I've been working on a restoration. Just figured I would post some in-progress pics.
The grills on the side of the glove box.
Rear window removed and surface cleaned and painted
Partially disassembled interior
New roll bar from Doug Chase
Door panel with carpeting almost removed
Door handle trim
Color scheme is Carpet: Electric Blue Seats: Electric Blue (Corbeau TRS's) Main Trim: Black Accent Color: Yellow (Roll Bar, Steering Wheel, Face plates)
Looks like fun! What did you use to get the carpeting off the door panel?
OMG, that is the glue from hell. Basically, you take a sharp razor blade and slowly pull on the carpet and cut it away from the panel. The carpet is on the verge of falling apart when done. Took about 3 hours to complete what the picture shows. Still have other door to do. ARRGGHH. :-)
I started by using a razor blade to remove my carpet, but after calling Mr Mikes to price and order some material, they suggested using starter fluid to remove the carpet, but I used brake cleaner (because that's what I had).
Sprayed the cleaner directly on the carpet and gently pulled, removed the carpet in 15 minutes instead of the time consuming process of a razor blade (of which I tried).
Robert, you have my kudos to hard work, but condolences.
warning about the fluid from Mr Mikes - and i must agree - the glue becomes icky sticky goo, so use gloves and cover the door with wax paper to prevent any thing sticking to it.
Just in case you need room once the roll bar is in and the third brake light does get in the way of it..... I added a third brake light from a eclipes rear wing to the outside of the read window area.(the little 2" roof lip that hangs over) Just cut the stock wires from the fiero 3rd brake lite, run them through the roof line ( loosen the roof bolts)
OMG, that is the glue from hell. Basically, you take a sharp razor blade and slowly pull on the carpet and cut it away from the panel. The carpet is on the verge of falling apart when done. Took about 3 hours to complete what the picture shows. Still have other door to do. ARRGGHH. :-)
It only took me about 10 minutes per door to take the carpet off. I sprinkled varsol on the carpet and let it saturate the carpet. It then easily peeled right of the door panel. It came off in one big piece. I was then able to use them as templates for the new carpet. Give it a try.
------------------ The Rebirth of 72vinman
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06:52 PM
Scott-Wa Member
Posts: 5392 From: Tacoma, WA, USA Registered: Mar 2002
It only took me about 10 minutes per door to take the carpet off. I sprinkled varsol on the carpet and let it saturate the carpet. It then easily peeled right of the door panel. It came off in one big piece. I was then able to use them as templates for the new carpet. Give it a try.
Just because I didn't have a clue what Varsol is....
Interior with everything removed except enough to drive it to paint shop:
Painted interior parts ready for installation:
Center console with new paint:
All the removed body panels have just been delivered to the paint shop. Today, I will mask and paint the underside of the hood and decklid, remove the roof panel, wash everything, and deliver the car and remaining panels to paint shop tomorrow.
When I get the car back, I will finish going through doors, puttin g the new lock set I have to it in. Windows seals have already been replaced. Dash will be detailed and anything that could possible rattle will be locked down. After that, a liberal application of Dynamat extreme for sound control and preparations for installation of underdash 8" sub woofer custom enclosure, and CarPC.
Nice! are you going to remove the front windshield once you get to the paint shop? i have heard the rear window is a pain to re-install. What type of paint are you using?
------------------ John DuRette Black 85 SE, undergoing work as we speak! Battery re-located up front using a V8 Archie box Remote Start/Window Rollup/Lock/Trunk Release/Alarm White Gauge Faces w/120 MPH Speedometer Conversion Hidden Antenna Urethane Suspension Bushings Sequential Tallights Custom Painted Dash Panels Oreif's painted door tabs and horn button Shortened Automatic Shifter w/Beretta shiftknob SpyHunter Intake Scoop H4 Headlight Conversion - done right! LED Third Brake Light/Custom Headliner Thunderbird Turbo hood scoops Braided Steel Brake Hoses Lowered an inch
Still not on the road!
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03:38 PM
RBeaubien Member
Posts: 775 From: Glendale (Phoenix), AZ, USA Registered: Mar 2002
The paint shop has a person that will remove the windshield. I removed the rear window, but it will not be replaced (with glass at least). The roll bar will be installed with supports going back to the rear strut towers, then I will put 5/16" thick lexan cut around the roll bar. I forget the brand he told me, but it is one of the best available. I think his cost on the yellow is almost $500/gal.
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05:32 PM
Razor_Wing Member
Posts: 1753 From: Blowing Rock, NC, USA Registered: Apr 2003
What kind of paint are you using on the plastic stuff? I'm going to do some stuff like that (diffrent scheme though), I don't know whats the best? Nice car though! Got any pics of that roll bar in your car? I like that....but I want pics. got any more info on it? Thanks!
what type of paint are you using for the interior parts?? are you able to get custom colors?? any other info on the paint??
Thanks
wriott
The interior vinyl black parts are being painted with Dupli-Color Vinyl and Fabric paint. Comes in a variety of typical vinyl colors. It dries very quickly and covers great. Unfortunately, it doesn't come in a bright yellow so the remaining yellow parts (mainly plastic, but the roll bar too) are being painted with that new Krylon Fusion for Plastics paint (Sunbeam color). That is a slow drying paint and plastics are still hard to coat, but once it dries, it seems to be bonded (like the commercial) to the plastic and bending the plastic will not separate the paint from it. Any of the stripped interior metal parts (body), and exterior black parts (under hood, decklid, inner 1/4 window trim, roof drip moldings, etc) are being painted with Valspar's American Tradition Ultra Enamel line (color Satin Black). It remains to be seen how well that paint will hold up, but I have high hopes.
