My Build Thread

[johnzm]

This is to document what should be an epic build. it will not be a quick one; I plan to span it out over the length of several years.

I am attempting to break it down so that a different aspect of the car is accomplished each year. The first year is the exterior and interior (this year!) i guess i should preface this by saying, i have had many many built cars, but none of them have looked good, and none of them have had any decent type of interior. since i plan to have this car and build it for quite ahwile, i wanted to do those things first so they wouldnt get forgotten(which is what happened with the other cars) when theres 600whp on tap :)

so, on with the pics.

[johnzm]

it was uglyyyy when i first got it, there were numerous strains of mold growing on it, and it had an abundance of sitting water on the floorboards from a broken window regulator.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJE8K1adoI/AAAAAAAAADc/B7pH8LVZd6s/s800/DSCN1312.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJE9dllZnI/AAAAAAAAADw/qflV-dHG-bo/s800/DSCN1318.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJE8qsewkI/AAAAAAAAADg/wivGi3HN5DA/s800/DSCN1313.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJE88M13gI/AAAAAAAAADk/BC5VA0Csk1o/s800/DSCN1315.JPG

so i took it out and gave it a good scrubbing. it actually didnt look too terrible at that point, excpet for the obvious..

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJE9CKirzI/AAAAAAAAADo/A7bUrK4zYUY/s800/IMAGE_029.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJE8McNIsI/AAAAAAAAADY/24uI1WNs0AI/s800/IMAGE_030.jpg

also gave the interior a good scrubbing. still is old tho.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJAlAF92mI/AAAAAAAAABY/xkJI3WjbE2Y/IMG_4877.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJAlv-rHiI/AAAAAAAAABk/Bfth65OStDg/IMG_4883.JPG

SO now its clean.. time to take it apart

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sspK0kfIX-mIsi6LOXCumq3CPx4GISAzjMTqvr61s5g?feat=directlink

[johnzm]

the car was going to go to paint, so im preperation i decided to remove the interior and clean the floorboards as best i could. i dont have too many pictures of the process but i have a few

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJA4fjnrtI/AAAAAAAAACQ/BYesN62g4DM/s912/IMG_1372.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJA4db7vcI/AAAAAAAAACU/EbwYCD_2Hyk/s912/IMG_1373.jpg

dashboard out and time to get to the carpet. *** crap i dont have carpet out pics..

anyways i found an alarm snaked through the car, and removed it.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJA51WXyUI/AAAAAAAAACg/wRGOLP2aeBc/s912/IMG_1375.jpg

thats about it for this post, i removed all of the car's carpet and interior peices, and when asked what i was going to do with them since they took so much room, i threw them out instantly:facepalm: so now i need new carpet:lol:. luckily thats already bought and waiting for the next process, which is paint!

[johnzm]

now i have to admit, that i have collected quite a bit of pieces for this car, that i did not take pictures of.

so as i install them itll be a nice surprise :) but in the meantime, the car is at the body shop..

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJAzPPH4II/AAAAAAAAABs/PkRF0FUODIg/JON%20002.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJAzc57RbI/AAAAAAAAAB0/KdD5Yw2RQOw/JON%20003.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJAzvtBHBI/AAAAAAAAAB8/INblQfAkXuQ/JON%20007res.JPG


there were a ton of dents. they said it might have been in a hailstorm. the previous owner said he woudlnt be surprised.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJA-zf-4RI/AAAAAAAAACw/8obmuINoHTw/s912/IMG_1872.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJA-Tz_qjI/AAAAAAAAACo/tK9LGBO37qI/s912/IMG_1870.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJA-c_A15I/AAAAAAAAACs/l6zhB9bHdxk/s912/IMG_1871.JPG

looks like someone ven dented the gas tank lid with their thumb!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJA-APs5lI/AAAAAAAAACk/N8b3t4yLx1Q/s912/IMG_1869.JPG

eventually, the dents had all been discovered and filled, and it was ready for a coat of acid etch on the bare metal to make the primer stick better.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJA_dxTShI/AAAAAAAAAC0/fGLUXuX6kDc/s912/IMG_1873.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJA_Q-mccI/AAAAAAAAAC4/Q35oxmRCTp4/s912/IMG_1874.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJBApSHfLI/AAAAAAAAAEA/YyLw028CNvI/s640/IMG_1877.JPG

