Build Thread '83 T-top Coupe - Cliff Notes Edition

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 9, 2017

#161

• Jan 9, 2017

• #161

Here's the sheen after it hardens

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 10, 2017

#162

• Jan 10, 2017

• #162

Ooohhhhhh! Pretty

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 10, 2017

#163

• Jan 10, 2017

• #163

There is a review on these seat springs on LMR saying they're too wide. That was correct. NBD though, I just took out the die grinder and cut off part of it. The original spring had fifteen wires going across, the new one sixteen. They were just a hair longer front to back too. I crimped up the front were they hook to and they're just fine now. Pretty as can be. B4 and after:

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 10, 2017

#164

• Jan 10, 2017

• #164

Holy crap! I got the bottom put together. I put on that nice pretty new foam, got the cover hog ringed in with my pretty new listing rods, then I went to stretch the cover over that new foam.....

I got it, and the cover is fine, but I'm exhausted! It's not easy hooking that cover to the base. It took everything I had to finally get it to hook and have those holes for the seat back line up. Thank God I only have one more seat to do!

The seat looks a little dusty now from me stepping all over it to get the cover hooked. It'll clean up fine though.

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 10, 2017

#165

• Jan 10, 2017

• #165

Just a couple more quick pictures. Using new bolts, I put the sliders back on

 

RaggedGT

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

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Jan 10, 2017

#166

• Jan 10, 2017

• #166

Few more years, Dave will be a site sponsor,and have this as his avatar

 

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Davedacarpainter

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Jan 10, 2017

#167

• Jan 10, 2017

• #167

Sorry i wasn't "Dave-like". I've been scrambling this afternoon. After the yard i had to get to the liquor store before i picked my daughter up from play practice (priorities).

I couldn't get into the trunk of the car, i must have disconnected a necessary ground or something. There are no keys to it's present lock.

So, what did i get? I got the door panels, mirrors and trim from one of them (the other had a rivet and i was running out of daylight). I also got the trim off of the rear window except for the lower piece that i need to have the trunk open for.

I'll show a picture of the haul tomorrow, but here's a couple of the door panels so you can see the issues i have to deal with, they are so freaking GROSS! And one of the rear glass sans the moulding.




Here's one of how the interior looks now.

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 11, 2017

#168

• Jan 11, 2017

• #168

This is the stuff from yesterday. The other door panel is at home. I left a couple trim pieces for the mirrors at the yard too.

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 11, 2017

#169

• Jan 11, 2017

• #169

I got the back on the seat. Looks really good to me.

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 11, 2017

#170

• Jan 11, 2017

• #170

I disassembled the panel this morning. I used a die grinder to cut off the dew wipe staples.

I'm going to need to replace the vinyl trim on the carpet piece, the padding behind the vinyl and I'll try to dig up new chrome trim too.

I'll go to Lowes to get a replacement backing board. I'm soaking the old one in water right now and will lay it flat in the booth during a bake cycle with a board on top so I can use it for a pattern.

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 11, 2017

#171

• Jan 11, 2017

• #171

Something little

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 11, 2017

#172

• Jan 11, 2017

• #172

Another little thing, the wrinkled chrome strip comes off and leaves the moulding behind. I just used a razor to slice along the sides of the moulding. Those strips are melted together with the vinyl and padding on the rear.

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 11, 2017

#173

• Jan 11, 2017

• #173

The finished passenger seat, before and after:

 

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Davedacarpainter

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Jan 12, 2017

#174

• Jan 12, 2017

• #174

Uhmmmm......I think this is going in the trash

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 12, 2017

#175

• Jan 12, 2017

• #175

I can afford ten bucks for some new board from lowes, not another fifty from LMR.

I know fifty isn't much money for them, but I have lots and lots of fifty dollar items still to get.

Anywho, this is what I'm doing to flatten out the original boards. I had to soak them in water really good, let that sit for about an hour so it was pretty dang soft. Wet them one more time, then SLOWLY shape them flat again. Then into the booth and put this board and two full five gallon cans put on top. Now it'll sit in the booth for the rest of the day through all the bake cycles. Tomorrow morning the board comes off and I'll have a really good pattern board for making my new ones.

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 12, 2017

#176

• Jan 12, 2017

• #176

90sickfox said:

Great job, Dave !!!

I've used luan board to make the backing for our door panels. It works great. Turned out well and lasted longer than the car.

Click to expand...

Thanks Scott, i still have to go buy it.

Because.....tonight....it's time for the driver's seat back. Yep, gotta sew that zipper on.
There's a LOT i'm enjoying about this car and bringing it back to life. Right now though, if i could get real money for my left nut, i'd buy a sewing machine just to do this.

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 13, 2017

#177

• Jan 13, 2017

• #177

On the Robby front. I was real busy all day with customer cars today, but at the end of the day i did work on my mirrors. I tore them down and sanded them down. The passenger mirror only had one coat of paint on it, easy peasy. The driver's side had SEVEN coats, when I say SEVEN, I mean seven coats of sealer and seven coats of black! Holy Crap! I smoothed out the right side and stripped the left. I may strip the right just to prevent lifting issues when i paint them next monday. I'll probably paint some of the trim at the same time, of course these are going to be the trim grey with the half an eggshell finish on them.

Anywho, question: The mirror wobbles on the driver's side. How do i tighten this up? @madmike1157 ? Anyone at all?

And how about the gasket between the mirror and door? Anyone got suggestions?

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 14, 2017

#178

• Jan 14, 2017

• #178

VICTORY!!!!

At least half a one!

I sewed one side of the zipper on, AND I sewed it with the correct orientation!
This calls for a drink doesn't it? It took 1.5 hours to do that. I used a stitch similar to a sewing machine, very strong.

Only another hour and a half to go and my tailoring career will be over.

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 14, 2017

#179

• Jan 14, 2017

• #179

I would say this has been the worst thing to work on for Robby, but it comes in second next to stretching the bottom cover on the new foam, but just....

So I've sewn on a so-so stitch. It is strong though. This seat cover had only one other area to sow where a seam had started to let go on the backside. That's fixed too. It's ready to go on the new foam and back frame. Then paint.

I still don't have my seat back from the blasters yet.... They're blasting this for free since they screwed up my hood so bad. They said i could pick it up last wednesday. Nope, now it'll hopefully be monday. I'm assuming they won't want any other business from me in the future or anything at all like a recommendation.

That said, i won't rebuild the back until i've repaired the base. Standstill time on the seat cover. I'll work on the door panels a bit. I'm going to lowes in just a little bit to get the new backing board. Two of the boys want to watch "The Accountant" with me right now though. Break time!

@Mstng93SSP , i got the carpet pieces in. They'll need a small modification. They must be differences in the years. Easy peasy fix though. Thanks so much Chris.

 

Davedacarpainter

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Jan 14, 2017

#180

• Jan 14, 2017

• #180

BTW, here's a close up of my mirror that wobbles