Ready to Order New Interior
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 268
Likes: 13
From: Palmdale Ca
Ready to Order New Interior
I'm about to order my new interior. I thought it might be worthwhile to email a list of items I want to the vendors and see if I can get a better price for ordering everything at once from the same vendor. I believe I've read comments here from others who have done this. My question is this: Can you think of anything that should be on my list that isn't on it?
Carpet
Kick Panels Carpet
Door Panels (L & R)
Door Arm Rests (L & R)
Rear Speaker Grilles (L & R)
Parking Brake Cover
Seat Covers (For both seats)
Seat Foam (For both seats)
New Storage Compartment (3 door)
Interior molding paint (2 cans)
Interior color is oyster. I know several of you have been through the interior redo and your comments are appreciated.
Thanks, Augie
Carpet
Kick Panels Carpet
Door Panels (L & R)
Door Arm Rests (L & R)
Rear Speaker Grilles (L & R)
Parking Brake Cover
Seat Covers (For both seats)
Seat Foam (For both seats)
New Storage Compartment (3 door)
Interior molding paint (2 cans)
Interior color is oyster. I know several of you have been through the interior redo and your comments are appreciated.
Thanks, Augie
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
couple of things to think about;
Ecklers and others have the complete carpet kits, good way to go. carpet kit has front and back carpet, kick panels, center console sides, seat backs and an extra piece for doing the speaker covers in the back.
Are your arm rests missing? If you have them thay can be fixed pretty easily with the epoxy in steel insert.
Do you have the electric drivers seat? Is the bezel for the seat switch ok?
Are you replacing or upgrading the rear speakers? If upgrading, its hard to find good ones that fit, you will need to make new inserts and cover them to match, corvettefaq has some good paterns.
Ecklers and others have the complete carpet kits, good way to go. carpet kit has front and back carpet, kick panels, center console sides, seat backs and an extra piece for doing the speaker covers in the back.
Are your arm rests missing? If you have them thay can be fixed pretty easily with the epoxy in steel insert.
Do you have the electric drivers seat? Is the bezel for the seat switch ok?
Are you replacing or upgrading the rear speakers? If upgrading, its hard to find good ones that fit, you will need to make new inserts and cover them to match, corvettefaq has some good paterns.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 268
Likes: 13
From: Palmdale Ca
Thanks for the replies! These are exactly the type of comments I'm looking for. Sixfooter, you bring another thought to mind. I'm 6'5" and I'm a little worried that my new seat foam is going to reduce my headroom from zero to double zero. Any of you tall guys have any thoughts on this (beside driving with the T-tops off
).
).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 5
From: the land of a never ending frame-off resto-mod. May Visa have mercy on my soul.
Since you are doing the trim replace the side pillar and header moldings. Check the hinge covers on the side of the seats.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 4
From: Miami FL
See this post about seat height....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ighlight=seats
I am going to get mine done hopefully by this weekend and will post results with C5 seats installed.
Also a side note, what do you guys do about fadded carpet? My carpet is nice looking still, but is fadded badly in the sun exposed areas and when I replace this carpet I don't want to buy the same brand that I have now that is prone to sun fadding badly. Is there one brand better than the others against sun fadding?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ighlight=seats
I am going to get mine done hopefully by this weekend and will post results with C5 seats installed.
Also a side note, what do you guys do about fadded carpet? My carpet is nice looking still, but is fadded badly in the sun exposed areas and when I replace this carpet I don't want to buy the same brand that I have now that is prone to sun fadding badly. Is there one brand better than the others against sun fadding?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: Rye TX
This is what the Ecklers interior looks like:
Our vette photos:
http://cherryfamilyracing.com/_wsn/page5.html
Our vette photos:
http://cherryfamilyracing.com/_wsn/page5.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
my suggestion on vendors......... if you want the BEST quality and fit for a Corvette, go with Al Knoch. They are the best in the business. PERIOD.
Not the least expensive but the best never is.
If you contack Al Knochs brother Wally Knoch he is a distributor for the AK products and typically gives a 20% discount to forum members.
He forum name is Ironcross and he hangs out in the C1/C2 section or you can contact him via his website here:
http://www.nitroalley.net/
Not the least expensive but the best never is.
If you contack Al Knochs brother Wally Knoch he is a distributor for the AK products and typically gives a 20% discount to forum members.
He forum name is Ironcross and he hangs out in the C1/C2 section or you can contact him via his website here:
http://www.nitroalley.net/
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Northern NJ
The seat installation kit is a must. you will also need hog ring pliers and you will probably want some extra hog rings. There is also a hook tool to pull the wires through the foam. I made one with a coat hanger and a peice of dowel. I purchased from Willcox and I am very pleased with my seats and carpet.
There is also a difference in the carpets. The more expensive carpet set is the "correct" hook and loop type. The cheaper set is more of a fuzzy carpet. Get yourself a can of 3M #77 spray adhesive for your carpets.
Good Luck!!
There is also a difference in the carpets. The more expensive carpet set is the "correct" hook and loop type. The cheaper set is more of a fuzzy carpet. Get yourself a can of 3M #77 spray adhesive for your carpets.
Good Luck!!
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Pine Beach NJ
Just did my interior on my 71' about 3 months ago. Funny"" I'm 5'11' and my legs just about clear the steering wheel. If you have a tilt wheel it shouldn't be a problem. I replaced the seat covers and the padding. My steering column is fixed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,217
Likes: 1
From: End of the Ike IL
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Al Knoch is the way to go. And if you have the entire interior torn out, go ahead and put good underlayment in (heat barrier/sound deadener of some sort.) Check out your seatbelts "while you're there" in case they need some attention.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 22
From: Yooperville MI
If you are going to keep the car, Al Knoch. It will be the last interior you'll buy. I've used them since the '70s when I was working on C1 & C2's. The seat trim is the main difference between Knoch and the other manufacturers. Knock uses the best quality vinyl and leather and the stitching holds up to OEM standards. The fit has always been top notch. A lot of interiors look good, however some show wear very quickly. When you buy from the mainstream distributors, you don't know who made the stuff or what quality you are getting.
If you want to save a buck, at least get the seat trims and foams from Knoch and the rest from the mainstream distributors.
PS. I still do seats occasionally and I've had people give me trims to put on and the vinyl is so thin that the holes for the stiching stretch and one pair of leather trims, I used some mild soap to clean afterwards and I removed some of the dye, they looked good though, but I wondered how is the owner going to clean them. There is some really cheap stuff out there.
If you want to save a buck, at least get the seat trims and foams from Knoch and the rest from the mainstream distributors.
PS. I still do seats occasionally and I've had people give me trims to put on and the vinyl is so thin that the holes for the stiching stretch and one pair of leather trims, I used some mild soap to clean afterwards and I removed some of the dye, they looked good though, but I wondered how is the owner going to clean them. There is some really cheap stuff out there.
Last edited by crazywelder; Jul 10, 2006 at 11:04 AM.
