- Joined
- Jul 27, 2012
- Messages
- 3,085
- Reaction score
- 438
- Location
- Brisbane - Australia
- My Car
- 1973 Mustang Convertible
Hi to all,
Over the last few days, i've been commenting on a few threads about upholstery issues, and some members have asked for some pics to illustrate what i've been talking about. The pics will tell the story, but while i'm here, i thought i would talk about a few topics that i went through in the process of upgrading some of my interior.
Ok, the door pads - My originals were shot (cracked and yellowed) I bought two new ones from Dash's Direct. The color and finish matched my pristine condition original front and back seats very well, but the fit up was a bloody nightmare that took forever to accomplish with much tweaking, sweating and cursing as well. Every thing was out of alighnment. I bought two new repro front window door handles, door lock buttons, (kept orignal circular grommets as repro ones are crap), new backup plates for the cranks for some style. I installed two new repro outside mirrors, hence the new driver's side adjuster on the door pad. I kept the timber trim panels as they were in good condition, but resprayed the matt black strips to freshen up the look. I used the original grab handles and door handle plastic surrounds and color matched them and resprayed them in matt 2k cream to match the new door pads. (no flex aid used) The lower chrome strip and the door open handle are all original.New black lower carpet came with the new door pads.
Next - my original 'plastic' quarter trim panels (thanks Don) were shot and the surface had gone chalky and powdery. Instead of trying to paint them and get a second rate result, i got my local trimmer to recover them in a matching cream vinyl to the new door pads and original seats.$300.00 well spent i think. Also the state of Queensland, Australia where i live has road rules that force drivers to install lap and sash front and back seat belts. Sweet lord, was that an ordeal trying to get all that set up. (even ended up breaking the original rear glass panel in the process).
If you look at my rear quater panels, you'll notice where the front sash belts are anchored. That location is the only place to tap into for strength. I kept my original short reach crank handles, but installed new clear winder knobs for them. The new problem was the winder handles were touching the
seatbelt anchor post when you were winding the quarter glass up and down. To remedy this i went to my local hardware store and bought two new chrome fat profile shower head backup flanges from the plumbing department would you believe.The flanges allowed me to bring the crank handles out and away from the upholstry face and thus just clear the seat belt anchor posts. Not too bad a look i think. The ashtray is original. New studs were used for the parade cover. New windlace was installed as well.Original rectangular cream plastic seat belt lower opening .Also new black carpet.The two front seat rear plastic backing covers were resprayed in 2k cream as well to match the original front seat upholstry.
Well that's enough babble from me, i'll let the pics do the talking.
Many thanks,
Greg.
Over the last few days, i've been commenting on a few threads about upholstery issues, and some members have asked for some pics to illustrate what i've been talking about. The pics will tell the story, but while i'm here, i thought i would talk about a few topics that i went through in the process of upgrading some of my interior.
Ok, the door pads - My originals were shot (cracked and yellowed) I bought two new ones from Dash's Direct. The color and finish matched my pristine condition original front and back seats very well, but the fit up was a bloody nightmare that took forever to accomplish with much tweaking, sweating and cursing as well. Every thing was out of alighnment. I bought two new repro front window door handles, door lock buttons, (kept orignal circular grommets as repro ones are crap), new backup plates for the cranks for some style. I installed two new repro outside mirrors, hence the new driver's side adjuster on the door pad. I kept the timber trim panels as they were in good condition, but resprayed the matt black strips to freshen up the look. I used the original grab handles and door handle plastic surrounds and color matched them and resprayed them in matt 2k cream to match the new door pads. (no flex aid used) The lower chrome strip and the door open handle are all original.New black lower carpet came with the new door pads.
Next - my original 'plastic' quarter trim panels (thanks Don) were shot and the surface had gone chalky and powdery. Instead of trying to paint them and get a second rate result, i got my local trimmer to recover them in a matching cream vinyl to the new door pads and original seats.$300.00 well spent i think. Also the state of Queensland, Australia where i live has road rules that force drivers to install lap and sash front and back seat belts. Sweet lord, was that an ordeal trying to get all that set up. (even ended up breaking the original rear glass panel in the process).
If you look at my rear quater panels, you'll notice where the front sash belts are anchored. That location is the only place to tap into for strength. I kept my original short reach crank handles, but installed new clear winder knobs for them. The new problem was the winder handles were touching the
seatbelt anchor post when you were winding the quarter glass up and down. To remedy this i went to my local hardware store and bought two new chrome fat profile shower head backup flanges from the plumbing department would you believe.The flanges allowed me to bring the crank handles out and away from the upholstry face and thus just clear the seat belt anchor posts. Not too bad a look i think. The ashtray is original. New studs were used for the parade cover. New windlace was installed as well.Original rectangular cream plastic seat belt lower opening .Also new black carpet.The two front seat rear plastic backing covers were resprayed in 2k cream as well to match the original front seat upholstry.
Well that's enough babble from me, i'll let the pics do the talking.
Many thanks,
Greg.
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