My interior build... (Page 12/20)
RCR NOV 05, 05:14 PM
Rob: I used the electric actuator that Riceburner is using to control the heat door. That is a direct wire up. I had to make a selector switch for the different modes with a small circuit. The fan switch isn't connected yet. I was working on a variable speed controller for it, but came across a switch at work that might work. Check out the 6'th page of my dash swap thread for more details.

Bob
RCR NOV 14, 08:53 PM
The seats arrived last Friday. I was so excited. They looked brand new. They're not anymore...

Let's see, I guess the best way to explain it is to say that Mazda 3 seats are not meant to go into a Fiero. I've got about 10+ hours into the driver's seat, and I think I've figured out a way to do it. I've totally dismantled the lower half of the seat, and let me just say it was a work of art the way it was assembled. ...Not anymore...I've drilled out dozens of rivets, cut, pasted, and welded things together just to take it apart again. Two more cuts to get it low enough and I can weld it back together. Then I need to fab up two brackets for the back of the seat bottom, shorten the hand bar for the seat adjust, and add two mounting studs to the floor and it should be done.

I guess I'm too stubborn to call it a loss and get seats that fit.

Boy this is FUN!!!

pics later...

Bob
RCR NOV 28, 06:54 PM
Let's get some pics and an explanation posted....

Here's what I started with, '04 Mazda 3, with manual lumbar and height adjusts.



This is what the bottom mechanism looks like without the seat cushion.


Here's a slider with the mounting feet removed. Just about everything is riveted together. What a PITA!!!


Here, I'm finally getting a bit smarter. I've removed everything, including the seat back. I've mounted the modified rails to a piece of plywood to keep everything square.

I'm using 1/2" angle to tie the right and left sides together. The main portion of the seat braket the runs along the sides has had 1/2" trimed off the bottom. The sides are welded to 1/8" bar stock which is in turn welded to the Mazda rails. I'm using the stock floor mounts for the right side, and the left front. A custom left rear was made out of 1.5" angle.

I also had to lower the seat bottom. I did this by removing the cover and cushion from the metal "basket". I shaved 1/2" off the bottom of the cushion using a serated knife.


I then had to raise the floor of the basket. I used a Dremel and cutting wheel to cut a flap out of the bottom of the basket. I reshaped the bottom using a hammer and dolly and tacked it back together.

This pic also shows where I had to clearance the rear mounts to clear the sliders.

Then I re-installed the cushion and cover.

I'll have to post the finished pics later.

Bob

[This message has been edited by RCR (edited 11-28-2006).]

RCR DEC 17, 09:11 AM
On to more fabrication.

Yesterday, I started the center console. What I've done so far is to take the original console skeleton, and chop it to fit. (It was broken anyway). I've taken the plastic "walls" out to make the console a little narrower than stock. It frees up about an 1" on either side for leg room. I placed the two skeleton pieces on the hump, and positioned a piece of foam on top, and hot glued it in. I then marked and cut out the opening for the shifter bezel (Grand Am, see above).
I took it out of the car, filled in more foam, and started sanding away. I'll worry about how it mates to the subwoofer and dash once it's roughed in.
This images is larger than 100K. Click to view.
Here's the shifter bezel installed:


I always seem to have problem laying the glass down, especially over complicated surfaces. I saw on another post that someone had used spray glue to hold the glass in place, so I figured what the hey..I used a craft tack glue on the foam and cloth and stuck it together. Seemed to work rather well. I used 1.5 oz glass cloth to get the basic shape, I'll build it up with heavy cloth on the sides and mat on the top and inside.


And here it is under my hot lamps (two 500W halogen work lights) drying:


That's it for now...

Bob
Mickey_Moose FEB 03, 12:49 PM

quote
Originally posted by RCR:
This one came up in another thread concerning clearance to the parking brake handle. I'm not posting this there, since this is heavily modified, but I have a good inch between the handle and the door pocket.




Hi,

Just wondering if you had any pictures of the parking brake handle with the cover off and how you bent it?

Or did you just 'exaggerate' the bends that it already had? Any issues with the release button binding??

thanks,
Tim
RCR FEB 04, 07:35 AM
I did not bend the handle. It is in stock trim. I do not have pictures of it without the cover because I've never taken it off, sorry... The bendy look must be from the angle I took the picture.

Bob
pheonix97031 FEB 06, 12:12 AM
Keep going!

Anyways, have you gotten the first door panel done? What have you decided to put in the center of it, carpet, or somthing else? Also, Have you actually turned on your woofer yet? How does it sound? Also, have you considerd going with electric door poppers? Im not sure if there is a guide for it on the forum, but it would be cool! Anyways, keep us updated!!

Mike

[This message has been edited by pheonix97031 (edited 02-06-2007).]

RCR FEB 06, 07:24 AM
Hi Mike...

Thanx for checking in. The garage is in a deep freeze right now. Probably won't be til spring when I can work on the doors again. But that doesn't stop progress. I wasn't that happy with how the Mazda seat turned out. So, I'm following 30+MPG's rehopolstery thread and I'm going to try to redo the Fiero seats. At least this is something I can try inside. This also allows me to match the seats to the door panels. As it stands, the center sections on the doors and seats will be red suede. The outer surfaces will be grey.
Door poppers? Hmm? That will be a decision I make once I get to the outside, but right now I have no plans. And, I'm ashamed to say, I haven't heard the stereo yet.

Bob
Chris Hodson MAR 08, 04:47 AM
BUMP!

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RCR MAR 08, 07:49 AM
Thanx for the lift.

No progress other than reading about custom interior upholstery and ordering more material samples.

Bob