PRIMER!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJBBOc_n8I/AAAAAAAAADM/wTONcU7brzo/s912/IMG_1878.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYJBBDtb-YI/AAAAAAAAADQ/Su7nvZzgN0I/s912/IMG_1879.JPG

[Adrian]

If 600 whp is really your goal then I'm definitely going to be following this build! Apart from that it looks like you've already gotten off to a great start though. What will the final color be?

[johnzm]

i only got one pic, it is nowhere near the actual color, but it should give u an idea ;)

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/6453/imag0062o.jpg

[oldgrayfrog]

A Flesh colored car? lol Where are you having all this paintwork done?

[johnzm]

yellow river :)

got a new toy in the mail

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYKBWvWDlaI/AAAAAAAAAEw/Y1scEpYqarU/s640/IMG_1880.jpg



and i thought id take some pics of the toys i have laying around..

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYKBXP19EPI/AAAAAAAAAE0/OT003y6J84w/s640/IMG_1881.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYKBXslL2YI/AAAAAAAAAE4/slt-lv2LPQ4/s640/IMG_1882.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYKBXxWnxLI/AAAAAAAAAE8/2DX8a8lnf9w/s640/IMG_1883.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYKBYTwXk3I/AAAAAAAAAFA/ElFLfK2AlfM/s640/IMG_1884.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYKBZf2N7_I/AAAAAAAAAFI/bemrK_lPltQ/s640/IMG_1887.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYKBY7HqGlI/AAAAAAAAAFE/jTRYH8VloeQ/s640/IMG_1886.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TYKBZ36Hx_I/AAAAAAAAAFM/FDxfRVFEsSI/s640/IMG_1888.jpg

[Reverend Greg]

Looks Like a good start....what will be the Final colour?
(G)

[nickt93]

I like where this build thread is going! Subscribed - keep the updates coming!

[Dr.Drew]

Watching parts roll in is probably the best part of the build next to the first drive. Can't wait to see where this ends up.

[RotorNutFD3S]

DDMWorks panel. Good choice! Good luck with the build!

[scandmx5]

I have a feeling this is going to be one of the epic builds of the forum. You're going all out with it. Good luck, I can't wait too see it along the way.

[iamdallas]

I want my car painted so bad... can't wait to see this done.

Tapatalk

[epilonious]

Gorgeous. That car is in good hands.

[caseyfoster]

Very nice

[Cameron]

I can't wait to see this when the paint job is done!

[johnzm]

teaser... i was there all night because of a stupid fuse :( this pic is not the greatest, its missing a couple of body parts still, and i accidentally tok it at 800iso so its kinda grainy.

but overall, its amazing and i cannot wait to get it cleaned up and polished.
btw ferrari is right- this color(rosso corsa) is very very hard to capture on film. it looks much darker than it actually is.
i will be taking more shots later and correcting them to where the color is semi-right.


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZvTjAP0ihI/AAAAAAAAAHE/aavje3kkrTU/s640/IMG_2133.JPG

[Shortround]

Correct or not that looks awesome!

[CMP]

Looks sharp bro!

[oldgrayfrog]

Wow. You don't let any grass grow under your feet do ya! Nice start and great color!

[johnzm]

i somehow got lucky with a half day of work, so i spent quite a bit of time on the car.
the bodyshop was dust filled, and there was alot of dust on my car, so i went to pepboys, asked for DecoyOctopus, and he wasnt there. so i bought a new sponge and an absorber drying towel. headed home and started to clean her up. this is how she turned out..

