Interior Redo Lessions Learned
I am obviously planning on gutting my 81 this winter and restoring the interior. I only have a couple of questions and maybe you guys can help me out...
1. I noticed that when I put my passenger side window down (power motor) my door lock moves.
2. I'm planning a total overhaul of the interior, and wondering if the carpet, etc.. is a pain to pull out. Do i have to buy a new interior screw/bolt set, what to check for when I yank the carpet out (wires, etc...), where's a good place to start, and anything else that would be helpful.
3. For the time being, I have resorted to the "Corvette" 78-82 seat covers from Ecklers to cover my leather seats. Anyone know how to properly install these things (I know I sound like a dummy) but they wont stay on, or blow off the seat when im "cruising" down the interstate.
4. Anything else from anyone would be great. I very much appreciate your help.
I did my 81 last November, the following are some hints and additional work that I found during the job:
1. Take a lot of digital pictures before and during the removal process; it so easy to forget exactly how the seat belt were positoned or how the rear speakers were mounted or how the brackets were positioned, as well as the many other parts you will remove.
2. You may find that the rear deck / access door frame is broken and needs to be replaced, noted where mounting screws go, I found extra holes on the sheet metal mounting flange. My access doors had decals for the jack and related items in the storage compartments & you may want to save them to put on the new doors, decal placement is easy.
3. Check for damaged or crushed wiring or cables; I had to replace my radio antenna cable that was flatened under a bracket at the rear of the center console area.
4. I had to make a new rear speaker mounting bracket, since the original one (made partically with plastic parts) had fallen apart and was gone; had to mirror replacement from the opposite side bracket.
5. Warming the new carpet to get it to lay flat is one of the best things you can do up front.
6. Make sure that you vacuum out all the dust / dirt just prior to applying adhesive to hold the new carpet inplace. I had good results using a clear 3M spray trim adhesive applied to both surfaces is workable from 30 seconds to 20 minutes.
7. Take digital pictures of the mounting screws; like the center tunnel / console carpeted cover sections (drive & pasenger). Use an all tool to punch holes through the new carpet & insert the new screw & bevel washer just prior to mounting each panel.
8. Gluing all the new carpet to the loose pieces (speakers, tunnel panel, etc) one day and letting them sit over night will insure good ahesive cure and will flag any small area that you may need to apply additional ahesive to insure all the carpet is attached, also allows you to do any final trim of the carpet around opening and edges. You may even need to clamp some areas that go around bends or radius.
9. I found that working from the rear deck area first and moving forward, reduces the amount of time you spend working on top of newly laid carpet, until it is fully cured. I did the rear deck one day and then did the carpet in the seat area. Do the final triming of the floor carpet that extends up the side of the center console after you insure correct overlap of the tunnel panel strip sections and the floor carpet.
10. You may also find out additional things to repair or replace as you go along, spending extra time and not trying to finish quickly is a good idea when you work with carpet. Doing dry runs without adhesive first to aid in getting a good trim and fit, will save time and getting it right the first time. Spray adhesive allows you to do a small section at a time, i.e. set the large piece in place. Lift one side or edge, spray under side of carpet and corresponding surface, hold two sprayed areas apart for a minimum of 30 seconds, position it in place, check overall placement, if good, go get a soda, come back after adhesive has had a chance to set-up. Do remaing carpet section moving away from first, smooth carpet as you go. Since you have an extend work time with the spray glue, you can reposition it within the 30 minute window if needed, warmer the day the short the reposition time.
