firewall Pad material?
 

Does anyone know what the firewall material consists of?
Not asbestos I hope.
My glove box radio fit so tight against the pad that I removed my glove box radio and plan to cut the Firewall Pad out to allow the air vents in the rear of the radio to allow cooling of the hot tube radio set. There appears to be three layers to this Pad. Also I can use the Pad from behind my radio to patch the holes in my Pad where a heater used to be.
Putting in these Old radios is really a lost art...You have to reinvent the technique all over again.

Re: firewall Pad material?
 

Not sure of the chemical analysis. However for 32 the face is pressed cardboard and the inner layers are essentially fiber like strands of paper (wood based?) and pressed wood/paper material. I don't see how any asbestos or asbestos type of filler would be used here. It is only "insulation" for low temperature. Probably the same type of material as used in early ice boxes.
just an opinion

Re: firewall Pad material?
 

I think you are right. The thicker layers look like pressed wood fiber and does not have the fine strands like asbestos, why would Ford spend extra money for asbestos when not need in this application. I guess the purpose of the firewall Pad was just to keep out the heat from the engine. I have so far removed the top..fiber/tar paper cardboard layer and the next thick layer 1/4 inch looks like foam but has become hard. The last layer is a fibrous mat seems like 1/4 inch too. I am tempted to remove all the layers so that air can circulate through the radio vent holes.