The Interior

I know it has been a while since I have made a new post to the blog, so let me bring you up to speed with where we have been.

Back in February I took all the upholstery to Palmer Upholstery in Michigan City and told him I needed it back by warm weather, I guess I should have been more specific, for which year the warm weather was in! After numerous calls, and visits, I finally went and picked everything up the first week of June, nothing had been done to it. We were now on to Plan "B" and "C", find a new upholstery shop, or do it ourself. I checked with a shop in South Bend, IN and then after weighing several factors we made the decision to do it ourself. One good thing about our choice was that we could drive the car while completing the upholstery details.

Our first project was the spare tire cover as outlined in the previous blog. Once that was completed, it was on to the carpet. The original carpet which I saved when we tore the car down was in numerous pieces for some reason (VW style).  I thought I could do the passenger compartment in one piece. After making patterns for the shifter, emergency brake and pedal assembly it was time to make a few cuts. With everything now stripped from the inside, and the carpet piece cut oversize, I started to fit it into place. I had installed sound and heat barrier when the pan was rebuilt, so it was just getting the carpet fit over it now. I used 3M spray adhesive in areas to ensure fit and attachment and after allowing dry time moved to a new area. I wrapped the carpet up to the bottom of the door, and up along the inner front panels. It was really starting to take shape. I moved on to installing carpet in all the area behind the seats. It really isn't visible, since it is covered by the console and seats, but I wanted that finished look.

Around 8 hours in and I had the interior carpet in place. The best part of this weekend was that when the day was over the seats were back in and the car was out on the road for part of the shake down drives. Around 25 miles and many people stopping to wave and look as we drove by. Day complete!

Last week we started the carpet and this weekend it is already wrapped up. We finished both sides of the firewall and the front trunk area. All told the carpet took less time than I thought it would, and it really looks sharp. We have had the satisfaction of doing it ourselves and my suspicion is it looks better and is more complete than the upholstery shop would have done. We also laid out and fabricated the boots to cover the emergency brake and gear shift out of black vinyl, attaching velcro to the bottom of each to secure them to the carpet. This also allows removal should it be necessary to work on the emergency brake or shifter without pulling the whole carpet. We also put velcro on the heel pad securing it to the carpet. If it ever wears or needs replacement it will be easy to do.

Wrapping it up, a good vacuuming and still having weekend left it was time for a drive, another 25 mile shake down and home in the garage.

There isn't much left of the interior, but the story of that will continue.