[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Shiny

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

Thanks Mike! It was hard work but I think the end result it very nice. Just finished spraying the headliner... Lots of tedious masking but hopefully will look good when it dries.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Seats are a big improvement. Great job doing it yourself.

Did you use a spray gun on the headliner , or spray cans ?

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

Seats are a big improvement. Great job doing it yourself.

Did you use a spray gun on the headliner , or spray cans ?

I used Dupli Color fabric/vinyl dye in a spray can. The headliner is vinyl and this stuff didn't work well at all... Despite my efforts to spray evenly, looks blotchy! So, I will possibly try SEM satin black spray can... I've used it a lot and it is very forgiving with respect to angle, uneven coverage, etc. We'll see. I will try it on sun visors first.

PS: The Dupli Color did work very well on the shoulder harness straps.

[79 Phoenix]

Well, headliner isn't good but also not awful. I went over again with SEM and the lighter areas seem to have bled through again. (Picture is a little deceptive because of the lighting). My best guess is that there was mildew or something that didn't come off when I wiped it down with just a wet cloth and water. Maybe I should have used Tilex or even lacquer thinner. Anyway, now it is what it is. The only way to change it as far as I know is replace the headliner, which I am not going to do.

This is the only part of this project that I am not happy with so far but, again, it's not awful--just not good, so I will live with it.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

I expected that if using a spray can.
You would have to be one the most proficient spray can users in the world to do an area that large and keep even strokes and even overlap.
Especially downside-up.

I doubt you want to re-do it.
If you did - lacquer thinner will remove all of it.
Be a lot of work probably.
Then use a real spray gun and purchase product in pint or quart.

It will mellow out a little more over time , but not completely.

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

I expected that if using a spray can.
You would have to be one the most proficient spray can users in the world to do an area that large and keep even strokes and even overlap.
Especially downside-up.

I doubt you want to re-do it.
If you did - lacquer thinner will remove all of it.
Be a lot of work probably.
Then use a real spray gun and purchase product in pint or quart.

It will mellow out a little more over time , but not completely.

Thanks for your input Baron. That makes sense. But in putting the 2nd coat on I concentrated mainly on the lighter areas but they stayed lighter... Anyway, I would consider a spray gun but I don't have one or the right compressor that it would need. So, I will leave it. I don't think it will jump out at anyone but will be noticeable when they look up.

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

I

It will mellow out a little more over time , but not completely.

It did! Contrast between lighter and darker areas is much less now. Now I'm satisfied.

In other progress, I have finished the seam seal and undercoating behind and under quarter panel and wheelhouse.

Also working on painting trunk with Dupli Color black/aqua trunk paint. I ran out of paint so will need to finish Tuesday. When it dries, I will spray with satin clear.

Also, re-assembling stuff on ceiling. Cleaned and painted sun visors which are in really nice shape. Also re-attached clips for shoulder harnesses, which have been re-dyed.

Also lubed tracks for rear windows . They work smoothly.

[79 Phoenix]

I re-installed glove box door and painted and re-installed A-pillar moldings.

I painted the trunk and sprayed with satin clear. Looks not perfect but better than the picture.

I applied butyl rubber sound deadener on the floor to help a little with noise. Almost finished. I love the flowmaster 40-type mufflers but they are pretty loud..

Next, I want to make barriers over the holes between trunk and back seat out of the chip board from the old package tray. I will probably back that with sound deadener.

Then install carpet!

Also, now that I have room in the garage with all the upholstery boxes out of the way, I have moved the Phoenix back in out of the rented garage space. I will now use that monthly expense toward body and paint. I can move the Phoenix out as needed.

At some point I am going to have to decide which of these two cool cars to sell...

[79 Phoenix]

Finished the sound deadener Next will be the carpet. Hope to have that finished in about a week.

[79 Phoenix]

Carpet is mostly in and I painted and re-installed the passenger kick panel. Got the new package tray in. Also assembled the newly painted side panels and arm rests. Back of the rear seat is bolted in. Everything is kind of a mess right now but it's going to look really nice when finished.

I want to get the rear seat belts clean and probably shoot the belts with fabric dye and touch up the black on the clips. Then I can put the bottom of the seat in.

