USA-1 quality questions

[BabyBlue]

Had a question about USA-1 in regards to quality for our generation of pickup parts. I have only ever had carpet from them but how is their other stuff, especially door panels, dashes, etc. any better/worse than classic industries, brothers, or LMC?

Reason I ask is I noticed they are about the only supplier I can get mandarin orange replacement interior goods from. Like everything.

I have a few parts to order and wanted to try to order from one place if possible.

[TKCR]

So far, everything I have gotten, has been better than the rest. Randy takes pride in his truck parts. And I have only heard good thing from other people.

[jkk]

I have their door panel headliner moldings and headliner speaker kick panel nice stuff and they did all of it in the custom color I wanted and it matched perfect I will use them again

[BabyBlue]

Originally Posted by jkk

I have their door panel headliner moldings and headliner speaker kick panel nice stuff and they did all of it in the custom color I wanted and it matched perfect I will use them again

You have any pics?

[TKCR]

They have a lot of videos on Youtube, that show their actual products on our trucks. Your only about 1 1/2hr drive from USA1. Right there, would save a ton of shipping costs. You can see all their products before purchasing. I will going down there myself soon. This is where is get all my NEW SEAT FOAM.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNI...nAp3HSA/videos

[75C10]

Babyblue
Hope this works out well for you. I am also hoping to redo my original Mandarin Blazer interior. Are you planning buckets or bench? I am not certain which cloth insert I want although in 77 and 78 the seats were were just vinyl. My K5 is 77. But plaid is on the menu for me

[BabyBlue]

Originally Posted by TKCR

They have a lot of videos on Youtube, that show their actual products on our trucks. Your only about 1 1/2hr drive from USA1. Right there, would save a ton of shipping costs. You can see all their products before purchasing. I will going down there myself soon. This is where is get all my NEW SEAT FOAM.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNI...nAp3HSA/videos

Thanks TKCR. I didn't know they were that close! I will be taking a trip up there when I get back from Japan. Videos helped a lot. Look forward to the trip up there.

Originally Posted by 75C10

Babyblue
Hope this works out well for you. I am also hoping to redo my original Mandarin Blazer interior. Are you planning buckets or bench? I am not certain which cloth insert I want although in 77 and 78 the seats were were just vinyl. My K5 is 77. But plaid is on the menu for me

75C10,

Both a bench interior and low back buckets. I have two trucks I am redoing the interior in. Both trucks are cordova brown exterior and my stepside originally came with he mandarin, the shortwide came with saddle. I sold all the saddle stuff, taking what I can from my stepside over to the shortwide and buying all new for the stepside. I will definitely post reviews and updates. I'll be gone for a month, but when I get back I'll pick up the shortwide from the body shop from some rust repair and get to the interior in it.
Btw, A mandarin blazer interior is going to be a lot of orange! especially those back side panels.

[Tiger Joe]

I used a couple of pieces from USA1 for our 79 carmine red. Everything from them was A+ and i think better than LMC

[1968vetL-71]

I just ordered two bottom foams, front and rear seat covers for my crew cab, front door panels complete, new blue dash pad kit, bezel kit, front kick panels and rear headliner panels and a bunch of odd and ends. Love their quality. and service is the best I've had with ANY other supplier. Parts are top notch.

[69GMC910]

Not trying to hijack, but also very interested in the USA1 stuff...

Are the USA1 dash pads different from the Brothers/Lmc/Classic Parts dash pads?

Is there someone who makes “the best” dash pad?

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by 69GMC910

Not trying to hijack, but also very interested in the USA1 stuff...

Are the USA1 dash pads different from the Brothers/Lmc/Classic Parts dash pads?

Is there someone who makes “the best” dash pad?

When it comes to dash pads, I believe Cheyenne Parts are about the best. They have a link:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ight=dash+pads

[69GMC910]

Thank you!

[1968vetL-71]

I have talked to people who have installed both brands during multiple restorations. Both were great fits and quality, but the USA1 I was told by a few had a more "correct" factory color. I was going to order my dash through Cheyenne, but after multiple calls requesting a date when they would be available and with never getting an answer, I went USA1 for it. It should be here next week. I will be glad to take pics and share my .02 on all of the stuff I ordered for my crew cab as I install it.

[TKCR]

I believe, when it comes to the dash pads, it is more about how the dash pad is built. Some places build them over a urethane frame, which is flimsy and will warp. I have seen a few of these and they are ugly. I believe Cheyenne and USA1 builds them on metal frames, which is like the OEM dashes. So either place will be your best bet. I have heard from more people, that the Cheyenne dashes, there is no trimming involved.
But customer service, definitely counts for something. So if you can't get a response from Cheyenne, that would get frustrating after awhile!!

[TKCR]

Here are a few threads on the dash pad subject. To get more insight on what other people have used and their thoughts.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ight=USA1+dash
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ight=USA1+dash

[69GMC910]

Thank you for the great info!