OMG, that glue is the glue from hell. I tried many chemicals to do away with it. The final solution is to sand it all off. Takes about 2 hours for a panel. 40 grit paper in my sander, combined with hobby micro balloons used to dilute epoxies in model aircraft. I just put the micro balloons on the door panel, sand it into the glue which helps break it up.
Before cleanup:
Ready for new carpeting:
[This message has been edited by RBeaubien (edited 04-30-2004).]
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03:02 AM
doublec4 Member
Posts: 8289 From: Oakville, Ontario, Canada Registered: Jun 2003
Hey Robert, i really really like your paint job, i was planning on painting my car yellow, since that is its original color. I see that you are from Glendale, i currently live in Tucson but might move in the summer to Phoenix to go to school there, hopefully sometime we can meet!
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10:33 PM
May 5th, 2004
RBeaubien Member
Posts: 775 From: Glendale (Phoenix), AZ, USA Registered: Mar 2002
Car is in the shop getting the roll bar installed today. All but the passenger ext door panel and pass front fender are installed on the body and the interior will be installed and ready to go by Saturday night.
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05:41 PM
RBeaubien Member
Posts: 775 From: Glendale (Phoenix), AZ, USA Registered: Mar 2002
Hey Robert, i really really like your paint job, i was planning on painting my car yellow, since that is its original color. I see that you are from Glendale, i currently live in Tucson but might move in the summer to Phoenix to go to school there, hopefully sometime we can meet!
Hey, anytime. Just let me know. Are you going to join us for the caravan to West Fest?
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05:43 PM
May 7th, 2004
RBeaubien Member
Posts: 775 From: Glendale (Phoenix), AZ, USA Registered: Mar 2002
You will notice in the above pics, the roll bar is installed too. The idiots that installed the roll bar cracked my windshield, then "graciously" made an offer to replace the windshield (as if I expected anything less).
Tomorrow starts the interior installation. Everything will be done by Sat evening.
Well, my fingers are really sore after all the little nicks and cuts they have in them after trimming the carpeting. Gonna take a couple of days off to heal before continuing. Prolly get caught up on some real work in the mean time! :-)
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11:55 AM
May 10th, 2004
USFiero Member
Posts: 4877 From: Everywhere and Middle of Nowhere Registered: Mar 2002
This is the only location I found in the front compartment to run a battery cable through the passenger compartment. I did just that using an Archie Battery box and a set of Moroso bulkhead terminals, not grommets. Nice work, love the thread!
------------------ John DuRette Black 85 SE, undergoing work as we speak! Battery re-located up front using a V8 Archie box Remote Start/Window Rollup/Lock/Trunk Release/Alarm White Gauge Faces w/120 MPH Speedometer Conversion Hidden Antenna Urethane Suspension Bushings Sequential Tallights Custom Painted Dash Panels Oreif's painted door tabs and horn button Shortened Automatic Shifter w/Beretta shiftknob SpyHunter Intake Scoop H4 Headlight Conversion - done right! LED Third Brake Light/Custom Headliner Thunderbird Turbo hood scoops Braided Steel Brake Hoses Lowered an inch Getting a GT body
Still not on the road, and another Fiero on the horizon!
Question....How do you get the rear windor glass out?
3lb sledge. :-) I taped up the window both sides and broke it out. Afterwards, I finally figured out how to get the rear inner fairing out that would allow the window to be removed, but under any circumstances it will be a challenge to remove. Remove the rear inner fairings and the decklid, and then call a glass company to remove it.
Status update. Just spent all day installing the alarm / keyless entry system. I installed this unit: http://www.avital.com/products/ap_av23.htm Not too shabby for $139. Its got 3 user defined functions. 1 keyless entry, 2 open trunk (decklid), and the 3rd one I am going to configure to turn on/off all my exterior lighting on the car. The system is installed except for the 3rd option. That will happen next week. Tomorrow (today), dash gets installed. I'll have update pics tomorrow.
Way to make it look good... lol. I will be finishing up my dash tomorrow also. How ironic. But i was wondering who did your 3800sc swap? I would like to get one done, and want to know what it would cost, and who could help me.
-Dan
PS... where did you get the keyless entry?
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06:56 AM
RBeaubien Member
Posts: 775 From: Glendale (Phoenix), AZ, USA Registered: Mar 2002
Unless you really lack for time, you can do the swap yourself in 2-3 weekends (or less). The engine is a direct bolt in with a 4- / 5-speed and / or using the 4T60 / 4T65 transmission that comes on the 3800SC. Get the poly mounts and brackets from WCF, have Loyde of FastFieros do your wiring harness, get axles if you are using the automatic from the 3800, then drop the old engine 1 weekend, do engine bay cleanup / changes the next, and install 3800 the 3rd. Give me enough notice and I would be happy to come out and help you one weekend as well as help you get all the little stuff you will need for the swap lined up. If you really want turnkey, Loyde @ FastFieros is probably the best option. He does turnkey solutions for as little as $5500-6k including engine. WCF can do the swap, but I get the impression they seem to be specializing in the 3400 TDC swaps right now as wll as being VERY busy. They can jump in here and correct me if I'm wrong.
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