'81 Project Help Needed
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
'81 Project Help Needed
So I've been wanting to start this project for some time now and finally have the need to start it. Nephew is turning 16 this year and with all the stars aligned, he will be getting his license by next spring. So its time to dig this dusty Vette out and get working on it.
It drove to where it sits today. I know it needed a battery when we parked it and it could use some minor attention to engine to run smoother, but the big issue is the interior. I am posting a few photobucket pics, can anyone with experience please give me insight on how much this interior is going to cost and best places to get parts. In case pics dont show, It needs seats, rugs, steering wheel for sure. Everything else will be on a budget bases. I would prefer to replace it, rather than clean it because I don't want any mold/mildew to be left to get worse.
http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/Ri...w/1981%20Vette
It drove to where it sits today. I know it needed a battery when we parked it and it could use some minor attention to engine to run smoother, but the big issue is the interior. I am posting a few photobucket pics, can anyone with experience please give me insight on how much this interior is going to cost and best places to get parts. In case pics dont show, It needs seats, rugs, steering wheel for sure. Everything else will be on a budget bases. I would prefer to replace it, rather than clean it because I don't want any mold/mildew to be left to get worse.
http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/Ri...w/1981%20Vette
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,982
Likes: 6,209
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Interior parts are easily found at swap meets. Less expensive than new interior parts, although with will probably have to buy carpet. Still, its not uncommon to find a complete take-out interior including decent carpet for cheap at a swap meet.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Willcox has some of the best deals on interior stuff and run regular sales with discounts for us. I would replace the carpet and leather on the seats, pull out and repaint all the other interior stuff and it will look like a new car inside.
Ecklers has everything too but sometimes they are not too reliable.
Ecklers has everything too but sometimes they are not too reliable.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,594
Likes: 7,042
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Being on a (LOL) "budget".....I went with medium-priced aftermarket "everything" since the car is a daily driver/non original.
leather seat covers ..... $300 for a pair of covers
new carpet..................$300 for the complete set
shoulder seat belts.........$160 for both seat belts
I re-dyed all the interior door panels/dash/plastic trim pieces (instead of buying new pieces)......$50 for spray dye/plastic spray paint
leather seat covers ..... $300 for a pair of covers
new carpet..................$300 for the complete set
shoulder seat belts.........$160 for both seat belts
I re-dyed all the interior door panels/dash/plastic trim pieces (instead of buying new pieces)......$50 for spray dye/plastic spray paint
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
I just priced a complete "new" interior for my father-in-law. He's working on a '79. The price came up to a staggering $1500.00 estimate. That wasn't including the $400.00 dash pad that he had already purchased. 
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Yes Mike! As it stands, we have had a lot of preliminary success. The mother is the title owner. I wrote up a bill of sale, title request and all of my pre-paid envelopes are ready to be dropped in the mail with payments made to DMV. All the mother needs to do is sign for request and sign title when she gets duplicate. I will be sending all paperwork over night first thing in the morning with return signature labels as well to make sure "nothing gets lost". If I can get this car signed over by the end of the months I will be extactic.
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Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
This is within my price range. We expected to spend up to $2,000 on interior and then wheels and whatever needs to repair to make it street legal again. Paint was bearable so I wont be touching that for a few years.
