My 1960 Interior build and some chrome
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
My 1960 Interior build and some chrome
Well I have been reading threads on interior builds like I'm studying for some big exam. I really thought Frankie's dash pad thread gave me the confidence that I can do this thing myself. Maybe this will come in handy for someone and maybe you guys can point out some misc. things to help along the way.
This all started with pitted pot metal on my windshield and door posts. I have known since before I bought this car this was gonna be an issue so I have been researching especially at Carlisle the past few years. I'll be honest I was scared to death to do this myself because I have read it's no easy task. Plus when I was 10 I took my Nintendo apart and never got it back together I did gut an interior on a 92 Firebird because of a busted heater core back in my teens and I was able to get it back together so I atleast had a foundation.
I'm not gonna lie, I went to a Corvette restoration shop and tried to get them to do it, but they just were not interested because they want to do whole cars.
Here are some before pics of the car back when I was trying to buy it to give an idea. It wasn't that bad, but not very clean and "neat"
So about a month and half ago on a Saturday morning I took a deep breathe and walked out in the garage. I knew there are 12 nuts holding the w/s down and I started with the 4 anchor bolts. They went very easy because of my nut driver with a flex shaft. Then I guessed at the next one and that was strike 1. Then I took the tray out because this was getting serious. Once I found 1 I just measured 9" apart and found the other 6 because 2 had nothing on them Then I got my neighbor to help lift the w/s off. I was very nervous because I didn't know what to expect or if I was missing something. It came right off. I then spent a good bit of time removing the w/s frame. I had one stripped screw and I made it all the way to the last piece before I cracked the w/s (it was being replaced anyway). As far as the w/s restoration I picked Auto Entec over Glassworks and Beth is very straight forward and has kept me informed. So I sent the w/s ***. to them and sent the door posts to Pauls Chrome. I'm in the middle of a very long 10 week wait!
So after reading and now knowing that the w/s has to be off to do the dash pad I started tossing around replacing it even though it's ok, but it just feels fragile and is about 30 years old. Then I thought replace everything with leather, but then I backed out of that. So I have a deal worked out with Al Knoch for spring Carlisle. I'm gonna get the dash pad, kick panels, door panels, seat exchange and they are gonna throw in the dash pad dvd.
A few weeks ago I decided to order some other items because I want my baby looking fresh! I went through Ecklers and bought new chrome trim for the openings above and below the front bumpers. New head light bezels and window cranks along with a new rv mirror. and a new front license assembly. Plus convertible deck latches (wow they are not cheap!) and carpet. So my repro steering wheel just looked straight out of Walmart and I couldn't send it back fast enough. I knew I had a card for a guy who does steering wheels and spent the better part of an hour digging through boxes to find it. A more honest guy I don't think you will find and he talked to me on the phone for 2 straight hours about nothing but steering wheels! My wheel will be here tomorrow and he said it looks like a piece of art
So friday night I gutted the interior and removed some old worn out carpet. I remember when I bought the car I was gonna just dye it, but it was time for replacement. I by luck purchased ACC carpet and with the help of several on the forum got most of it in over the weekend. I was just unsure on having to trim around the "U" because half said you dont need to and half said trim it. Once Frankie posted I felt confident and 20 minutes later had it looking nice
My seat frames are out for blasting and I'm kind of stuck at this point waiting on chrome and interior pieces. I can't even get my carpet finished because of not having the kick panels.
I'm gonna have my wheels blasted and painted red with new wide white walls. My Silvertowns that are on the car are 25 years old and have a 4" wide white, but I can't find them anymore so Good Year has a tire that is wide and looks close and I would rather have the "look" than the radial ride.
So the plan is come back from Carlisle install the dash pad and the rest of the interior and get the w/s back on before Memorial Day.
I'm more nervous about the dash pad than anything else. I already removed the pass. insert and grab bar and have done that before. I have custom nuts that make putting that baby in easy. I'm just afraid of making the right cuts.
I'm having an issue with the h/l bezel on the ds. It has been wrecked and I can't get rid of that gap or the "tip" where it meets the wind break piece. I have tried raising the piece on the car and lightly bending the bezel but I know this is a common issue with all of them.
This is what she looked like a few weeks ago.
This is what she looked like late friday night.
This is how she now looks waiting for items. I wish I could fit the original shift plate with that hurst shifter, but I guess I'm gonna atleast replace that boot because it's worn.
I'm betting someone let the cluster rest on here while replacing the pad and I now have all these scratches to deal with. I'm still torn between pulling it and painting it or just touching it up.
She is looking a little brighter in the face though
I'm gonna try and keep this updated from this point forward as progress is made. Thanks for looking and advice is always welcome.
