From what I can figure out it's not supposed to save your life, it's really there so you don't dent the dashboard. here is my take on the dart recover. (one of the reasons I want to see if I can make a dash pad.)
This dash pad was actually pretty good compared to some of my other ones .. some of my fixes.
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after fixing it turned into this. 1/4" headliner foam over the repaired dash pad and new vinyl.
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If I can get the dart pad done I'll go after the Valiant one, but they will be just as smalll as original. no more padding that the original, I'm trying for the smae shape and size.after that I'll branch out to adding my turbo boost and EGT pods into the pad.