?

[Charger1973]

  What a POS!!!   I'll have my old one restored and pay the price, that is just pathetic!

[72Rallye440]

What a POS!!!   I'll have my old one restored and pay the price, that is just pathetic!

You're one of the folks that I wanted to see this before you plopped down the cash right along with me!

[Charger1973]

Yeah im glad you took the pics, that really saves me a headache because I would NOT be happy if I ordered one and it looked like that.   Really that makes my cracked dash look nice.   

Thanks for taking the time to post them.   

[TruckDriver]

What a POS!!!   I'll have my old one restored and pay the price, that is just pathetic!

Just a suggestion, but I hope you can post this on my sight too. It would be appreciated.

[NHCharger]

Wow, guess I'll keep my dash cap on after seeing that. I'll spend the extra couple hundred when I'm ready and have mine re-done. I wonder if they think that us 3rd gen guys are that hard up for new dash pads that we would settle for that.

[wjmopar]

I've never ordered anything from "The Paddock", and after seeing the absolute junk they're sending out, I won't be ordering from them, ever!!!   Thanks for the heads-up, and I hope you don't have any probs. returning that piece of sh*t!!!

[The70RT]

It seems a lot of stuff coming out is a joke these days on 2ed gen as well. They need to take there time and make a good product.  They would make more money in the long run. Why couldn't they fix the mold? You mean every one that is sent out is gonna have the same defects?

[72Rallye440]

It seems a lot of stuff coming out is a joke these days on 2ed gen as well. They need to take there time and make a good product.  They would make more money in the long run. Why couldn't they fix the mold? You mean every one that is sent out is gonna have the same defects?

I was told that every one they have in stock has the exact same defect and now that I took a closer look it appears to be a patch! Also, I tried to insert an extra vent panel I had in the garage and its not even close to fitting! 

[RD]

holy shnikes!!!!  that sux a55 if you ask me... original restore for me now... you know, epoxy, a toothpick, paint, and time

[41husk]

Thanks for being the experiment, sorry it is such a sorry product.  I would rather have my cap than that POS

[Nacho-RT74]

 

[AKcharger]

I've never ordered anything from "The Paddock", and after seeing the absolute junk they're sending out, I won't be ordering from them, ever!!!   Thanks for the heads-up, and I hope you don't have any probs. returning that piece of sh*t!!!

Paddock is a good place, I've ordered about $10K worthof stuff from them...they stand  behind their products and they'll refund it

[twilt]

72Rallye440, do you know who the manufacturer of that pad is? There is another business on Ebay (ultimate rides?) selling repro pads for $625, and that requires a core frame.  Obviously, what you got is a worthless piece of crap at any price.  Having bought a lot of repro parts in the last couple years, I have been thoroughly disappointed in about half of them. 

[defiance]

Some of the $700-range pieces that are re-covered stock frames (just dashes, dashboard restoration, etc) are actually really good peices.  Still maybe not perfect, but really good. 

This?  Wow.  My goodness that section over the steering wheel actually makes me ill. 

[Charger-Bodie]

72Rallye440, do you know who the manufacturer of that pad is? There is another business on Ebay (ultimate rides?) selling repro pads for $625, and that requires a core frame.  Obviously, what you got is a worthless piece of crap at any price.  Having bought a lot of repro parts in the last couple years, I have been thoroughly disappointed in about half of them. 

its my understanding that ultimate rides will do it either way sed a core ore get one cheaper like that. a friend of mine used one from them on a 70 challenger the other day and it was without the metal shell and he said it fit like crapola, my partner here at the shop got one for a 70 chally a couple years ago with the metal shell and it fit nice!!

[72Rallye440]

twilt,
Not sure of the manufacturer of the piece. I called the Paddock this morning and the lady was VERY helpful and said "let me guess, the 71-4 b body dash pad". Apparently the manufacturer confirmed that everything they have has the defect but offered me another part from the same company. Supposedly, the new one is much stronger and fits better but over $540.00 in price! For that amount of money I'll pay Just Dashes or someone compairable $700 to re-do my original.

She's sending me a return label so I won't be out anything and she also apologized. I really couldn't have asked for better service but I'm glad that I got the info out to you guys. Having 400 bucks of your play money tied up kinda sucks!

[CharlieCharger]

Oh, man..he didn't mention the elasticity?

[red72chrgr]

Ouch! Glad you're getting your $$ back. Guess it's the cap for the time being.

[rudyjrusa]

i was going to buy one from paddock - good thing i didn't - sent it over to dashboardrestorations - price is $475 plus shipping - i hope they do a great job.

[Nacho-RT74]

i was going to buy one from paddock - good thing i didn't - sent it over to dashboardrestorations - price is $475 plus shipping - i hope they do a great job.

I told you!!! better get good invested the money and no headaches on next 20 years as less. I hope rebuilt job will be quality one!!!

[defiance]

i was going to buy one from paddock - good thing i didn't - sent it over to dashboardrestorations - price is $475 plus shipping - i hope they do a great job.

They did a great job on mine!

[Nacho-RT74]

WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!! definitelly worths!!!!

Heey, nice power window switches!!!!

[Charger74]

WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!! definitelly worths!!!!

Heey, nice power window switches!!!!

Funny, I was going to say the same thing.  What a great place for them....

[defiance]

LOL - are you guys being sarcastic?

It's a $35 repop console panel, so I didn't figure it would hurt anything, and they do work well there...  I figured door panels are harder to come by and more expensive, plus more work to get them mounted solid.  The point was the dash panel, though, which I thought Dashboard Restorations did a great job on!

[Nacho-RT74]

LOL - are you guys being sarcastic?

It's a $35 repop console panel, so I didn't figure it would hurt anything, and they do work well there...  I figured door panels are harder to come by and more expensive, plus more work to get them mounted solid.  The point was the dash panel, though, which I thought Dashboard Restorations did a great job on!

eeehm... I'm not being sarcastic... I would preffer on doors like original thought, but for a while that custom job is good done, I wouldn't care

[Todd Wilson]

It seems a lot of stuff coming out is a joke these days on 2ed gen as well. They need to take there time and make a good product.  They would make more money in the long run. Why couldn't they fix the mold? You mean every one that is sent out is gonna have the same defects?

I am no plastic or molding person but I would imagine they made a mold from a dash pad that had the buggers in it. Maybe tried to patch it and make it look decent and it obviously transfered to the mold. As flimsy as it is in the picture I bet the speedometer area would most definately sag. Imagine what it may do when it gets warmed up on a hot summer day.
These cars are worth too much money to replace with this kind of garbage. For that kind of garbage and price I'll just keep my original dash with its crack in it. It dont look that bad. Thanks for those post Dew! We need to know about this stuff!




Todd

[Charger74]

LOL - are you guys being sarcastic?

It's a $35 repop console panel, so I didn't figure it would hurt anything, and they do work well there...  I figured door panels are harder to come by and more expensive, plus more work to get them mounted solid.  The point was the dash panel, though, which I thought Dashboard Restorations did a great job on!

OH no, no sacrasm either, I do think that is a cool place to put them.  Like you said, why cutup nice expensive door panels when you can cut up a nice repop panel.  Had friend put his power window switches in the center console for his 68 Charger.  Worked nicely.

[Nacho-RT74]

Anyway I think you are a little bit Creeder LOL, because on those years just Mercedes were with switches on buttons LOL ( I'm sure of that since my driver is a 75 mercedes 280S LOL )