More work done today, it was too cold and windy to be working in the open, but we got the interior trim pieces restored, plus re-did the headliner.

Will post pics in a couple days, but the headliner is a cool black fake leather in sort of a wicker-basket type pattern. Looks really bad-*** and we're going to use some sweet upholstery tacks to accent it.

The trim pieces are redone in grey "pleather" marine-grade vinyl. We just rough sanded them, de-greased, acetone, and used heavy duty spray adhesive to glue the material on. It looks AWESOME. The color is a light silver/grey which contrasts nicely with the darker grey dashboard and what will be a painted silver/chrome lower dash area, and the (yet-to-be-installed) black carpet.

 

Pics of interior trim - in case you are wondering how we did this:

- Degrease/clean/scrub the trim.
- Sand with 60 grit
- Rinse off the sanding residuals
- Wipe with acetone
- Cut the piece of vinyl (we used Marine Grade Vinyl from Jo-Ann Fabrics $15/yard and we bought 1.5 yards).
- Use high quality spray adhesive, follow instructions exactly.
- Watch for bubbles for the next 30 minutes just keep pushing down on any bubbles (DO NOT "RUB" or it will distort the pattern!)

The curved pieces were difficult, you have to make relief cuts around the back, and we found it was best to glue the front first, then flip and make the cuts, then spray the adhesive on the back and finish it up.


BEFORE:





AFTER! And I'm not sure what's up with the color here - the color is actually a battleship grey color, NOT tan.

 

Now the headliner:

Same instructions, we removed the original material then sanded off the residue of the padding from the back.

This took THREE coats of glue - 3 minutes apart, then on the 3rd application on the cardboard form, we sprayed 1 coat on the back of the new material.

Before:


After:


That material is vinyl but has a really cool pattern on it - maybe a bit carbon-fiber looking, but thicker weave.

We also got some upholstery tacks in chrome with a cool head on them, we'll put 8 of them in a pattern to make the headliner look even cooler. Will post pics when we get that done.

 

very nice. good job on that interior vinyl.

 

Cool build, your kids going to have a sweet ride when its all done. I admire that you are teaching him all of this, thats awesome. Its projects like this that keep kids from going downhill with their buddies, and teach them to strive for every goal they have. My dad taught me things all the time, and it helped me and my kid brother turn into upstanding citizens while our friends dealt drugs and commited crimes... Ill be watching this thread.

 

Here Here!

The colour may be due to a wonky white balance on the camera... I won't bore you with technical details but an incandescent bulb or lampshades love throwing white balance off.

Keep us posted, I'd love to build something like this one day... maybe when I have a son and he's turning 16. He'll appreciate the vehicle more too if he worked his *** off on it.

 

Ok, I have to fess up... I'm actually a professional photographer. I knew it was the white balance, but I just didn't feel like re-doing and adjusting it in Lightroom. I was tired and by the time I said, "Oh crap, those pics are TAN, not GREY", I had already uploaded them and everything. So instead of re-doing it all, I just took the easy way out and played dumb.

 

Ok, we've gotten a LOT done in the last few weeks:


BAB NOW HAS A REAR END!! Here's a vid of my son working on that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcRWlPN82y4


Other things done:

- brake system bled
- tons of sanding in prep for paint
- sanded and cleaned up a lot of the engine bay, then sprayed semi-gloss black Rust-Oleum in there. Pics to come, looks pretty darn good.
- hood removed, wipers and cowl removed (easier to prep them for paint).


We're on the home stretch- now we just have to finish the sanding, some minor bondo work, then either wait for a couple days of nice warm weather, or find someone who will loan/rent his paint booth to us.

Later today I'm gonna put the wheels on the back axle, get the new battery installed, and take her for a little spin. Probably just up and down our road!

 

WHOOO HOOO!! Got to DRIVE B.A.B. tonight! We had to throw the rear wheels/tires from the "donor" truck onto it because the wheels have very small holes where the lugs go, and my socket is too "thick" to fit in...

First vid, this is the first time pulling it out, and the first time it has driven in about 2 years. It's running a little rough because I still haven't drained the 2-year-old gas out of it (see 2nd video for improvement). I was able to drive it up and down our road (like 5 city blocks each way) and it drives straight, brakes straight.

Oh, I also think maybe the PS pump is going bad, or maybe it's just the belt since it hasn't really "worked" in 2 years - there's some chattering when I turn the steering wheel while not moving or moving slowly.

Anyway, MOVING for the first time in 2 years!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Ye9RVXOsE


Then I figured I had a can of SeaFoam so I ran 1/3rd of a can into the carb as we revved, then used 1/3rd to "flood" the engine until it stalled. The remainder of the can into the 2 or 3 gallons of gas in the tank. Let it sit for about 10 minutes then started it back up... TONS and TONS of smoke. This video is from the very end, still a little smoke but an amazing difference- idles MUCH smoother and runs a LOT better. Could use a "tune" and of course new gas, but VERY excited!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC6_OnWMmd0

How's it sound? What do you guys think?!?!

 

this project is really cool, I helped my step dad semi restore a 77 C10 and were now working on a 49 pick up. Definately good for father son relationship and will help him keep his head on straight. Lovin the truck, keep up the progress and pictures