284 replies to this topic

[nicnoo]

So after a week of being layed up poorly sick.I managed to start working on re-covering the seats. 

 

This is what i had to start with 

 

 

Having never done this before I just took it very slow ad took loads of photos. First thing i tackled was trying to get the headrest off, I thought i might just pull right up and out but something was obviously stopping it.

 

 

 

This was as far as i got before i decided to start elsewhere.

 

 

 

 

 

Then i found what was stopping the headrest coming out

 

 

 

The bottom cover came off just as easily, just a matter of undoing the various clips.

 

 

 

Next went back to the now seperated headrest and started picking out the staples. This enabled the main support bar to be slid out and the foam could then be compressed to release the cover.

 

 

Which left this little lot

 

 

Result of the day ...............................

 

 

That's 20p off the build costs.

 

So at the end of the day i'm left with this to de-mould and clean up as best i can.

 

 

Also gave the seat anchors a good scrub and many coats of paint.

 

Edited by nicnoo, 22 January 2021 - 08:01 PM.

[nicnoo]

Decided to tackle one of the easier parts of he seats first - The headrest

 

Started off with my diy head rest re-firb kit.

 

 

Next i wrapped the sponge in cling film (something i blatantly robbed of a you tube video I'd watched at some point) This just helps when sliding the cover on.

 

 

 

Looks pretty, but i stupidly put the sponge in back to front

 

 

That's better. Time to pop the support bar back in the hole.

 

 

 

The top was still a little saggy until the bottom could be stapled back onto the wooden insert. 

 

I then screwed the plastic plate back on the bottom. 

 

 

Done

[nicnoo]

Today i've been attacking the parcel shelf, the one i had was an ugly, warped, brown leather effect hard board. 

 

So i ordered up some faux grey suede to recover it. I will be using the same to cover the lower dash card now I've found it.

 

First i had to flatten the board as best as possible so i simply ironed it on full steam with a thin cloth on top to stop the plastic leather effect melting to the iron.

 

Next I cut out a piece of material about an inch bigger than the board itself and sprayed carpet adhesive to both the board and material stuck it down once it had gone a little tacky and this where we're at. 

 

 

 

Full disclosure the first one i did i put too much glue on the material and it soaked through ruining the material on top.

 

On the back I folded over the flat edge first and then cut some relief slots for the curved edges just to stop the material bunching when folding it over.

 

 

And the end result

 

 

Cheers, Nick

[nicnoo]

OK so as promised, next up was the lower dash board.

 

This is what I started with, one lump of crumpled foam and card.

 

 

 

 

The plan s to remove the  old card liners and remake these in hardboard so i can actually put something on the dash without it falling through. So off they come to make templates out off.

 

 

 

Before removing them i traced round them, including marking where the bend marks are so I can make sure the new parts go back in the same place.

 

 

Next up flattening the foam as this will be the backing for the suede material, this involved very carefully heating it with the hot air gun and smoothing it down with a variety of objects. 

 

Of course nothing ever goes that smoothly, so this had to be fixed first.

 

 

With that done

 

 

 

 

Next up came laying on the suede. I did this exactly the same way as i did the parcel shelf board

 

 

 

 

 

And finally remaking the card supports

 

 

 

 

 

Now I just hope it fits

 

Cheeers

[nicnoo]

So, managed to finish off the front seats, sorry if its a little brief but since this was my first time i didn't want to show lots of things was doing wrong.

 

First job was to clean and repaint the seat frames, luckily there was plenty of metal left to make good the rear feet which got ground back, primed and painted in satin black

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up was to offer up the covers and punch ay necessary holes ready for a more permanent fit

 

 

Then pulled the covers into place. I also glued the bottom seat cover to the foam as i don't want it moving around whenever i go round a corner.

 

 

 

Again, full disclosure. I did make a bit of a boo boo when punching the holes for the sides of the rear cover as the old covers were probably a bit longer and this happened..................

 

 

Also the frame needed cleaning and painting in this area too. Happily i can confirm that these mistakes were avoided on the second (drivers) seat.

[Blake71]

What a cracking thread, it looks amazing 

[nicnoo]

Probably the biggest progression this week though, is that I finally got round to changing the tax class from PLG to "Historic" which basically means, once its insured i can legally drive it !!!

 

 

But considering some of my "to do" list contains items like "fix fuel pipe bodge" and "fit front hub split pins" is quite SCAREY !!

 

Still i can see the light at the end

[steeley]

You could cut a round disc out of a bit of the same fabric and glue it under or over the mistake

[nicnoo]

And then there were two

 

[nicnoo]

You could cut a round disc out of a bit of the same fabric and glue it under or over the mistake

 

Thanks Steely, 

 

That was my thought too, however, I don't want the patch to look like a patch. I also need to recut the hole in the right place so it doesn't pull the leatherette any more than it is now. 

 

The beauty of making lots of mistakes is that you soon learn to correct them.

 

I should be a bloody expert by now.

[steeley]

If you patch it from the inside it would probably not be too visable

[sonscar]

Put a black plastic disc over the hole then fit the recliner catch,could look like a wear protector.Just a thought,Steve..

[nicnoo]

Thanks for the suggestions, i will be trying some of them out as it tends to be the little things that wind me up the most.

[nicnoo]

Rear number plate arrived and also got round to fitting the reverse light and fog light so thats the back end pretty much done 

 

[Project_1275_GT]

Just read from the beginning. Love this build and the quality. Looks really good.