68 GTO project

[jmt455]

UPDATE January 25, 2013

While the car is at the body shop, I have been working on the seats and other parts to get them ready for installation.

The seats didn't look too bad, but when I pulled them out of the car I found a lot of rotten seams and some old rust stains. The foam was obviously in bad shape; it felt like you were sitting in the seat frame instead of a foam cushion.

When I took them apart, I found the typical rusty springs and some rust on the metal frames:

Got the frames and springs bead-blasted and painted them:

Re-installed the springs into the frames:

Sewed up new suspension units to replace the old, tattered burlap:

Front seat:

Rear seat:

Installed replacement felt underneath the new urethane foam buns:

Then added soft, non-woven pads and slip-sheets before installing the covers:

Then, after a lot of stretching and hog-ringing, I ended up with this:

I still have to re-install the plastic covers, but I think the seats turned out great!

These were ACI foam buns and Legendary covers.

 

[crucial118]

Looks good. I am in the middle of restoring my '67 Lemans and have been debating on doing the seats myself or sending them to an upholstery shop. With your pics and write-up, I think I will do them myself. You make it look easy. Keep up the good work. 😀

 

[jmt455]

UPDATED PICS - January 28, 2013

Seats are finally DONE!

The top of the rear seat back has a few small waves along the emboss lines, but I think they will smooth out when they warm up.
All in all, I'm happy with the results.

 

[Peter]

awesome work man

 

[Blake442]

Looks great!

 

[jmt455]

UPDATE - Feb 4, 2013

I've installed the gauges and woodgrain on the dash bezel...looks pretty good!


Here is the dash bezel with the woodgrain applied:

And some pics of the installed gauges:

There are some dark spots on the tach face in this is close-up, but it must just be a reflection; the part looks great

 

[DRIVEN]

Looks good. Don't have to wind those Pontiacs too high, huh? I'm used to looking at those Chevy redlines.

 

[Longroof79]

Cool project, Joe.
It's shaping up nicely. 8)
It's nice to see cool old muscle going thru recovery.

 

[jmt455]

Looks good. Don't have to wind those Pontiacs too high, huh? I'm used to looking at those Chevy redlines.

Yep; low revs and gobs of torque.

 

[jmt455]

Update Feb.9, 2013

Time for final sanding and polishing; should be ready to bring it home for re-assembly by the end of the month.

Bumper turned out pretty good!

Still sanding the hood & fenders

It's starting to look good!