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Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:46 pm
by notoptoy
Looks great!

Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 1:31 am
by pebbles
I think the ccompression applied to the door bump stops/snubbers make the door pop. They have probably shrank and hardened over time, diminishing theyre springy.
Add a little square of camper tape to the corners of the door and see if that helps.
Prolly need new snubbers if it does.

Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 6:19 am
by msampsel
pebbles wrote:I think the ccompression applied to the door bump stops/snubbers make the door pop. They have probably shrank and hardened over time, diminishing theyre springy.
Add a little square of camper tape to the corners of the door and see if that helps.
Prolly need new snubbers if it does.
I lived with this issue for a long time. My glove box door required 2 hands to open.
Then I painted and tried the new rubber bumpers in the upper corners and voila the door
now opens with just the push of one hand :smt025 !

They were 8 bucks though (IIRC) ... doh!

Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 7:45 pm
by mshort07
I'm having a little trouble with my upholstery shop that's doing the work on the Miata seats. I went to pick them up but they didn't look all that good. I left them there and asked them to tighten them up to have a better fit. Maybe I should have just tackled that task myself.

I've continued to work on the interior of the car with doing all my own vinyl work. The vinyl and upholstery foam has shown up so it was time to start making the interior panels. I started by making the 10 panels out of hardboard, then cut the foam and the vinyl. I spray glued the foam to the vinyl and then pasted them through the sewing machine for some decorative pleats on the doors and back deck panels. I then spray glued the panels to the wood panels and secured them with staples. I'm thrilled with the result. Now I just need to wait until the car's almost done to see them installed in their final places.

I turned my attention to the center console today. Changes were needed. I'll be using a modern stereo head unit, but noticed the dash isn't wide enough for one and I didn't want to spend the money on the classic car digital stereo that would fit in the original hole. I also don't need or want the cigarette lighter, windshield washer pump, or heater controls seeing that I don't have the equipment on the car anymore anyway. I reconfigured the lower dash console with sheet metal to fit the stereo and just the choke. Then I made the armrest and gear shift console out of some scrap sheet metal I had laying around. I'll post some picks of them when I get them wrapped.

Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 8:44 pm
by spl310
Very nice!

Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 9:51 pm
by notoptoy
Those panels all look very professional, well done!

Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 11:26 pm
by pebbles
Beautiful.
Im sure you are considering some type of power/charging port for gadgets, upgrading from the cig lighter?
I only took 3 pics at Shasta, to conserve battery power, due to not having a charge port onboard :(
Good news is, pics were DatsunDave, the mountain and Burrows car.

Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 6:27 am
by msampsel
Tread carefully when making the holes in the door panel. If you are going to
use the stock fasteners the holes have to be offset some from the holes in
the door. Ask me how I know ...

Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 6:31 am
by msampsel
The wheel wells upholstery are a treat to do. Mine were made a little to small.
You want some extra material for holding it down under the rear pad ...
And side panel too. Based on your progress to date, my comments are likely not needed.

Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 8:03 am
by mshort07
msampsel

thanks. As you can see from my work, a lot of do it yourself and do it my own way. I decided to use plastic Chevy push pins off Ebay instead of the offset Datsun metal ones, so I relocate the holes in the sheet metal so my new pins fit perfectly. I'm still very far away from actually putting the vinyl in, but thought I'd take a break from the paint and body work. I've got a bunch of vinyl that I'll going to use under the panel seams where you can see all the light grey paint.

Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 2:44 pm
by msampsel
mshort07, I sent you another pm with pics of my horn assembly or disassembly I see you have not picked it up yet ... cheers

Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 8:10 pm
by Akpilot
mshort07,

How did the seats turn out? Waiting on yours before I commit to cut mine down......... :smt006

Ak

Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 5:49 am
by mshort07
AK, I got them back, I'll post pics tonight.

Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 7:03 am
by mshort07
Ak,

Sorry for the delay. Here are the pictures of the shortened Miata seats. They're not flush with the back deck because I wanted to retain a factory depression in the seat foam. They're about 2 inches above the deck so I could keep that even thickness that wraps up and around the top of the seat.

I've also included pictures of the completed narrowed stock '67 steering wheel that I started awhile ago. I shortened the outer wheel ring, made it true, wrapped it with rubber hose, and finally with a homemade black vinyl steering wheel wrap. Too many hours of sticking it on.

I also have the completed center console.

Re: My first resto project - all in

Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 7:30 am
by msampsel
Nice progress I need some help doing my carpet ... :smt001

Dash is looking good as is the console box!, the long shifter is good too.

I went the shortened route recently and it is fine but the longer lever arm :shock: is a lot easier to shift!