[blindbug]

This was my assessment of the USA1 Industries Dash Pad I installed late last year:

Originally Posted by blindbug

1. I did like the finish of the pad itself. The material used very closely mimics the stock pad that I removed from my 86'.
2. It required a bit of trimming to get the pad all the way seated on my dash... but that is to be expected with any of the aftermarket pads from my research.
3. The paint that is on the pad (blue) was already rubbed off in some places before I even got it in the truck. Not enough to warrant a return, but it's sort of a let down.
4. I ordered matching defrost vent covers, but they did not seat fully, as the hole wasn't large enough. I ended up having to cut off a (unseen) corner of the vent cover to get it to click into place.
5. I odered a new aluminum dash insert. When I went to put that onto the pad, the holes didn't quite line up, and caused the insert to not seat fully. I used a dremel to make the hole a little lower and that helped some.
6. The mold that they use is obviously designed for A/C vents, because there is a slight curve inward where the inner A/C vent would go, it isn't insane, but it creates a gap between the insert and the pad for about 3"... it wouldn't be noticable if the rest of the insert had the same gap, but because part of the insert sits up against the pad, this one 3" section looks bad (to me).
7. The lower holes that hold the dash pad to the dash metal (there's like 5o f them). Those holes DO NOT HAVE ANY METAL REINFORCEMENT. The stock pad has metal embedded into those mounting tabs which means the pad holds down against the dash fully. Without the metal reinforcement, it took less than 10 minutes for one of the tabs to rip (it's all vinyl) instead of keep the pad in place. I ended up just removing all the screws because I'd rather have no screws than rips all across the bottom.
8. The foam is too thick in parts, causing the dash pad to look wavy across the top. Especially above the driver's console, I have a big wave that I thought would lay down better, but I'm going to have to pull the pad, shave down a 3-4" section and then put the pad back in.
9. The upper left and right sections where the drivers dash bezel sit against the pad need better screw retainers. The ones that are in there are glued? taped? I don't know... all I know is that the first screw went in and I hear 'ting' and the flat nut falls to the floor. The other side, same thing. I had to get a U nut and do some cutting and arranging to get the bezel to sit against the pad in this section... and even then after an hour of road time, the nut slipped off the pad and I have a gap again.

This is just one man's opinion. It's the little details that make or break a quality product, and I think the USA1 dash pad missed the little details. When you step back and look at the pad, it looks great... but anyone with a hobby vehicle knows that any imperfection you notice becomes the only thing you obsess over. Given the PRICE of the pad, I thought that these little things shouldn't have been such an issue. The lower retaining metal is a very simple fix, and feels sloppy that it wasn't fixed after the first version.

The Cheyenne pad could have the exact same issues... I don't know. All I know is that I wished I'd went with a different brand on the off chance that it wasn't an issue.

[tucsonjwt]

I need a dash pad but I am staying away from anything with a plastic base. Plastic warps quickly in the desert heat. I am toying with the idea of having a local upholstery shop recover the original pad.

[NJRC10]

I have bought two dashes from Cheyenne and the first one was great about 3 years ago and my recent one I am not very happy with it is really flimsy and curves down on the passenge r side. The speaker holes are also really rough looking. Does not look good but better than my old cracked dash..I guess.

[zach_carver]

I've not used them yet, but all I've read they get great reviews. Some of the beat quality interior parts and awesome dash pads for squares.

[franken]

None of the companies discussed make anything. They distribute things. Just as GM doesn't sell carrs, dealers do sell cars.
The difference is some company in Asia makes stuff, distributors in the US buy stuff, and companies in the US sell stuff. The point being, we have one (or at least few) stuff, and many sellers.

[72velle]

USA-1 says their dash pads have a metal base.
Description from their website:
This is a reproduction vinyl dash pad of the original GM product. It was manufactured using a metal structure which is then covered in a foam and wrapped in a vinyl material. Our dash pads are died at a manufacturing level in house to the original GM colors. Along with this kit you will receive two defrost vents to the color of the dash and 6 clips and the vinyl dash pad will be equipped with the black plastic molding, Custom Deluxe emblem, two AC vent outlets and housings.

[bluemichael927]

I have been waiting since April 2021 for my door panels from USA1. They will give you lip service and delay your order without hesitation. Be wary of ordering fro them.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by bluemichael927

I have been waiting since April 2021 for my door panels from USA1. They will give you lip service and delay your order without hesitation. Be wary of ordering fro them.

They are just a small company with many many many orders to fill. And they are having trouble getting supplies that they need. I talk to them on a regular basis, because I do a lot of business with them. One day I was talking with them, and they had just gotten some supplies that they had been waiting along time for. This was going to give them the ability to fill over 700 door panel orders, and that wasn’t even putting a dent in the orders that they have.

[SuperC10Tex]

Originally Posted by bluemichael927

I have been waiting since April 2021 for my door panels from USA1. They will give you lip service and delay your order without hesitation. Be wary of ordering fro them.

Oh "HELL NO"!! I just placed an order for door panels and dash pad 4/2022, USA-1 customer service assured me of the "10-16 week lead time"! I will be USA-1's worst form of advertisement on this forum and other forums if they take it past 16 weeks. TKCR, you stand up for USA-1, I understand were you are coming from, but.....

1.) USA-1, Don't take orders and state "10-16 week lead times", and know that is not true! If it could take 12 months, state "12 Month Lead Time"!!

2.) Not good customer service to require full payment up front and not deliver product in timely manner (as advertised).

My 16 week timeline is approching, I will reply then.....