Unfortunately, when I took them out, I ruined the plastic covers for the front belt anchors that attach to the tunnel. If they are the same, I may try to get a pair from a 71 Grand Prix in a salvage yard near me. It has bucket seats so I'm not sure they are the same.

Another problem is that when I put the dash back together, I pressed the headlight knob back in before I put the chrome plastic "LIGHTS" bezel on. So, after trying multiple times , I can't get the knob pulled back out. No matter how hard I push the little button down, it won't release the shaft.

[79 Phoenix]

Finished refurbing rear seat belts and installed. Re-installed seat bottom. Ready to re-install front seat... Front seatbelts almost ready to re-dye. It looks better than these pictures indicate!

[79 Phoenix]

Front seat is installed and seat belts routed. Still need to install new plastic front belt anchor covers.

As mentioned before, I have not been able to remove headlight switch knob so I will cut off the shaft so I can replace switch and install new knob with the round plastic bezel. Also need to install new pedal pads and parking brake gromet and handle.

Also need to clean up step plates and reinstall.

Door panels will wait till later as I will reinstall only after car is painted. Vinyl is actually in good shape on these. I will clean and repaint. I will also change out warped boards for new.

I have also installed carpeted floor mats and trunk mat from ACC.

I'm very pleased with how this interior is turning out. Merry Christmas everyone!

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Does your headlight switch assy not have a little spring loaded button on the backside to release the "pull shaft/knob" from the unit ?

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

Does your headlight switch assy not have a little spring loaded button on the backside to release the "pull shaft/knob" from the unit ?

Yes, it does but no matter how hard I press, it won't release. I've even tried to use something hard on the end of my finger to press it deeper, but it won't release.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

If you can hit it in the back with some WD40 , and hit the stem with some fully extended , it should come around eventually.

Press the button in lightly - while pulling the knob from seated position -
You should be able to feel the point where the catch hits.
Push the release button pretty good - push knob back in just a little - then pull knob out.

I've had some get tricky - WD and finiggling always seems to work.
Also can rotate knob left to right and might find a sweet spot for release of the stem.

[Scarebird]

Just a simple note on Baron's method.

WD40 is not formulated as a lubricant nor a penetrant. WD stands for water displacement.

AeroKroil will work far superior as a penetrant, as will various light oils as lubricants.

[OCMDGTO]

Originally Posted by 79 Phoenix

Yes, it does but no matter how hard I press, it won't release. I've even tried to use something hard on the end of my finger to press it deeper, but it won't release.

Put the headlights into the on position(knob pulled all the way towards driver) then push the button behind the dash and it should come right out.

[79 Phoenix]

Thanks, guys for the input. Much appreciated! Haven't had time yet to try any of these ideas but I will try them and will report back as soon as I can. It would be nice to not have to buy a new headlight switch. When I had the dash apart a couple months ago, I was able to remove the headlight knob. Hopefully, I will again.

As mentioned before, I did install a new trunk mat. It is an ACC "Fleece" type with an aqua pattern. It has fleece on the bottom and a vinyl on top. It was curling on top (towards rear of car) so I tacked it on with weatherstripping cement on that area.

First picture shows trunk as I found it minus a big bag full of trash and junk. It had several holes in it caused by a leaking rear window and/or trunk seal. I fixed the holes and the seals.

Rim for spare is a 14" Olds rally wheel that was laying on the front seat when I bought the car. It may at some point get replaced by a 15" Rally II and tire.

[Shiny]

The trunk paint looks good. Nice job with that.

Too bad that bag of trash wasn't a bag of cash. Never happens to me either.

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Shiny

The trunk paint looks good. Nice job with that.

Too bad that bag of trash wasn't a bag of cash. Never happens to me either.

Yeah that would have been helpful! I have found about $1.75 in in old change from the 60's, 70's and 80's though! Enough to buy a cup of coffee .

I'm pretty satisfied with the trunk paint but it could have been better if I had first painted everything gray or black before doing the trunk paint & clear. That way, I wouldn't have needed as much trunk paint (It doesn't cover well-used 3 cans) As it is, it's more uneven than I'd like...But after all, it's a trunk.