Linen Interior Redo (long, pics)
11-03-2002, 11:13 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Linen Interior Redo (long, pics)
I thought I'd post this update while the other interior projects are being discussed...
I am almost finished with my "De-Linen" project. I had a 2-tone linen over blue interior: Blue dash and lower dash, steering wheel, carpet, door trim (top and bottom), and seat trim (piping). Most of the rest was linen: seats, most of the door panels, and center console including shift boot and handbrake. Interestingly, there was also black trim: mid-dash, center console tray, door hardware (handle, speaker grills, window switches, instruments, seat belts, etc). I know that's picky about the black, but - wait...
I decided to replace the linen. It was really dingy. I also didn't like the fact that felt like I was an old man driving a car in Florida (exaggeration, but you get the idea). If triple-black is mean, a linen interior is as far from that as a 1990 Porsche could be.
First - I bought a used black console, shifter, and handbrake. That was a great start as the shifter was really dingy - I blame the PO, in part). I have since changed to a black sport airbag wheel and I had most of the rest of the interior re-sprayed in the same blue as the trim. I had the door panels and seats done, and I still need to drive the car to the interior specialist to spray some linen behind the door jams that wasn't easily disassembled/removed.
The cost for the re-spray was $500. The door panels were off anyway, due to a body-work job in progress, and my seats were out as I had competition seats installed. I replaced those with the stock seats after the re-spray. So the interior guy didn't need to remove the stuff from the car, but he did take apart the door panels. He did, however, mix the color himself, for a perfect match.
I now have a 2-tone interior, blue and black trim. I used to have a 3-tone interioir, with linen, blue, and black. I wasn't sure how the black console and wheel would look, having replaced the linen and blue original stuff, but I think it came out well.
Here are some photos:
I am almost finished with my "De-Linen" project. I had a 2-tone linen over blue interior: Blue dash and lower dash, steering wheel, carpet, door trim (top and bottom), and seat trim (piping). Most of the rest was linen: seats, most of the door panels, and center console including shift boot and handbrake. Interestingly, there was also black trim: mid-dash, center console tray, door hardware (handle, speaker grills, window switches, instruments, seat belts, etc). I know that's picky about the black, but - wait...
I decided to replace the linen. It was really dingy. I also didn't like the fact that felt like I was an old man driving a car in Florida (exaggeration, but you get the idea). If triple-black is mean, a linen interior is as far from that as a 1990 Porsche could be.
First - I bought a used black console, shifter, and handbrake. That was a great start as the shifter was really dingy - I blame the PO, in part). I have since changed to a black sport airbag wheel and I had most of the rest of the interior re-sprayed in the same blue as the trim. I had the door panels and seats done, and I still need to drive the car to the interior specialist to spray some linen behind the door jams that wasn't easily disassembled/removed.
The cost for the re-spray was $500. The door panels were off anyway, due to a body-work job in progress, and my seats were out as I had competition seats installed. I replaced those with the stock seats after the re-spray. So the interior guy didn't need to remove the stuff from the car, but he did take apart the door panels. He did, however, mix the color himself, for a perfect match.
I now have a 2-tone interior, blue and black trim. I used to have a 3-tone interioir, with linen, blue, and black. I wasn't sure how the black console and wheel would look, having replaced the linen and blue original stuff, but I think it came out well.
Here are some photos:
11-03-2002, 05:47 PM
#2
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Very nice, Jack!
Did you say you had the door panels "painted?" These are the pieces to which the speakers and window switches are attached, right? How is that different from having them dyed? Did you have the door pockets reupholstered as well?
As for the seats, are those the original driver and passenger buckets? Were those resprayed? What did you do about the rear seat bases? It looks like you've already removed the backs to accommodate the roll bar. Did you also remove the bases?
I'm considering similar changes but on a smaller scale. I have a black and tan combo, so it's a matter of finding a few more black parts to clean up the look. Did you consider the RS door panels? That seems like an easier route but of course you lose the pockets.
Did you say you had the door panels "painted?" These are the pieces to which the speakers and window switches are attached, right? How is that different from having them dyed? Did you have the door pockets reupholstered as well?
As for the seats, are those the original driver and passenger buckets? Were those resprayed? What did you do about the rear seat bases? It looks like you've already removed the backs to accommodate the roll bar. Did you also remove the bases?
I'm considering similar changes but on a smaller scale. I have a black and tan combo, so it's a matter of finding a few more black parts to clean up the look. Did you consider the RS door panels? That seems like an easier route but of course you lose the pockets.
11-03-2002, 07:24 PM
#3
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Thread Starter
Joey -
I guess I had them dyed, not painted. The guy at the interior shop mixed a custom, water-based dye for the job. Yes - I had the door panels with the speaker and window switches done. I did not have the pockets reupholstered - they were already blue, and in OK shape. You can see the transformation from the 2nd and 3rd pictures below. I did not really consider the RS panels bc of cost, and I really like my door pockets. Also, I am converting my car back to a street car. Yes - those are the original buckets, and they were sprayed with dye. Also, I have the rear seat backs out for the roll bar, but they're probably going back in soon. The bottoms were just glued (as someone on the forum told me) - so I pulled them out and the body shop glued them back in after the interior guy did the dye job.
Thanks for the positive comment - you know those mean alot after all the expense and effort!
