[marks73ta]

Using the old the drive in consession stand song---

"LET'S ALL GO TO HOBBY LOBBY
LET'S ALL GO TO HOBBY LOBBY
LET'S ALL GO TO HOBBY LOBBYYYYY
Jo ANNS IS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET"

OK, I'll have to take a look for it. That does sound good and firm for the first layer. Thanks Bruce. Going this morning, sorry for the musical interlude!! Mark L

[marks73ta]

Got a pic or two of the seat and the indian blanket pattern. I'm going to a black interior. But this is the blanket colors. Thought they should stand out in there and still not be out of place. Tried to find just a black and white pattern but the blankets all have some bright colors in them. Which I actually like.



And the bench seat bottom all stripped out. Lots o' bad stuff in there. The foam rubber was all disintegrated or disintegrating. Ended up all over the place. Someone at some time had tried to reinforce the drivers side of the seat bottom by adding carpet store sample pieces to the seat springs. Must have been a large owner at some time. Was right in line with the times. One sample was a bright blue shag, heh! Threw everything away except the outer upholstery, in case I need it for patterns.



Going to the fabric store today to see what they have for underlayments. Should be interesting. Mark L

[marks73ta]

Started playing with apholstering the seat. The seat had a very bottom layer of paper with really thin metal rods running the length of the seat. It was beat up but usable so I reused it. Then I put a layer of batting that went over that and to cover the outside egdes of the spring frame to soften and protect the next layers from the frame. I forgot to start taking pics until after I put on the next layer of burlap.



The layers so far plus a 2 inch foam pad were still not enough to get a good firm seat. So I added a layer of old cut off carpeting I had laying around to spread out the pressure across the seat springs.



Now the foam.



And then the blanket. The bottom is one blanket and the seat backs are the second blanket. I'll clean up the original seat back apholstery and then basically make a seat cover to slip over the two seat backs. This is close to what it will look like when done. Just have to tuck in and clip all the extra fabric ends to the set frame.



Mark L

[turbo69bird]

mark I am so inmpressed with your build and the time frame your getting things done, your keeping on track and never really falling off at all, thats really impressive.

Its tough to stay on track with a build especially if its not a conventional deal.

really nice, I cant wait to see here run.

[marks73ta]

Thanks Jeff. The money is very short now so things will slow plus the heat is coming. But I have lots to do that just takes time and effort now so I can concentrate on that. Still waiting for the last bill for the short block. That will wipe me out. But I'll have a hell of a shortblock, heh. And the best thing is, that engine will be making 14,000 horsepower, on 85 psi, with Zero lag on pump gas,----right up until I start it. HA!! Mark L

[marks73ta]

Worked on the rear package shelf and seat back firewall. Original tubbed back area.





I'll get that all locked in and use velcro tape on the tin to hold down black some vinyl upholstry with some thin foam underneath to finish it off. Probably get some light wood or cardboard board to attach the upholstery too and at attach that for the firewall. Then I can use the same thin board to make the side and door panels. I'm going to build a flat shelf where the back seat bottom was so I can put stuff on it, just like using the seat, heh. Mark L

[Tom Vaught]

I had a buddy that did a similar "cover to a 63 Tempest Chassis car.

It was a pleasure to to work on the ladder bar suspension as there was lots of room.

The look was basically "Two Lane Blacktop - James Taylor 55 Chevy Sedan"

Very Nice Work on the seat. Have seen a couple of cars done that way years ago in the desert.

Tom Vaught

[marks73ta]

Thanks Tom. I bought a bag full of hog rings so I can pull down and hook alot of the loose ends on the seat. I want it to look a little better than looking like I threw the blanket over the seat. I bought the tubing for the ladders but I still have to buy the end threaded bungs and the heim joints yet. Still mulling over just how the final configuration will be. Mark L

[marks73ta]

I worked on finishing the seat bottom and put it back in the car. It works fine, not as nice as a professional job, but Ok for the time being. Later when the cars is more complete and less costly things are in need of buying I'll look into getting it done right. Actually, once the interior is complete it may not look bad as is.





The seat backs still have to be done. But I can do that even with the seat bottom installed in the car.
I started looking hard at the dash board. The overall interior should go together pretty easily. The dash will take some time. I also need the guages I'll be using but I don't want to buy them yet. Too many other things to spend on. Found a great area where there is a whole bunch of upholstery shops and a big upholstery supply store. I'm going to check out the supply place for the carpeting and the interior vinyl. OK. I'm done talkin'. Mark L

[twooldgoats]

I like the seat just the way it is. Glad to see you're making so much progress. I just got into the Bondo work on my '60 this week.