This all started with pitted pot metal on my windshield and door posts. I have known since before I bought this car this was gonna be an issue so I have been researching especially at Carlisle the past few years. I'll be honest I was scared to death to do this myself because I have read it's no easy task. Plus when I was 10 I took my Nintendo apart and never got it back together I did gut an interior on a 92 Firebird because of a busted heater core back in my teens and I was able to get it back together so I atleast had a foundation.
I'm not gonna lie, I went to a Corvette restoration shop and tried to get them to do it, but they just were not interested because they want to do whole cars.
Here are some before pics of the car back when I was trying to buy it to give an idea. It wasn't that bad, but not very clean and "neat"
So about a month and half ago on a Saturday morning I took a deep breathe and walked out in the garage. I knew there are 12 nuts holding the w/s down and I started with the 4 anchor bolts. They went very easy because of my nut driver with a flex shaft. Then I guessed at the next one and that was strike 1. Then I took the tray out because this was getting serious. Once I found 1 I just measured 9" apart and found the other 6 because 2 had nothing on them Then I got my neighbor to help lift the w/s off. I was very nervous because I didn't know what to expect or if I was missing something. It came right off. I then spent a good bit of time removing the w/s frame. I had one stripped screw and I made it all the way to the last piece before I cracked the w/s (it was being replaced anyway). As far as the w/s restoration I picked Auto Entec over Glassworks and Beth is very straight forward and has kept me informed. So I sent the w/s ***. to them and sent the door posts to Pauls Chrome. I'm in the middle of a very long 10 week wait!
So after reading and now knowing that the w/s has to be off to do the dash pad I started tossing around replacing it even though it's ok, but it just feels fragile and is about 30 years old. Then I thought replace everything with leather, but then I backed out of that. So I have a deal worked out with Al Knoch for spring Carlisle. I'm gonna get the dash pad, kick panels, door panels, seat exchange and they are gonna throw in the dash pad dvd.
A few weeks ago I decided to order some other items because I want my baby looking fresh! I went through Ecklers and bought new chrome trim for the openings above and below the front bumpers. New head light bezels and window cranks along with a new rv mirror. and a new front license assembly. Plus convertible deck latches (wow they are not cheap!) and carpet. So my repro steering wheel just looked straight out of Walmart and I couldn't send it back fast enough. I knew I had a card for a guy who does steering wheels and spent the better part of an hour digging through boxes to find it. A more honest guy I don't think you will find and he talked to me on the phone for 2 straight hours about nothing but steering wheels! My wheel will be here tomorrow and he said it looks like a piece of art
So friday night I gutted the interior and removed some old worn out carpet. I remember when I bought the car I was gonna just dye it, but it was time for replacement. I by luck purchased ACC carpet and with the help of several on the forum got most of it in over the weekend. I was just unsure on having to trim around the "U" because half said you dont need to and half said trim it. Once Frankie posted I felt confident and 20 minutes later had it looking nice
My seat frames are out for blasting and I'm kind of stuck at this point waiting on chrome and interior pieces. I can't even get my carpet finished because of not having the kick panels.
I'm gonna have my wheels blasted and painted red with new wide white walls. My Silvertowns that are on the car are 25 years old and have a 4" wide white, but I can't find them anymore so Good Year has a tire that is wide and looks close and I would rather have the "look" than the radial ride.
So the plan is come back from Carlisle install the dash pad and the rest of the interior and get the w/s back on before Memorial Day.
I'm more nervous about the dash pad than anything else. I already removed the pass. insert and grab bar and have done that before. I have custom nuts that make putting that baby in easy. I'm just afraid of making the right cuts.
I'm having an issue with the h/l bezel on the ds. It has been wrecked and I can't get rid of that gap or the "tip" where it meets the wind break piece. I have tried raising the piece on the car and lightly bending the bezel but I know this is a common issue with all of them.
This is what she looked like a few weeks ago.
This is what she looked like late friday night.
This is how she now looks waiting for items. I wish I could fit the original shift plate with that hurst shifter, but I guess I'm gonna atleast replace that boot because it's worn.
I'm betting someone let the cluster rest on here while replacing the pad and I now have all these scratches to deal with. I'm still torn between pulling it and painting it or just touching it up.
She is looking a little brighter in the face though
I'm gonna try and keep this updated from this point forward as progress is made. Thanks for looking and advice is always welcome.
#2
Melting Slicks
Member Since: May 2002
Location: Ontario Canada Ontario Canada
Posts: 2,468
Received 81 Likes
on
45 Posts
looks beautiful !
As far as the direction signal hub I would remove it and paint it, it's only a matter of unscrewing the turn signal arm and loosening off the little screw located on the back side of the hub,1 flat head screw inside the assembly and 2 phillips screws holding on the direction signal switch. takes less than 1 minute to remove.
Keep the pictures coming
As far as the direction signal hub I would remove it and paint it, it's only a matter of unscrewing the turn signal arm and loosening off the little screw located on the back side of the hub,1 flat head screw inside the assembly and 2 phillips screws holding on the direction signal switch. takes less than 1 minute to remove.