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxucQF_FI/AAAAAAAAAJU/ZrOtJtBMkig/s912/IMG_2157.jpg


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxvHAeGhI/AAAAAAAAAJo/Vatgf0QapUY/s912/IMG_2158.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxpoL28tI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/2V_AXGvUmVU/s912/IMG_2156.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxzPH4AcI/AAAAAAAAAJc/VoSYPilCT9k/s576/IMG_2159.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxL6Mg2uI/AAAAAAAAAIg/NN9vUBUsUtw/s912/IMG_2141.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzw9jBjtUI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/EdzWuBPD30M/s912/IMG_2135.jpg

since the car was finally clean, the wheels were the ugliest thing on there.. so i tried to fix that..

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxBTHzwVI/AAAAAAAAAIU/GB702X2jKfM/s576/IMG_2138.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzx2IePZKI/AAAAAAAAAJk/FSvTcwpaQQo/s912/IMG_2160.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxEv_DgII/AAAAAAAAAIY/rthj6QvrgTs/s912/IMG_2139.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxfxJU_uI/AAAAAAAAAJE/gQvMR6nDEkE/s912/IMG_2151.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxIeBkVBI/AAAAAAAAAIc/5FzITfaYEq0/s912/IMG_2140.jpg

while they were drying, i started to mod the shift knob i had picked up.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxUGBOLaI/AAAAAAAAAIs/syHOyD80mfg/s912/IMG_2144.jpg

i got this bottle of paint from the shop today when i picked up my dash.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxRw01YsI/AAAAAAAAAIo/PSfOv5LzVvY/s912/IMG_2143.jpg

soooooo i screwed it all up..lol.

i couldnt find a toothpick, so i tried to use a q-tip that was chopped down with a razor blade. it didnt hold its shape and bled the red paint all over :(

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxWuY25-I/AAAAAAAAAI0/mi5RyIrrTAo/s912/IMG_2146.jpg

soo, i decided to polish the top. i took 400 grit and carefully shaved the paint off the top
this is what i ended up with..

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxZcyWSGI/AAAAAAAAAI4/2pkiT1lwgrU/s912/IMG_2147.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxcKzfgqI/AAAAAAAAAI8/oL_CX3JDjbE/s912/IMG_2148.jpg

it turned out pretty good.

while i finished that the wheels were drying, and i threw them on..

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxll4uUUI/AAAAAAAAAJM/gLOBmNhBMEg/s912/IMG_2155.jpg

they came out pretty dam nice. and now i am content, and can get the 6ul's later like i had planned :)

hope you guys enjoy :)

[Reverend Greg]

Shifter Knob and wheels came out niiiiice......if you didnt tell anybody,no one would Know....it looks sweet.Im a Shifter knob guy,I like that one.can you post a closeup of the wheels,that coating is interesting.
(G)

[Beastinthebushes]

Wow, you have really turned this car around! Nice job!

[johnzm]

thanks guys, im gonna pour my blood sweat and tears into this one.

as for the question about the plasti dip, you can look online for more info. it basically covers the wheel in a very thin rubber peel off coating. i put it on because i expect to get new wheels at some point and would like to sell these with the oem paint job :) so hopefully when the time comes, i can peel this stuff off and have the factory color under it still.


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZ0APTTZAfI/AAAAAAAAAJs/h2CCOS-sMz0/s912/IMG_2162.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZ0ASqBCcwI/AAAAAAAAAJw/-LhYrED-Cmk/s912/IMG_2167.jpg

[Reverend Greg]

Cool I really like that....I actually mean it this time:lol:....
(G)

[RotorNutFD3S]

Nice job! Car is looking good!

[Shortround]

I really like that plasti dip on the wheels. I wonder how it would look on stock seven spokes... How long did it take to dry? Did you paint the a pillar with it?

