Re: The Duchess Project: 1940 Super 8 Convertible Sedan

Posted by Joe Santana On 2011/4/26 11:34:35

I hate to disillusion you, JW.
The truth is in 1986, anticipating a completed car in no time, ha ha, I ordered a firewall from Armands to replace my very holey, but thick bumpy leathery rubber firewall. The replacement was a great disappointment. One thin piece of molded plastic barely 3/32nds with a pin-point finish and a couple of slots cut out of the top. It had no insulation. It had no edging. It looked like it came out of the cheapest pick-up imaginable. It required you to make a big paper pattern from your existing firewall. Then use that to mark it for holes for heater, radio, speaker etc. (I'm sure this method would create a lot of double-hole installations.) Mark for notches, tab, etc.. Drill the holes. Trim as needed with tin snips to get it to fit. Cut insulation as needed...use the pattern and cut some more. Glue on the insulation with contact cement. Install.

I still have it. Every time I look at it I growl.

The QuietRide people while somewhat rude* and non-responsive (after I called and complained, they promised someone knowledgeable would contact me, but never did), the product was better. I don't think it would take much to improve it and make it appear more authentic, but it looks pretty good and much better than the old battleship one I had in there that survived holes for a lot of inauthentic items over the years.

A lot of vendors have a sort of hot rod mentality, meaning this new material is an improvement over the style, texture, etc of what was used originally. Either that, or I'm just getting grouchier as I get older. Which is a possibility. Lower tolerance setting in.

That was then, and I'm sure Armand's does a better job, perhaps a superior job today per your recommendation.

*They first said they had a floor kit for my car, but only after probing did I find out that the kit for may car is the universal kit. Since I'm a neophyte in all this I asked what the process was that I'd have to do if I ordered that kit. I was told that if I didn't know how to do it I should contact an upholstery shop. After I called they promised someone would call or email me to tell me the steps. I think the floor kit is $200. BUt no one has yet and it's been a couple months.