Knee pad problem w/ glove box

[Greg D.]

I asked on the bird also but got no answers... My 72T that came with an aftermarket A/C knee pad which I removed because it intruded on knee space, looked cheap, and did not blow cold air anyway. I've since installed Sierra Madre reproduction knee pads under the dash. The driver side fits perfectly, but I'm having issues with the passenger side. It also fits great in terms of gaps vs the other side, but seems to be in the way of the glove box opening. Actually, of the glove box's deco trim. It's the thick edge of the trim that snags on it - if I align it with the rest of the dash trim anyway.

I've tried tightening the pad, loosening it, either way no dice. It's *close* but it snags. If I push on the pad hard I can make the glove box door clear it... I'm pretty sure it's not upside down/flipped from L/R because the fasteners meet the holes in the dash perfectly this way (and not at all the other way around).

I was wondering if I'm missing something, if this is a common problem I haven't heard of, or if it's the repro part... I can't tell, but I've seen restored cars with a really high glove box so I wonder.... When I look at pictures of "good" dashes mine looks *the same*, yet the door snags by a hair... Maybe the glove box itself needs adjustment, but it looks pretty aligned.. In doubt, if anyone's got tips, BTDT, or a spare passenger side pad - non repro, I'm interested !

Last resort is a one piece pad I have, but I'd either have to butcher it (cut in half and recover) or condem the ash tray and lose the correct look. I'd rather not...

[beh911]

Greg,

Could you post pictures of the fit left and right?

[Greg D.]

Ask and you shall receive

Good side:



Bad side (bad only because I like opening the glove box ;-)

This is a shot minus the trim, to show you the existing glovebox gaps:


With trim, and the knee pad loosened... Still snags



Snagging:



In fact I think the solution might be counter intuitive to me, tightening it more *might* just get the trim over the lip of the pad... But I can't tighten it more as is (no picture of it tight, same problem though, it catches), might have to use a hammer on the dash holes to make sure they are concave and not convex/flat. Or find me a used right pad !!!


PS: I know, I need to recover the radio plate with the same material. If I can find some ;-)

[jameshtaylor]

I dealt with a similar issue with a couple of washers between the car and the knee pad and, I think, the bracket supporting the door.