installing,recovering
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 682
Likes: 23
From: loxahatchee fla
installing,recovering
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I just ordered a complete new interior for my 1985 vette,leather seat covers,door panels,new dash,rugs,console,etc, now I know how to build engines but interiors are new to me so can I install,recover,etc. the interior or is the work more than the average mechanic can handle ,should I get someone at an upholstery shop to do the work???
I just ordered a complete new interior for my 1985 vette,leather seat covers,door panels,new dash,rugs,console,etc, now I know how to build engines but interiors are new to me so can I install,recover,etc. the interior or is the work more than the average mechanic can handle ,should I get someone at an upholstery shop to do the work???
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,141
Likes: 1
From: McKinney Texas
Re: installing,recovering (grumpyvette)
[QUOTE]leather seat covers
Easy (Make sure to get new foam also... it really does help)
door panels
Easy
new dash
No clue, have never replaced a dash
rugs
Carpet? Easy
console
No clue, have never installed a console [QUOTE]
Sorry I didn't have all the answers, but I have redone a COMPLETE interior including headliner, rear carpet, door panels, sun visors, seat foam, seat cover (front and back seats), isulation, carpet, and all handles on a 73 Gran Torino before. And I am a MORON when it comes to installing stuff, and this was easy as sin. :D
I have never messed with a dash or any of the components, so I can't offer input in this department.
Hope this helps,
Andy
Easy (Make sure to get new foam also... it really does help)
door panels
Easy
new dash
No clue, have never replaced a dash
rugs
Carpet? Easy
console
No clue, have never installed a console [QUOTE]
Sorry I didn't have all the answers, but I have redone a COMPLETE interior including headliner, rear carpet, door panels, sun visors, seat foam, seat cover (front and back seats), isulation, carpet, and all handles on a 73 Gran Torino before. And I am a MORON when it comes to installing stuff, and this was easy as sin. :D
I have never messed with a dash or any of the components, so I can't offer input in this department.
Hope this helps,
Andy
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 682
Likes: 23
From: loxahatchee fla
Re: installing,recovering (Andy1983)
i HAVE REPLACED LOTS OF DASHS AND CONSOLES ITS THE LEATHER SEAT COVERS ON THE FOAM THAT I HAVE NEVER DONE, AND WHAT DO YOU USE TO STICK CARPET? WEATHER STRIP GLUE?CONTACT CEMENT? EPOXY?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 843
Likes: 2
From: Nashua New Hampshire
Re: installing,recovering (grumpyvette)
See my tips at: http://www.corvetteforum.net/c4/gh86e/indexrp1.shtml
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c4/gh86e/indexrp2.shtml
The second one tells what adhesive to use for the carpets on the console side panels & dash kick panels.
I've had most of my dash apart. Tomorrow, if I have a little time, I'll finally update my web site (below) with pictures of putting it all together. I just finished the driver's side today. Will finish off the rear, and the passenger side next weekend.
Hardest parts?
- Getting new clutch and brake pedal pads on
- Getting old T50 torx bolts out of sealt belt mounts. The set belt receptacle bolts that go into the center console especially were extensively rusted, and it's hard to get a T50 driver into it (take hammer and pount the socket into the bolt - that give better grip and helps loosen the rust).
- Getting plastic kick panels back on properly (do before seats go back in - lie down in seat area w/feet in rear hatch area, head under dash. Then it's fairly easy to line everything up and get the screws in.
- Getting 2 broken off screws out of holes (some previous owner or service person snapped them off - still can't get either one out).
- Getting steering column back together, esp. after you take those 3 screws out way down in the column that look like the only way to feed the wire from a new turn signal stalk down the column, but a voice in your head says "you're going to regret taking thsoe screws out". Why did I do that? As I was getting all new carpets and dash pieces in, the ignition switch and turn signal stalk all of a sudden looked crappy. The side-mirror select switch will look crappy. The driving lights switch will look crappy. The door handles will lo... Heck, I think you've got the idea.
In the next day or so, I'll update my web site (below) with updated pictures.
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c4/gh86e/indexrp2.shtml
The second one tells what adhesive to use for the carpets on the console side panels & dash kick panels.
I've had most of my dash apart. Tomorrow, if I have a little time, I'll finally update my web site (below) with pictures of putting it all together. I just finished the driver's side today. Will finish off the rear, and the passenger side next weekend.
Hardest parts?
- Getting new clutch and brake pedal pads on
- Getting old T50 torx bolts out of sealt belt mounts. The set belt receptacle bolts that go into the center console especially were extensively rusted, and it's hard to get a T50 driver into it (take hammer and pount the socket into the bolt - that give better grip and helps loosen the rust).
- Getting plastic kick panels back on properly (do before seats go back in - lie down in seat area w/feet in rear hatch area, head under dash. Then it's fairly easy to line everything up and get the screws in.
- Getting 2 broken off screws out of holes (some previous owner or service person snapped them off - still can't get either one out).
- Getting steering column back together, esp. after you take those 3 screws out way down in the column that look like the only way to feed the wire from a new turn signal stalk down the column, but a voice in your head says "you're going to regret taking thsoe screws out". Why did I do that? As I was getting all new carpets and dash pieces in, the ignition switch and turn signal stalk all of a sudden looked crappy. The side-mirror select switch will look crappy. The driving lights switch will look crappy. The door handles will lo... Heck, I think you've got the idea.
In the next day or so, I'll update my web site (below) with updated pictures.