Keep the pictures coming
#5
Melting Slicks
#7
Safety Car
Thread Starter
#8
Team Owner
Glad my old dash pad thread got you motivated.
Nearly time for another windshield pull on my '61 (Ugh!)...I DRIVE my cars and the rock chips are finally starting to be unsightly and I want to install my rechromed windshield pillars and fix some stainless dents. Prob this fall.
Anticipation and dread of doing these jobs are always worse than the job itself. Its just nuts and bolts, patience and learning curve -- nothing more.
Nearly time for another windshield pull on my '61 (Ugh!)...I DRIVE my cars and the rock chips are finally starting to be unsightly and I want to install my rechromed windshield pillars and fix some stainless dents. Prob this fall.
Anticipation and dread of doing these jobs are always worse than the job itself. Its just nuts and bolts, patience and learning curve -- nothing more.
#9
Drifting
Nails, wow.
Take your time with the fitting and trimming. I have found that using one of those thin blade, retractable razor knives very good for trimming the foam. You can adjust the amount of blade sticking out depending on where you are trimming.
I'd suggest removing your gauge cluster.
Take your time with the fitting and trimming. I have found that using one of those thin blade, retractable razor knives very good for trimming the foam. You can adjust the amount of blade sticking out depending on where you are trimming.
I'd suggest removing your gauge cluster.
#10
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Yep Frankie I read your thread over and over. Thoyer I'm gonna get one of those knives to use.
I have not placed an order for a dash pad yet, because I had called Al Knoch and they said I would get a "show" price at Carlisle. Well, it's over $400 for one on their website, but on ebay you can buy it now for $300 and it's right from them also? plus free shipping. I need to check my paper at work to see what the show price was, but I wasn't $300 I'm sure. I will probably order it today and hopefully get busy next weekend.
I have not placed an order for a dash pad yet, because I had called Al Knoch and they said I would get a "show" price at Carlisle. Well, it's over $400 for one on their website, but on ebay you can buy it now for $300 and it's right from them also? plus free shipping. I need to check my paper at work to see what the show price was, but I wasn't $300 I'm sure. I will probably order it today and hopefully get busy next weekend.
#11
Safety Car
Thread Starter
#13
Safety Car
You're a lot braver than I was. I'm leaving the dash pad for next year. I'm back driving my car now but it's still not done. The kick panels need to be painted and the left door panel need refurbishment.
I really get apprehensive now getting in and out of the car. It's that light blue carpeting. It looks beautiful but it shows every spot of dirt. I have to learn how to deal with this.
Here's my Blog.
Richard Newton
I really get apprehensive now getting in and out of the car. It's that light blue carpeting. It looks beautiful but it shows every spot of dirt. I have to learn how to deal with this.
Here's my Blog.
Richard Newton
#14
Safety Car
Thread Starter
#15
Safety Car
Thread Starter
You're a lot braver than I was. I'm leaving the dash pad for next year. I'm back driving my car now but it's still not done. The kick panels need to be painted and the left door panel need refurbishment.
I really get apprehensive now getting in and out of the car. It's that light blue carpeting. It looks beautiful but it shows every spot of dirt. I have to learn how to deal with this.
Here's my Blog.
Richard Newton
I really get apprehensive now getting in and out of the car. It's that light blue carpeting. It looks beautiful but it shows every spot of dirt. I have to learn how to deal with this.
Here's my Blog.
Richard Newton
That blue looks great by the way!
#16
Safety Car
Thanks again for tying.
Jay
#17
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Jason thanks so much for trying to save it. It is probably still much better than my original one that is so brittle that pieces just fall out without me touching it. If you still have it I could probably still use it. My car is unrestored so everything looks worn.
Thanks again for tying.
Jay
Thanks again for tying.
Jay
#18
Safety Car
#19
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Well I got my dash pad in the mail from Al Knoch and was so excited only to realize there is a problem. There is a light dent in the vinyl and it has not worked itself out in 3 days so I will be taking it to Carlisle to exchange it next week when I pick up my interior. Am I making to big of a deal out of this? If it was on the bottom I wouldn't care, but that is gonna show unless it "pushes" out on the install and after I cut it I'm sure they are not gonna take it back. Thoughts?
Yesterday I got a suprise call from Pauls Chrome. After what seems like forever my door posts have shipped. I got them today and it's amazing to think how pitted one of them was and now it looks brand new! I even had a dream last night that I opened the box and they looked horrible. I was so excited I installed the felt and a test fit.
Yesterday I got a suprise call from Pauls Chrome. After what seems like forever my door posts have shipped. I got them today and it's amazing to think how pitted one of them was and now it looks brand new! I even had a dream last night that I opened the box and they looked horrible. I was so excited I installed the felt and a test fit.