Advice on interior Restoration

[tmodel66]

Part of my interior is great. Some needs replacing. My question is; Do I replace only the bad pieces or replace all of it.  Some armchair advice says replace all of it because the new pieces will not match in color from fading of the older parts. Some say to keep all that I can use from original parts. I am not a Rockerfeller but money is no object on this car.  I am doing this one time and one time only because my race is about run.

[KevinW]

It depends on what year and which parts are bad.  front seat re-cover is a no brainer, just get quality covers and pads.  Other parts can be repaired.

[Ron C.]

Legendary interiors is just about finished with their camaro interrior lineup.they should have the deluxe 67 int finished by the end of Febuary.Their interiors are of the highest quality and closest to original as possible.I am waiting on the deluxe 67 interior for my 67.They also make chevelle interiors and the chevelle people give them high marks.here is their webpage     www.legendaryautointeriors.com

[gro51]

That's a tough call.  I'm one who likes to keep as many original pieces as possible.  For example, my interior is all original except the drivers seat and carpet.  I've never had anyone say to me  "Hey,  you're driver's seat is slightly off from the rest of the seats."

I hope you keep it as original as possible.  But on the other hand, if you can afford it, why not?

[tmodel66]

Thanks a lot guys.  My car is '69 SS L-48 with Z-23 interior.  My seats are excellent and the console is  good with minor scuff marks. The dash pad is solid but the front of it is sorta peeled up and I don't know if a repair is possible. The carpet is OK but it is unraveled around the edges and sorta nappy.  My other concern is the steering wheel and door panels. The panels could be made to look better but it wouldn't be right. The steering wheel is shot and I can't find a steering wheel shroud with cherrywood inlay and can't find the inlay for sale to put on a new one. The package tray is also shot.

Thanks for suggestions

[tmodel66]

Has anybody used Steering Wheel Bob up in New Jersey for wheel restoration? His name is Bob Monetti and the pics on his website look outstanding.

[KevinW]

OK, now we have a list to work with!   replace the package tray, carpet.  try to clean and flitz polish the console and if the scuffs are minimized, coat with a wax type coating.  If not, use fusion satin black paint, same goes for scuff on the seat backs.  Dash pads are not repairable, you need a new one (but generally the repros are not the best, but thats all there is)  The repro standard door panels look different than originals, I would try to fix them, same with the steering wheel.  What is exactly wrong with them? door panel warps can be straightened and trim reglued.  rips, chome wear or delamination of the center cannot.  steering wheel cracks can be epoxied and painted.  shrouds can be epoxied and inlay can be recovered with new rosewood contact sheets.   

[tmodel66]

First of all where can I buy the cherrywood contact sheets?   My door panels have no physical  damage  (i.e. holes , rips etc.)  but have "curled up" on the front corner at the bottom and the cover is hanging in the wind.  Should most upholstery shops be able to fix this? Do you have someone in mind for me to ship them to?  Just my opinion but I think the steeringwheel is beyond repair. It has  chunks missing about 3" long in a couple of places.  I'll ask again about Steeringwheel Bob. Anybody used him? Who sells the best carpet and package trays?

Thanks for all the help
Greatly appreciated

[KevinW]

69s used rosewood accents, 68s used walnut, cherrywood is something else

I got mine on ebay a number of years ago,  Here is an auction, but I do not have a review of this vendor, but for $8, it is worth the gamble. Ask for a pic.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ROSEWOOD-WOODGRAIN-DECAL-VINYL-MATERIAL7-5X12-INCHES_W0QQitemZ310100391122QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item48336c74d2

Door panel curl is an easy fix, you can do it.  Lay towels on the floor in your basement.  Lay the door vinyl side down on the towel.  Make sure the loose vinyl edges are not folded or creased underneath.  Take a wet washcloth and repeatedly wipe curled area with water until the cardboard is soaked.  Take a small peice of flat wood that fits the curled area and place it on top of door panel.  Then put a weight on top of the board.  Wait until dry, 4-7 days.  remove weights and see if cardboard remains flat, if not repeat.  Once cardboard holds its flatness, use weldwood contact cement to glue vinyl down again.  the cardboard will need two coats of cement (its porous).  stand back and admire

Get a repro steering wheels, 3" missing chunks are too big to fill. I have the repro cushioned rim, nice part, I recommend it (then you dont need the rosewood sheet!).  I cannot comment on the standard rim quality.  Trim parts or ACC on the Carpet.  I cant comment about the package tray (I have convertibles )

  

[tmodel66]

Thanks Kevin, The cherrywood is the color of the hardwood floor in my house. LOL  I have mini-strokes and sometimes my mind types out what it wants instead of what I think I want.  Sometimes I confuse myself.  Thanks for the door panel fix. I'll give it a shot.

[MyRed67]

  I am replacing my Door Panels and rear Side Panels, corners and edges are curled and loose.  But the Trim pieces are all good.  It looks as if the trim was laminated to the Vinyl at the factory.  What would be a good strong glue to glue these on?   Would headliner glue work?

[bc69]

Kevinw,
Is the satin black the correct restore finish in black for the console? Having to refinish mine while I have it out and it looks to have a semi gloss look.....but can not find it in a plastic or fusion paint.

[KevinW]

All, Ricks is now carrying a Platinum version of the 69 Standard door panel.  Reviews are good that it very closely matches the original GM panels.  bc69, use Fusion satin black.  When sprayed properly, it has the correct gloss.  I have used it on my seat backs, kick panels and the pebble part of the dash cluster.  Works great!  (ps my console was in great shape, so I did not need to paint it )

[68Zproject]

Just keep your old parts as some day you may want them.

[ChrisM]

 I am replacing my Door Panels and rear Side Panels, corners and edges are curled and loose.  But the Trim pieces are all good.  It looks as if the trim was laminated to the Vinyl at the factory.  What would be a good strong glue to glue these on?   Would headliner glue work?

Try this before you give up on your original panels.  Go to the auto parts store and spend $20 on a vinyl repair kit.  Using a heat gun (or your wife's blow dryer) heat up the damaged areas and the vinyl will soften and become very workable. Stretch the vinyl back around the corners, glue it, and clamp it.  Let the glue dry.  Heat any cracked vinyl, shove a little glue under the crack, weight/press it down and let the glue dry.  Then go back and fill cracks using the vinyl repair kit.  

I did this to my trashed door panels and they look almost perfect now.  I even messed up a few areas and simply cut out my mistakes and refilled with the repair kit stuff until I got it right.  Very rewarding in the end.  It was kinda like body work.  I just kept at it until it was right.  I suppose you could take them to an interior shop and have them worked also.  

Good luck.