Jim

[Gas455]

Seat looks good!

How comfortable is it?

[marks73ta]

Only sat in it for a second. But it is real comfy. Still may be a little too soft and it could be a problem sitting real firm during cornering etc. But seat belts will probably cure that. I can still access the bottom. I may try to add some support underneath before the final bolt in. Mark L

[marks73ta]

Just laying low still taking it easy. Went to a local swap meet Sunday and scored some stuff I really needed. Found an aluminum 26 gal fuel cell from a boat. I'll have to add bungs for the lines, a spill valve, and a filler assembly but it should fit right down into the trunk floor. $20. Maybe $100 dollars for the mods and I have a nice aluminum cell for $120.


I need 3/4 hiem rod ends for my ladder bars. Found these off road bars again for $20. Now I just need the tubing bungs and two more rod ends. The ends are around $20 a piece.



Now for something really different. Been thinking of how to build a custom dash. I found this to form the tach/speedometer/guage pod. Then build the rest of the dash around it. It's a '69 A-body (GTO?) grille shell. When I asked about it the guy gave it to me because it is broken in the very bottom headlight opening where it is really thin. So I brought it home just incase I go that route. I might look for the opposite piece and use both for a dash. A narrowed '69 GTO looking dash would be neat.


Not sure I'll go that way since I still have the old dash sitting in place in the car for now. But it's a thought. I'll probably be getting the black vinyl today for the rest of the interior. Get some sort of wood or heavy paper board for the panels and build the interior panels. So dat's what I be doin', plus rehabin'/excersizing in the pool. Mark L

[marks73ta]

I think this is actually a '67-'68 Firebird grill insert after really looing at it. I just need to find the opposite grille so I can have a set to work with. Mark L

[Engine-Ear]

Re: the custom dash, how about the '58 Pontiac?...to the right of the main two pods, it looks like a floating bar holding two or three smaller pods. I agree that the grille you have is for a Gen-1 'bird.

[marks73ta]

Hey Matt. I'll haved to take a look at a '58 dash. Can't think right now what they look like. I really like '59 dash guage clusters. I was going to look for one of them but this grill popped up and I thought of using that. I'm just throwing ideas around like dead cats in a bag. Who knows what the final iteration will be. I have the original dash right now laying in the new location and I may stay with that. But the assembly blocks the wing window handle and the window handle. I could go to power windows to solve that. I have to look at the window raising assembly and see if there is any way to swap the sides. Which would put the window handle farther back and in a good place. Probably not but you don't know until you look. Power windows is probably the answer. Mark L

[twooldgoats]

Hey Mark,

Did the heat get ya? It's been close to 110 down here in Tucson. I can't imagine what it's like up there.

Jim

[mechanickeith]

Jim, I think he went underground to stay cool. Been 112-115 here! Have been working on mine late nights when its cooler!

[marks73ta]

Hey guys. Yeah being from Wisconsin I haven't completely acclimated to this heat yet. Plus I've run out of my seed money so anything I do is slow. Tried selling my body on the corner but all I get is sympathy looks. Even the police won't arrrest me. They just throw mental health pamphlets at me from their air conditioned cars. One guy threw a Big Slurpy at me the other day. That actually felt good, heh!!
I'm just picking up stuff here and there. Been playing with going to a Ford toploader 3 speed for a trans. They are strong, more fun on the street where the car will spend %90 of the time, and the turbo will like the wider gear spread than a 4 speed. Again just playing. I still think I'll end up building my 4L80 and try to find a good torque converter that I can hit the lockup with in top gear at the strip. Maybe a mild pulling converter. AHHH who knows. Still playing.
They are still cutting down the counterweights on my crankshaft since the bobweight is so light. They didn't know exactly how much to cut so they are sneaking up on it. Then they are ready to assemble the short block. So may have that soon. But can't do much with that until I get several other things done. So thanks for checking guys, and sorry , I'm still here, (sigh). Markus Delirious

[twooldgoats]

Had a Ford toploader in both my '67 Tempest Custom and a '68 Goat and liked them a lot. That '67 Tempest 326 2 bbl. would wind out to 60 in first and 85 in second. Didn't really have to shift when I would stop-light race on University Avenue in St. Paul back in the day.

I came over to the mountains of NM today and it's 80 degrees at our place here. Tomorrow I start sanding Bondo on the '60 Cat again. According to our truck thermometer, it was 115 degrees yesterday afternoon in Tucson when we were driving around.

Stay cool.

Jim