Group,
I just finished fitting a new pad to my Series 5 so I have some observations. First, I thought the instructions from SS were really well laid out and for anyone that has never done one, following these instructions will save you from wasting $125.00 dash pad.
The rumor of the dash being just slightly off on one side is true. If you line up the vent cuts and center just right, you have too much dash pad on the passenger side by about 5/16. I did not make any adjustments to compensate but one could fudge a little room to the left and cut the defroster vent slightly longer and probably center the dash. I really don't think the average eye would even notice this by the time you install the weather striping and furflex piping.
That brings up another problem. Furflex Piping. By the time you are said and done with the dash installation, there is not enough "pinch weld" left for the Furflex to grab for about 3" or so that goes past the dash pad nearest where the wing window butts up against the dash pad.
Now I didn't do it on this install, but when I do my Series 3 I plan on "channeling" this area with an exacto knife so the Furflex can fit low and "grab" the weld deeper. One could also use a little 3M weather stripping adhesive to help the situation.
The new Furflex piping doe not have the grabbing strength of the old world stuff.
On another note: The aluminum pieces that fit under the dash corners were originally covered with a very "thin" vinyl. I cleaned mine up and used the old vinyl from the old Kick Panels. I was replacing the old warped cardboard ones anyway. The vinyl covering these old nasty things is just the right thickness to do the job.
Good luck...
Paul
Colorado
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