[79 Phoenix]

It's about done! Pick it up in the morning.

[79 Phoenix]

Got the car back. Very pleased with what he did! Lots of attention to detail. I need to fix a small amount of rust on the driver's door but after that, I'm hoping this guy can get the whole body ready for paint. I will check back with him on that in a few months.

In the meantime, I will be working on finishing the interior: Clean and re-dye the headliner (which is actually in decent shape); clean and re-finish side panels at back seat; new package tray; rubberized sound deadener on the floor; jute and carpet. Re-upholster the front seat; install front and rear seats Door panels are decent. Need to replace warped driver panel board with new and re-mount to vinyl. Then clean and repaint. Install door panels after car is painted.

[79 Phoenix]

Got the side panels cleaned and repainted. Next step is to glue up a small area on the edge of the headliner which had been the main entrance for mice into the nest that I pulled out. Once glued secure, I will clean headliner with a damp cloth and after masking everything off, re-dye headliner.

Photo below also shows some rusted out pieces if inner structure behind quarter panel that my friend re-fabed and replaced.

Then before proceeding with the rest of the interior, I need to finish the seam seal and undercoating on the quarter panel. He got everything not accessible and left the parts I can do myself to reduce cost.

[79 Phoenix]

Change of plans... Front seat is now next. I want to get this finished so I have room in the garage to also get my Phoenix in. I have been paying to store it in a garage. I would rather put that money towards body and paint.

Hopefully I can get this seat , the headliner and floor/carpet in before the end of November.

The front seat wasn't quite the disaster I was anticipating. Glad I didn't take the time, energy and expense to go find another seat somewhere (thanks Shiny!).

Springs seem to be a little bent on the driver's side --not much though if at all. A clip that is part of the main seat frame at the back of driver's seat is broken off though (see last photo below). I may be able to fasten that securely in another way though. Also I have ordered some listing wire to tie all the springs together across the seat and distribute the weight more evenly over the whole seat and also, hopefully firm it up better.

Of course, the new foam will be a big help too and new burlap. On the driver's side burlap was torn out and foam was pressing down between the springs.

Anyway, this driver's seat is a bit more complicated that the rear seat. It's going to be an adventure!

[79 Phoenix]

Got the frame and springs cleaned up and repaired the retainer clip that was broken. Sprayed with rusty metal primer.

New foam is thick and dense. Should provide a firm seat. Still, I will tie springs together with a few support wires across the seat and new burlap. It's going to be a challenge getting the seat cover on, but my wife is going to add some extra material at the back corners before we attempt the installation. We will cut off any excess once it's installed.

[SD455DJ]

I think you found your next career...lol! There is a huge shortage of good auto upholsterers these days...a dying craft/art!

Dennis

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

I think you found your next career...lol! There is a huge shortage of good auto upholsterers these days...a dying craft/art!

Dennis

I hope it's not my next career! It's not easy working with this stuff--at least for people like me who really don't know what they are doing. Hopefully the end result will be good. We'll see!

[Hunter98TA]

Hmm, I just retired and did a fine job on the 71 seats and now the GTO's need replacing. IF all goes well with those, I might be convinced to do a couple on the side. LOL

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Hunter98TA

Hmm, I just retired and did a fine job on the 71 seats and now the GTO's need replacing. IF all goes well with those, I might be convinced to do a couple on the side. LOL

If things don't go well from me you might be hearing from me!

[79 Phoenix]

As I said before, I repaired the broken clip at the back of seat--driver's side. I also just added 2 new lengths of listing wire to firm up and help distribute the weight more evenly across the seat. As thick as the new foam is, I don't think new wire will be pronounced in seat feel. Hope not anyway!

The springs are a slightly weaker on driver's side but there is only 1/8" variance from front corner to front corner. Not as bad as I was expecting.

Next, test fit cover and see where to add more vinyl on back corners of the seat. Not sure it will be needed but can trim off whatever is not needed after seat cover is on. Anyway, it will already be there if needed.

[79 Phoenix]

Bottom of front seat finished except rubber bumpers and plastic channels for seat belts. Very pleased with the results! Seat is quite firm with the extra wire and dense seat foam--just what I was hoping for. Next the seat backs

[SD455DJ]

Very nice work! You sure you don't want to start a new career?

Dennis

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Very nice work! You sure you don't want to start a new career?

Dennis

Thanks Dennis... My wife and sister-in-law helped me. I couldn't have done it without their help. I've floated the idea of starting an upholstery shop... Zero interest!

Do you think you will have yours back from the paint shop by the end of the month?

--Kim

[SD455DJ]

Tim said he won't be able to get right to it for a couple of weeks while he is out hunting, so probably won't be into the thick of things until December. That will give me and my brother time to get the GT-37 more ready for when he's ready to start the body work. He likes to take his time and it's the only car he's painting. He is rebuilding his recently acquired '63 Chevy II SS convert with a 194 six and powerglide that is super solid at the same time. He'll be done in the early spring which is fine with us.

Dennis

[79 Phoenix]

Sounds good Dennis! I think guys who kind of do this stuff in their own shop seem to appreciate not being hurried and do a better job as a result--

The guy who did my qtr panel took a few weeks longer than expected but that was fine by me. I have asked him to consider getting the rest of the car ready for paint. At first, he seemed doubtful but a few weeks later he asked me to call him in February... so maybe. He's very meticulous and does nice work at a reasonable price.

That Chevy II sounds nice. My first car was a 64 2 dr sdn with 194 and 3 on the tree... I did all the body work and got it ready for paint...It was a pretty good job for a 17 year old kid. I bought a gallon of a new 71 Corvette color "Brands Hatch Green" acrylic enamel for $10 and a body shop guy sprayed it for me for $10!! Hard to imagine that today!! Too bad I wrecked the car (went through the windshield) a couple years later.

[79 Phoenix]

Got passenger seatback finished... VERY difficult! Had to trim some foam away plus sew in more vinyl which I cut out of the old cover. Unfortunately, the patch will show but hopefully won't be too obvious.

Otherwise, pretty happy with how it looks. Will do driver's side Thursday.

[SD455DJ]

I think you are doing a great job...sooo much better than the old originals.

Dennis

[79 Phoenix]

Thanks for the encouraging words Dennis. It should be very nice when finished. Hope to have most of interior finished in a couple weeks. --Kim

[79 Phoenix]

Front seat finished! The front seat backs were quite difficult I think especially because I have the all foam-no springs version of split bench seat. Before we did the last seat back, I found the following video that helped quite a bit...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FljmCEg6WVc

I replaced the seat adjuster wire underneath that was stretched out with an extra piece of listing wire.

I'm pretty happy with it. It's not perfect but good enough. One problem that I haven't figured out is that the passenger seat back lock doesn't work... It may be broken. I can't get it to lock even if I push it manually as far as it can go.

The headrests are in good shape. I am going to clean them and spray with SEM satin black and re-use.

Next is headliner clean and re-dye. After that rubber sound deadener on floor and make a barrier between back seat and trunk.

[Shiny]

Outstanding! Looks great, hope you are happy with it.