[johnzm]

I really like that plasti dip on the wheels. I wonder how it would look on stock seven spokes... How long did it take to dry? Did you paint the a pillar with it?


the cool part is that if u dont like it, you can just peel it off :) alot of people are putting it on, and then laying a new color on top of it.

id say 15 minutes, or a bottle of beer between coats:lol: the can says 30, but i am impatient.

the a pillar i had painted at the shop to match the covers on the rear deck. so no it is not plasti dipped. i am really happy with how the stuff came out and i am planning on painting a couple more pieces with it as i put stuff back together.

[ben91]

That looks really good. Thanks for the pics--it gave me a couple ideas for my car.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TZzxzPH4AcI/AAAAAAAAAJc/VoSYPilCT9k/s576/IMG_2159.jpg

[caseyfoster]

Can we get some more full interior pictures?

[johnzm]

Can we get some more full interior pictures?


sure, once i get it cleaned up. theres some other things i had done at the paint shop i havent posted pics of yet, but everything needs cleaning. so hopefully ill get the rollbar installed this weekend, and meed up with metalman for a few pieces i need, and then ill get some pics as i put the carpet in :)

[caseyfoster]

sure, once i get it cleaned up. theres some other things i had done at the paint shop i havent posted pics of yet, but everything needs cleaning. so hopefully ill get the rollbar installed this weekend, and meed up with metalman for a few pieces i need, and then ill get some pics as i put the carpet in :)

Oh ok cool.

Keep the carpet out :)

[johnzm]

i got the car back, and first thing to do, was fix the vents so theyworked.
the previous owner let me know that his kid thought the defrost vent was a change slot, and dumped change into it often. this caused the vents to jam and i could not get it off blowing on the defrost mode. so i pulled it out

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaCtRrxKunI/AAAAAAAAALA/AKIHr_1opyI/s912/IMG_2169.jpg

sadly, i was hoping for quite a bit of change to come out, but all that was in there was one dime.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaCtKh2BzbI/AAAAAAAAAK4/fzU8K_oepWY/s912/IMG_2170.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaCs_CoRXgI/AAAAAAAAAKs/v3AKV6DV1z8/s912/IMG_2173.jpg

the good news is that the vents now cycled properly and i could put them back in. but while it was out, i decided to remove some of the srs hardware, since i dont really want it in the car.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaCtEoOPWFI/AAAAAAAAAK0/EqFls3jnoHY/s912/IMG_2171.jpg

this is the 2 blue boxes under the dash, the little box behind the heatercore and vent assembly, and the impact sensor under the hood. all thats left to do after this is strip the harness of the unnecessary wire and upgrade the steering wheel :)

after that i was hangin out waiting for cmp to show up, and i decided to paint that big rubber seal that goes on the back of the cabin area behind the softop. i used plasti dip.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaCsxHUI_xI/AAAAAAAAAKk/o06NbKjVuko/s912/IMG_2176.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaCs2x-2mlI/AAAAAAAAAKo/AXuydTrPD6k/s576/IMG_2175.jpg

it came out much nicer, and looks like a new piece, which im sure cost much more than the 25 minutes of painting

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaCsq1k7L3I/AAAAAAAAAKg/-Mp-OqLxkUg/s576/IMG_2177.jpg

after that cmp showed up and we drank. so we got much less done lol.

we did, however, start to fit the roll bar into the car...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaCtWT45PaI/AAAAAAAAALE/ZzJ71unWJEg/s912/IMG_2182.jpg

i still need to clean these up a little but overall the bar fits in there great.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaCtbjA6eII/AAAAAAAAALI/q_1d2pX20TQ/s912/IMG_2181.jpg

hopefully later tonight i can get the rollbar mounted and then start to install the new carpet.

[johnzm]

i am having alot of trouble deciding if i should install the dash, or the carpet first. but since the dash was not even assembled, i thought i would go ahead and do that.

vents

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaDFXkbVUhI/AAAAAAAAAL8/AvSipUmx_q8/s912/IMG_2186.jpg


dash rebar thing
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaDFdS4Y4xI/AAAAAAAAAME/aWKKgyzFKDM/s576/IMG_2183.jpg

gutted dash
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaDFaguBG8I/AAAAAAAAAMA/iBc3GFc27KE/s576/IMG_2184.jpg

like magic

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaDFT0gF-mI/AAAAAAAAAL4/IvEYiEhUJJA/s576/IMG_2187.jpg

unbelievable amount of screws holding all this crap on..

