[JLMounce]

This off-season I'm doing a color change on the interior in my 1969 Firebird.

I'm replacing the dark green interior with black and have all the soft and hard parts coming from classic industries to do so. The only things I didn't get were things like the A pillers, kick panels and rear seat hard parts which will be painted.

Interior is something I've never done before, so this will be a new challenge. Is there a recommended order to assemble everything back together in so that I'm not wasting time installing, then find I've got to remove and install something else first?

This is going to be a down to the metal deal. check and repair any issues in the floor if I find it, new sound and heat insulation, new foam and padding/packing in the seats, painting the dash, refurbing instrument cluster etc.

Any and all anecdotes, tidbits and tips and tricks on this stuff would be amazingly helpful.

[Cardo]

Have the headliner installed first after any painting is done, that way nothing gets in the way or damaged in the process.

[JLMounce]

Originally Posted by Cardo

Have the headliner installed first after any painting is done, that way nothing gets in the way or damaged in the process.

Good call, I was planning on working bottom up, but that does make sense.

[gtospieg]

...headliner then dash then door fuzzies, if you're doing them, door panels , package tray, carpet, belts and seats last...good luck

[69hardtop]

Originally Posted by gtospieg

...headliner then dash then door fuzzies, if you're doing them, door panels , package tray, carpet, belts and seats last...good luck

Yep I agree with above, same order I did mine - however, depending on your headliner color (mine was white) be very careful after it’s installed not to bump your greasy head or dirty hat against the new headliner fabric while wrestling with a rear seat bottom cushion as you crouch inside the car. Nothing worse than bumping your head and looking up at a nice new black smudge on your headliner !

[HWYSTR455]

The rear quarter panels have to go on after the package tray, the package tray 'ears' go behind the panels.


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[HWYSTR455]

Oh wait, not sure if that's the case on a 69 FB.


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[JLMounce]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

Oh wait, not sure if that's the case on a 69 FB.


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I'm pretty sure that's still the case. When I did the package tray, I had to fold up and kind of stuff and hide the vinyl because it wanted to be somewhere else. It's worked for now, but I'll get it in there correctly when I disassemble all of this.

I've been reading up on most of this and most everything is fairly straight forward, but I may have somebody do the headliner.

[HWYSTR455]

I have doing headliners. Every time I go to do one, it always takes a second try to get it the way I like. Uhg.

Glue is key to success. Screw that brush on stuff, never works for me.

Ok, so wasn't sure if the 1st gen birds required the package tray ends the be bent up. I know it's best to use 2 pieces of wood, like 2 pieces of a shelf, sandwich the end you need to bend, and bend the 2 pieces at the same time. That gives a clean, razor straight bend.


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