Question About Replacing Dash in 1980 Fairmont

[TimSA]

Gooday,

I am writing for advice concerning the restoration of a car dash. While restoring a 1980 Ford Fairmont, I inadvertently broke the complete instrument panel (AKA dash, dashboard). So, I am exploring how to replace the dash either with one from an old car or with a fabricated dash. The Ford part number is E1DZ-5404320-A, but it is no longer available from Ford.
It might be helpful to know the models and years of vehicles from which I could get a dash to put into my car. When I searched for the part number online, it appeared to match the dash of a 1984 Ford Mustang. However, I have got different opinions on the interchange for my dash. Also, I have tried to find the original mold for the dash. Someone said Ford might have sold it to an aftermarket company.
Do you have any suggestions on what I should do and where I should look to replace my dash? Any information you can provide me would be greatly appreciated.


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[Noobz347]

Gooday,

I am writing for advice concerning the restoration of a car dash. While restoring a 1980 Ford Fairmont, I inadvertently broke the complete instrument panel (AKA dash, dashboard). So, I am exploring how to replace the dash either with one from an old car or with a fabricated dash. The Ford part number is E1DZ-5404320-A, but it is no longer available from Ford.
It might be helpful to know the models and years of vehicles from which I could get a dash to put into my car. When I searched for the part number online, it appeared to match the dash of a 1984 Ford Mustang. However, I have got different opinions on the interchange for my dash. Also, I have tried to find the original mold for the dash. Someone said Ford might have sold it to an aftermarket company.
Do you have any suggestions on what I should do and where I should look to replace my dash? Any information you can provide me would be greatly appreciated.


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Tim,

Your interior shares a lot of pieces with 1979 to 1986 Fox Mustang interiors.

I recommend that you take some good color photos of the piece that you have and make your way out to some junkyards.

 

[TimSA]

Thanks, Noobz347 for your advice on how to proceed to replace the dash.​

 

[Noobz347]

Thanks, Noobz347 for your advice on how to proceed to replace the dash.​

The Dash Pads, I think are available new in reproduction form for the 85/86 Mustang. I suspect that those dash pads might fit your car as well.

I'm going to move this thread to [Other Auto Tech] and we'll keep it going.

 

[TimSA]

The instrument panel (AKA under the dash, dash hull/main body) might be the same as other Fox body cars. Here is a picture of the instrument panel of a '78-'83 Fairmont/Zephyr (Ford part number E1DZ- 5404320-A). The instrument panel (AKA under-dash, hull), denoted with the 1 in the picture below, is a paint-to-match part. This picture shows the hull or bare-bones dash structure without other attachments such as the instrument cluster, radio, and bezels. Perhaps, I could transfer these parts from my broken instrument panel to a replacement.

According to the Ford Master Parts Catalog, this part number (E1DZ- 5404320-A) fits:

1979 Capri

1978 to 1979 Fairmont/Zephyr

1980 to 1983 Fairmont/Zephyr, Mustang/Capri

1981 to 1982 Granada/Monarch, Thunderbird/Cougar except XR7

However, other interchange systems give a different set of vehicle dashes matching the one in my 1980 Ford Fairmont.

 

[TimSA]

Here are some online links to photos of the dash I need for my car. I am posting these links to pictures of the dash so everyone knows exactly what the dash looks like in my car.


https://apis.mail.yahoo.com/ws/v3/m...lNorrin&downloadWhenThumbnailFails=true&pid=5



https://apis.mail.yahoo.com/ws/v3/m...lNorrin&downloadWhenThumbnailFails=true&pid=2



https://apis.mail.yahoo.com/ws/v3/m...lNorrin&downloadWhenThumbnailFails=true&pid=3

 

[LILCBRA]

Sorry, your links aren't working for me on my laptop, but I believe most all Fox cars share the same dash dimensions and mounting points. So, if you wanted, you could update the interior by using an 87-93 Mustang dash. They're probably a little easier to find (especially in decent shape) nowadays.

One thing that I don't know about, if you choose to go that route, is if the electrical connections would all be long enough and interchange. You could probably find a suitable dash from a salvage yard closer to you, but Prestige Mustang here in Georgia has one, maybe more, available. They don't have a 79-86 dash shell available though.

1987-1993 - Interior - Dashboards, Dashboard Parts, Pads & Vents

1987-1993 - Interior - Dashboards, Dashboard Parts, Pads & Vents

prestigemustang.com

 

[LILCBRA]

Took a minute, but here's a fully customized Fairmont wagon with a later model Mustang dash.

For Sale: 1981 Ford Fairmont in West Deptford, New Jersey

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