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaDEo36J8DI/AAAAAAAAALg/BR9Y7aBNkn4/s912/IMG_2190.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaDEw3LP5jI/AAAAAAAAALs/oByowFJpEas/s912/IMG_2192.jpg
painted dash goodness

[amaff]

You need to put the carpet in before the dash

[Reverend Greg]

I gots those Eyeballz,for you if you need them...
(G)

[johnzm]

i got my old ones, as long as they dont break or something i should be ok :)

i did however break my heatercore on the braze joint. anyone who has wrestled that white box in and out a few times knows how i broke it lol. its currently leaking into a towel in the car. can anyone tell me where the drain petcock is on the radiator?


btw thanks for reminding me about the carpet amaff. i had pulled it out so long ago i totally forgot that the carpet goes up behind all that stuff on the trans tunnel. kinda hit me when i went to throw it in the first time lol.

quick test fit of the new carpet looks good. i cant wait to get everything together, but im gonna wait and borrow someone's old carpet for a template to get all the cuts in the right spot

[Reverend Greg]

The pet cock is that big screw looking thing in the bottom of the Rad.....careful it is plastic.
(G)

[epilonious]

I think you are proving to have the "Mild Jesus" level of car restoration powers... you got a rain-rail (the big seal thing along the back of the roof) off without cracking it. A damn near impossibility.

[theothersawyer]

You have turned this car around and it looks amazing!

Anyone else think it looks like an NA versionof Calvins old car Olivia?

[scandmx5]

LOL it does.

[johnzm]

uh oh im a copycat ;)

i fixed the heatercore, and got some work done on the dash. i have no idea where i want to mount my crossovers, so for now they are in the space above the headunit. got the dash and radio fully wired up, and now im just waiting on a spare carpet to come my way, so i can cut everything out on this new carpet so its like oem.

[johnzm]

heres some pics.

busted heatercore

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaIlzSqmhHI/AAAAAAAAAMk/xgwsyY72LhI/s912/IMG_2195.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaIl0x2oPkI/AAAAAAAAAMo/IScHGdILDxg/s912/IMG_2194.jpg

tools to repair the heatercore

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaIlxurZHBI/AAAAAAAAAMg/osbsBFRGsJo/s912/IMG_2196.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaIlv-XY8zI/AAAAAAAAAMc/foHInQ-mE5E/s912/IMG_2197.jpg


fixed heatercore

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaIlu_0vN1I/AAAAAAAAAMY/lNL4JjiTWBQ/s912/IMG_2198.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaIl_QYEgcI/AAAAAAAAANA/Ccryss2qO_0/s912/IMG_2199.jpg

double checking and installing tweeters

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaIl-F-QXBI/AAAAAAAAAM8/vvmtHXGE54M/s912/IMG_2200.jpg

mounting crossovers. this is just temporary(velcro'd them down) since i really dont know where i want them yet, and they require some settings be made on the box after they are fired up to adjust how they sound..

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaIl9Qa2IbI/AAAAAAAAAM4/GTVY78JMamI/s912/IMG_2201.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaIl67BzrdI/AAAAAAAAAMw/Shb0CKLAhIU/s912/IMG_2204.jpg

if theres one thing ive learned in the 10 or so swapped cars ive had, its that if you do wiring wrong, it will bite you in the *** every time.

all of the connections for everything in the car are soldered, even the crimp connections

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaIl7DL3MlI/AAAAAAAAAM0/AtLmiPbrt_8/IMG_2202.jpg

no worries of it rattling loose or poor connection :)

this is the end result. ill probably do some more trimming and work on it when i pull it all out again for the v8 installation, but for now this will do great.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaIl393y7fI/AAAAAAAAAMs/5irDHfaz6ww/s912/IMG_2206.jpg

[VitaminD]

Nice work, always good to see folks taking thier time and doing shiot right.