I guess I had them dyed, not painted. The guy at the interior shop mixed a custom, water-based dye for the job. Yes - I had the door panels with the speaker and window switches done. I did not have the pockets reupholstered - they were already blue, and in OK shape. You can see the transformation from the 2nd and 3rd pictures below. I did not really consider the RS panels bc of cost, and I really like my door pockets. Also, I am converting my car back to a street car. Yes - those are the original buckets, and they were sprayed with dye. Also, I have the rear seat backs out for the roll bar, but they're probably going back in soon. The bottoms were just glued (as someone on the forum told me) - so I pulled them out and the body shop glued them back in after the interior guy did the dye job.
Thanks for the positive comment - you know those mean alot after all the expense and effort!
11-04-2002, 11:07 AM
#4
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Thanks, Jack. Those changes were definitely worth the effort. When it comes to car interiors, it seems less is indeed more (especially when it comes to colors).
So are you retiring the cab from track duties? I saw your THREE sets of wheels for sale a while back. Do you have your sights set on a new track beast?
So are you retiring the cab from track duties? I saw your THREE sets of wheels for sale a while back. Do you have your sights set on a new track beast?
11-04-2002, 12:54 PM
#5
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Jack,
Looks a million times nicer. I am sur the linen was beautiful when new, but it doesn't seem to age very graciously.
I am surprised that, with the amount of DE days you do a year that you didn't go for racing seats (like Recaros).
Looks a million times nicer. I am sur the linen was beautiful when new, but it doesn't seem to age very graciously.
I am surprised that, with the amount of DE days you do a year that you didn't go for racing seats (like Recaros).
11-04-2002, 11:38 PM
#6
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Thread Starter
Joey -
Yes, I am retiring the cab from track duties. I still have 2 sets of wheels for sale, trying to fund my crazy project.
It'll probably be some time before I get a car to go back on the track. 1st baby is due in 4 days so life's gonna be different for awhile (so they say).
Riccardo - I already sold my race seats - they were Corbeaus. I set my stock seats to the side and almost sold them. Now I'm glad I saved them...
I'll post more pics from the transformation once its comlete. Thanks again for the positive comments!
Yes, I am retiring the cab from track duties. I still have 2 sets of wheels for sale, trying to fund my crazy project.
It'll probably be some time before I get a car to go back on the track. 1st baby is due in 4 days so life's gonna be different for awhile (so they say).
Riccardo - I already sold my race seats - they were Corbeaus. I set my stock seats to the side and almost sold them. Now I'm glad I saved them...
I'll post more pics from the transformation once its comlete. Thanks again for the positive comments!
11-05-2002, 05:52 AM
#7
Rennlist Member
Interesting, I have a few questions Jack, I have an ongoing interior projekt in my C2 from 1992.
The colour was from start linnen/burgundy.
I'm aiming to get everything in black with few exceptions.
Sofar I have installed new vinyl cover on the back panel under the window in the back, both sides in the back, RS door panels in black leather, new leather in the backseat and a new sport seats in the front( I managed to trade my old ones + money to these). Fortunately I have managed to t all the job myself except for the job with the leather in the backseat...saves money.
Im now into changing the carpet, steering wheel
shift **** and handbreak panel, "dashboard uper end lower". Did You change carpets and dashboard if so? Did You dye there to or where there any new parts?
Looks really good what You did,
"Bra jobbat" in Swedish or well done in English
The colour was from start linnen/burgundy.
I'm aiming to get everything in black with few exceptions.
Sofar I have installed new vinyl cover on the back panel under the window in the back, both sides in the back, RS door panels in black leather, new leather in the backseat and a new sport seats in the front( I managed to trade my old ones + money to these). Fortunately I have managed to t all the job myself except for the job with the leather in the backseat...saves money.
Im now into changing the carpet, steering wheel
shift **** and handbreak panel, "dashboard uper end lower". Did You change carpets and dashboard if so? Did You dye there to or where there any new parts?
Looks really good what You did,
"Bra jobbat" in Swedish or well done in English
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11-05-2002, 07:29 AM
#8
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Thread Starter
Thanks Felix!
It sounds like you are involved in quite the project yourself! Also - as most would say, you are really doing it the right way. For the most part, my job is kind of a hack, but it looks great for now and the interior guy said he'd touch it up down the road, when needed. Also, the rest of the car is kind of hacked up - but I guess I love the car like a mother loves her kid.
My dash and carpets were already blue, so I left them as-is. I did get new floor mats, though.
It seems like it would be a shame to re-dye your dash when the rest of your stuff is the real thing. Whatever you do, I'm sure its going to come out looking like a million bucks!! (as they say in the 'States - not sure what the Swedish equivalent is!)
It sounds like you are involved in quite the project yourself! Also - as most would say, you are really doing it the right way. For the most part, my job is kind of a hack, but it looks great for now and the interior guy said he'd touch it up down the road, when needed. Also, the rest of the car is kind of hacked up - but I guess I love the car like a mother loves her kid.
My dash and carpets were already blue, so I left them as-is. I did get new floor mats, though.
It seems like it would be a shame to re-dye your dash when the rest of your stuff is the real thing. Whatever you do, I'm sure its going to come out looking like a million bucks!! (as they say in the 'States - not sure what the Swedish equivalent is!)
11-05-2002, 10:24 AM
#10
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
No, sorry Felix -
I don't have any experiece with the dash, although I'm sure that someone on the forum here does. You might want to start a new post titled something like: "Dash removal help"
ANother option is to search the forum for past posts on the topic. A quick search found:
<a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=4&t=002276" target="_blank">http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=4&t=002276</a>
Good Luck!
I don't have any experiece with the dash, although I'm sure that someone on the forum here does. You might want to start a new post titled something like: "Dash removal help"
ANother option is to search the forum for past posts on the topic. A quick search found:
<a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=4&t=002276" target="_blank">http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=4&t=002276</a>
Good Luck!
