Progress Thread Calypso Cash Pit

2Blue2 said:

She deserves a better name than 'C. G. Money Pit'.

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Probably so, but at this point it's appropriate! Once she's all pretty again the moniker will probably go.....probably. I've quickly discovered that with a convertible everything is harder to work on and costs twice as much as it should....if it's available that is!

Mstng93SSP said:

Yeah I did the top too. It wasn't bad. I swear. You just need a good stapler, mine runs off my compressor. I followed a DVD from late model restoration. I had another convertible before and had a professional shop do the top. The one I did myself on this car actually came out much better. For the seats I used the TMI leather and new foam.

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Outstanding job. I have the TMI leather set also (and ordered the matching vinyl from them to recover the rear quarter trim panels.) I was torn between spending the money on having an upholstery shop do the fronts and rebuild the foam or to do it myself and spend the money on new foam. Since doing it myself also affords me the opportunity to reinforce all of the welds on the seat frame that swayed my choice to just do the fronts myself. I'm a picky SOB anyhow so I'll only have myself to blame if I don't like something!

Been a few weeks since I've posted any progress but some has actually been made. A lot of what I've gotten done you really can't see, weatherstripping, quarter window guides, etc. Here's the biggest and most visible accomplishment:



Yep, the front end was built out and installed. There weren't any front end shots previously because it wasn't on. I couldn't adjust the hood until after it was on but I got that finished too. I HATE lining up hoods! It was a true test of patience and I had cringed at the body shop when they said they wanted to take it off to spray. I have the "pleasure" of getting the quarter windows adjusted properly now. If anyone has any tips to make it a little easier, please pass them along.

I have a restored set of Pony rims with new rubber I waiting to put on. I need to clean up the inner fender liners first. Between work, weather and honey-do's my time has been limited on what I can get done. The days I have been able to get stuff done have been sweltering! Wrench, wrench, wipe sweat off of glasses and out of eyes....repeat. The heat index has been 100+ on most days and no breeze. When it does cool down it's only because a downpour is coming and you have just enough time to run around picking up everything before it hits. Getting closer though. I'm hoping to have it off to the top shop in the next few weeks. Fingers crossed.

General karthief said:

Every time I see this car I miss my 92 calypso vert more.

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There's one exactly like mine (except it's a '93) that's been on the Jacksonville CL for the past month. They're asking $6500 and it's in beautiful shape. Ya have to look in the parts section though, not the cars for sale. My best friend found the listing. I told him I coulda saved money, time and effort and just bought that one! Ahhh but the joys of wrestling a vert back together.

Potomus Pete said:

Nice car , exceptional car. What was the estimate for the top. I have one for $1700 inc. top. Three shops said $2,200

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The shop I'll be using has been in business locally since 1972 and has a good reputation. I got a quote from them and it averaged the same price, $1700.

Been some time now since any updates have been posted. I had to go out of town for work for the entire month of August so that was a total bust! Due to losing as much time as I did, the top replacement has taken last place on the list. Since my return it's primarily been interior work. I wasn't going to redo the interior until the top was done but I'm afraid to lose the car for a week or so with the bulk of the interior still not done. I'm trying to make Foxtoberfest with it this year. I can drop the top if it's still crap but kinda hard to drive 3 hours with no interior!

So far I've refurbished both armrests (new chrome trim, switch bezels and dyed pads). I found a white armrest assembly on Fleabay and used it for pieces, mainly the pad. There was a little discoloration so I dyed both to match each other. It's a little pricey but I gotta say I love the LMR vinyl paint/dye!



I also redid the door panels. At $500+ for a repop set I preferred to work with what I had. I cleaned the vinyl really well as it was in super shape (no re-dye necessary), put in new backer boards, inner door belt weatherstrips, map pockets and speaker grills. They came out really nice and for under half of what new ones cost. I have about $200 total in them.



I had the stuff to do them for a long while but was kinda scared to screw them up and really didn't know where to start. I ran across a Youtube video on a channel called House of Dula where he did a really good instructional video on how to replace the backer boards. Armed with that helped my confidence. I did spring for an air stapler and it's a huge help!

The last thing I've done is to finish the seat upholstery up. Again the air stapler was a great help when it came to covering the knee bolsters. I am by no means an upholsterer but I'm happy with the results. I can say the single hardest thing to do was installing the new covers on the headrests. All I can say is avoid at all costs! What a PITA!! This is the passenger seat (and the first one I did). The drivers seat is also completed and went pretty smooth after exerperience gained from doing the pass. seat. I also did the headrest first!



All that's left for the interior is to do some painting on the console and the glove box door and finish re-covering the rear trim panels and I can then install the new carpet and reassemble the interior. I'm hoping for some really productive time this weekend. Next shots to come will be the rear trim panels when completed.....and a little more frequent updates now. Then, on to a new project I bought myself for my birthday a few weeks ago....



That'll be a whole new thread!

Thanks for the top advice. There's not a whole lot I won't tackle myself. Putting on the top is on that short list! The current one isn't horrible, but it's cheap and has the vinyl rear window. It's scratched and yellowed. The top itself has some staining and looks worse next to the new paint and trim. A new fresh one with a glass rear window is what will be going in. The top shop I'm taking it to has been in business for decades around here and is one of the few well known and reputable top shops. Thanks for the advice!