[johnzm]

thanks to cmp, i am moving foward quickly with the carpet.

this is a full aftermarket carpet set from stockinteriors.com i believe.

the carpet resembles what is in most cars, and is totally different from standard miata carpet.

i used a spare oem carpet cmp had, to make the first cuts (the ones around the shifter and e-brake). I then dropped the carpet in, and made some additional cuts in various places, just to get a look at how it fits.

I will be honest, it is not a perfect mold. but I am sure that i wont have any problems making it look great.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaeKP8CV_OI/AAAAAAAAANg/RIVwSyXsT94/s640/IMG_2208.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaeKSg2Wa9I/AAAAAAAAANk/GEtm2Q3xZCI/s640/IMG_2207.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaeKVM8k7kI/AAAAAAAAANs/vZyTPSsMwWw/s640/IMG_2210.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaeKYNGp3XI/AAAAAAAAANw/dYInTuxF7iM/s512/IMG_2209.jpg


I am hoping to finish the trimming and installation this weekend. i installed the additional pieces and the car looks terrific with the fresh black

[johnzm]

finished the carpet installation today, took most of the day..

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaocMX4aN4I/AAAAAAAAAOw/rhD3rV_tkpk/s912/IMG_2216.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaocHHIoVuI/AAAAAAAAAOc/Z3DM1X1-kqA/s912/IMG_2218.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaocKJ3ZOMI/AAAAAAAAAOs/9Mwduf0CKvg/s912/IMG_2217.jpg

can you tell what parts DIDNT get painted? lol.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaocBToSVAI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/N-PVcqvveDI/s576/IMG_2235.jpg
i am planning on an aftermarket center console so im not too worried about it.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaocGxUy8sI/AAAAAAAAAOY/Y46VZtqogX4/s912/IMG_2220.jpg

and the aftermath..

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TaocDZZ4LaI/AAAAAAAAAOU/utwydgb4JxQ/s912/IMG_2234.jpg


so besides a few interior parts, (seats door panels center console, rollbar, guages, steering wheel, shift/brake boots) the interior is finished. the exterior is also very close to being done. so this years goal is almost complete :)

[johnzm]

let me just say that installing a bar is a total pain in the ***!!!!

who ever knew that 1 mm could make such a problem!

i got the seatbelt reels and towers bolted down. all i have to do now is get the back plate holes drilled and installed.

my head sits on the bar with the seat back, so im going to have to pickup the padding from harddog peoples next payday. anyone running the padding? whats the quality of the kit they sell?

[oldgrayfrog]

Looks great! Yeah, I have the padding (comes with adhesive on the inside on one side) and the Leather cover. I like the look and feel of the leather, but the vinyl will probably hold up longer, if you don't remember to take care of it regularly. I think highly of pretty much all the products that Bethania Garage makes!

[RotorNutFD3S]

:lol: Don't worry, installing a rollbar gets easier the second time around, and the 3rd, and the 4th...

I have the padding and vinyl cover that Bethania sells (they have leather too), very nice. The padding goes on without hassle and is formed to the shape and curvature of the main hoop and the covers are hand-stitched by a very nice lady there and fit just like they're supposed to.

[MoD_Scotty]

:lol: Don't worry, installing a rollbar gets easier the second time around, and the 3rd, and the 4th...


True story!!!


The padding was one thing I really had wanted to do to my old NB...I probably would have been really screwed if I had been involved in an accident with my head so close to the roll bar.

And BTW...excellent work on this car. I really dig the attention to detail. Especially when it comes to wiring....it's so much better to do it right the first time. I don't think there's anything more frustrating than bad wiring.

[johnzm]

anyone local have a right angle drill so i can finish this rollbar install? i am in gwinnett.

ill get a couple pics of the car tonight if it isint raining it looks really nice with the bar, i just need to get it completly bolted down and get the carpet and pacakkkge tray cut around it.

[Dr.Drew]

+1 on soldering every wire connection. No matter how great your tools are a crimped connection will eventually break free. I also like to put a little heat shrink on there to keep the wire stationary inside the connector.

[johnzm]

slow going lately. runnign out of parts lol. that means ill be sprucing up what parts i have left that look old, a little at a time.

this is how she sits currently

new carpet
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/Tbi6PaeN6SI/AAAAAAAAASA/9e8KmGeJoLQ/s912/IMG_2252.jpg

and a rollbar 3/4 installed

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/Tbi6M3MBgDI/AAAAAAAAAR8/pkbtH8HrqhY/s912/IMG_2250.jpg

i really plan to do something about the door panels soon. they look like total ***

[metalman]

i really plan to do something about the door panels soon. they look like total ***

Whats wrong with them? Split? Torn?

[oldgrayfrog]

Johnzm, I have an old NA wheel that you can have, it's way better than that one, and I also have the lower sections of the two piece door panels, you are welcome to them, I switched to the one piece door panels so I could mount the 93 LE stainless speaker surrounds. LMK if you want them.

[johnzm]

wow thanks! i need to keep this wheel on it, so i have a constant reminder that i need to swap it out ;) but i might take you up on the panels. i was planning on using the duplicolor vinyl paint stuff to make em nice and black. but ive never used it before and i dont know how it will turn out

[johnzm]

so i gave it a wash, and took a couple pics. it turned out pretty good imo

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TcRMGICizEI/AAAAAAAAAUM/kdynPabuAk8/s912/IMG_2287.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TcRMICLqylI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/qxRRZpzeBCc/IMG_2274.jpg


i think it needs to be lowered a couple inches.... lol

[metalman]

Looking good. A little lower will improve it even more. :)

[oldgrayfrog]

Looks great! I still have the wheel, but the door panels are fairly trashed I'm afraid.

[johnzm]

Looks great! I still have the wheel, but the door panels are fairly trashed I'm afraid.

thanks for lookin out, i cleaned up my door panels some today and they are not really that bad. just not perfect..

on that note, im a little anal about perfection in some of the parts on the car. i guess i kinda want to turn this into a new car, so everything that looks old gets on my nerves. so idecided to do a little painting today. repainted the molding around the windshield to a nice black, and cleaned up all the rubber around it too. looks new!

i also attacked these.. they didnt look "new" so i kinda have been thinking about what to do about it. tis is what i ended up with....


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TcXy-r3octI/AAAAAAAAAUg/iydLKVHf6-U/s720/IMG_2292.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TcXzObuMi_I/AAAAAAAAAU8/8upI_WKcW_w/s720/IMG_2293.jpg

plasti dip to the rescue!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TcXzLiAr6oI/AAAAAAAAAU0/XdUbRT3UuSk/s720/IMG_2294.jpg

uh oh..
well this plasti dip is not like paint. when i peeled the tape up, the plasti dip kinda ripped around the edges. argh..

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TcXzIuhRnXI/AAAAAAAAAUw/5jothE8tX1o/s720/IMG_2295.jpg

so, i decided to start over.. lets see how easy it is to peel this stuff off..

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TcXzBFmiEeI/AAAAAAAAAUk/SkFSBDFQ_A4/s720/IMG_2298.jpg

not too bad at all! pretty awesome.

i resprayed, and this time i cut the plasti dip before peeling the tape up

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TcXzRuCLIsI/AAAAAAAAAVE/OCYef2EODtk/s720/IMG_2302.jpg

not to shabby..

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TcXzGPBLMPI/AAAAAAAAAUs/MZTuPNwiWq0/s720/IMG_2296.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_PSH3D90SujI/TcXzQIEwnLI/AAAAAAAAAVA/acMo4ROZ9Qc/s720/IMG_2303.jpg

it came out AWESOME and looks so much better in black, imo.

also got the leather roll bar padding on the car too. looks great :)