Let's talk interiors

[Bigcheese327]

Stirring the pot a little bit here but I can't resist.

Nothing bothers me more at a car show than to walk up to a nice "period" looking piece, lean in the window, and see late-model high-back buckets, a dinky leather steering wheel and a bunch of mismatched aftermarket guages in an otherwise nice (aka "factory") interior. It seems like '46-'48 Fords are the biggest victims in this.

To me the biggest thrill of owning an old car is the aesthetics - give me an era-correct (even if that means restored stock) interior any day. Nowadays, it seems, all you see are sick hybrids of 1940s and 1980s (or 70s, if the build is that old).

What's up hot rodders? The custom guys seem to get it right most of the time - and their interiors are modified!

[KustomSkylark]

Don't forget about the late 80's tilt column with the ugly ass wheel still attached. oh and those goofy interior lights from late 80's conversion vans.

[colorado51]

[ QUOTE ]
lean in the window, and see late-model high-back buckets, a dinky leather steering

[/ QUOTE ]

Exhibit A: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2488790834&indexURL=11 &photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

[RoadDevil13]

god that is tragic....

sad to see such a great car wasted on bad taste.

[Petejoe]

I have a question about interior panels since we have everyones attention on this.
I have seen tuck and roll side panels done by taking some kind of thick plastic material and cutting a v-groove into it with a knife. Then the material is pushed into these grooves to give the tuck look. The question...
Where do I get this type of panel to use????? Sorry..
You can now go back to bitchen about poor tastes http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[hell_fish_65]

Headrests are a safety feature. I like the 69 Mustang seat my self, but have used Omni seats in muscle cars.

[hell_fish_65]

Is a dense foam. Kind of like camping pad foam.

[Bigcheese327]

So are bulky steering wheels with airbags. They're still ugly.

Good brakes, steering and driving habits are much better safety features.

[hillbillydeluxe]

Oh baby, are you guys onto something. You have no idea how much the hair on my neck goes like straight up seeing a '40 Ford with an S-10 steering column and velour seats, then look right across to the billet gauge cluster.

'Scuse me whilst I vomit

I mean, if yer gonna DO a car, get it all the way done, or leave a sign in the window that says sumpin like "excuse our mess, the wife needed the extra padding while we drove here".

Just sayin'

[Donzie]

Boy, I'm all over this one.
Period correct should be just that. Keep the interior and exterior in the same time frame. This INCLUDES the wheels!
Module wheels look like crap on a '50s style custom.
If you really want a tweed interior and billet wheels, build a "modern" custom with monochrome grille/bumpers and Mercedes headlights.
I really need to get rid of that tilt column in my '49. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Bigcheese327]

Yeah, and don't get me started on engine compartments...

[hell_fish_65]

Do you ride without rearview mirrors or seatbelts? I don't worry about myself, but the asshole tailgating behind me. I perfer the 69 stang seat, because it is a lowback seat with a movable headrest. All that said, to each there own.

[KustomSkylark]

PeteJoe, I'm having a hard time visualizing what you are talking about.... Do you put the grooves on both sides then tuck the top and bottom in? I've made roll panels before but just by sewing the tucks with foam backing and attaching to a hard board.

[fatluckys]

Thank you, Bigcheese!

[hell_fish_65]

The way I have seen it is to glue the foam on to the panel and cut out V notches in the foam even;y spaced. Spray glue into the V's and stretch the vinyl into the V's. Use a putty spreader to get the vinyl to stick into the very bottom of the V.

[DrJ]

This particular "bitch" was a topic in a CUSTOM RODDER's Stylines article, oh, aboout a decade ago.
Seems people have been screwing up period interiors for a long time and haven't learned a thing.

But then we don't want to listen to what Dave Hill wrote, here on the HAMB do we? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

To point out the style blunder, intentionally or not, CUSTOM RODDER folowed up Dave's similar criticism of out of era and style interiors in customs by running a '49 Merc with a 70's C10 TRUCK DASH on the very next page!

(Guess this is also why I'll never get used to "dubs" on anything without FWD and a foreign accent.)

[skipstitch]

Hey PeteJoe... ask for Landau Top foam. It comes in 1/8" and 1/4". Local trim shops can get it for ya. And yes you just glue the material down and press it in with a dull putty knife. Working one "pleat" at a time. I think this is what you mean....

[Petejoe]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey PeteJoe... ask for Landau Top foam. It comes in 1/8" and 1/4". Local trim shops can get it for ya. And yes you just glue the material down and press it in with a dull putty knife. Working one "pleat" at a time. I think this is what you mean....


[/ QUOTE ]
Yes! thats exactly it!
That really looks like an easy quick way to do those side panels. Thanks for the location information!!

[38pickup]

Ok I don't normally go into these flamin post but this one made me a little mad. I understand there are traditionalists here, but think about this before you post a response to my reply. I don't have much cash and I am building a Hotrod, working going to college all paid for by me. I pulled a "late 80's tilt column with the ugly ass wheel still attached" it was free. My truck does not have an any form of a column, or a wheel. Hell it doesn't have much of anything. If you want to buy a stock steering column and a stock wheel or a banjo for me then great. But if not then be quit cuz who are you tell that guy on ebay that what he has done basically sucks. I feel your not cuz you did not build it. Also about late model high back seats allot of times there is a comfort factor. I know that hot rods are not brand new cars but for people with bad back problems it makes a difference.

[Petejoe]

[ QUOTE ]
Ok I don't normally go into these flamin post but this one made me a little mad. I understand there are traditionalists here, but think about this before you post a response to my reply.

[/ QUOTE ]
I can see your point... We always bash someone who goes out and spends big bucks on a billet doodad. Yet we make fun of someone who treks to the boneyard to find something cheap to get their rod on the road. Irregardless. poor taste is simply poor taste.

[Verbal Kint]

I prefer the period interiors better than most of the over-ididit.

I don't want to hyjack this thread but I have a quick question.

Does anyone have pics of a custom with a t-bird wrap around rear seat? Do any of you have any experience with these installs.

Thanks, swdobbs....

[seldom scene]

Custom means made for an individual. To that persons needs and desires. Customs weren't "period perfect" ever. They were (old) cars modified to suit the owners taste. Still are. Build your car to please yourself, and don't worry about what the other guy does. If your car is "better" then everyone who thinks like you do will know it . I will build my car to please me, and will blur the lines as much as I want to. Hot rod, Custom, Low Rider, it's my car. I didn't build it to sell to you. Why don't you post something about trailers, Von Dutch, or magazines if you are bored and want to stir something something up. I'm going out to the garaged now that I've finished my coffee.

[KustomSkylark]

[ QUOTE ]
Ok I don't normally go into these flamin post but this one made me a little mad. I understand there are traditionalists here, but think about this before you post a response to my reply. I don't have much cash and I am building a Hotrod, working going to college all paid for by me. I pulled a "late 80's tilt column with the ugly ass wheel still attached" it was free.



[/ QUOTE ]

I understand not having money, I'm probably one of the brokest people around. But at least get rid of the wheel man. Look at what they go for new http://69.20.111.53/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=283
just think what you can get one used for, the junkyards don't charge much for a beat up old wheel. I've found cool old wheels attached to all sorts of things like boats, dump trucks, gokarts....etc. I find lots of wrecked bugs with cool 60's era aftermarket wheels in the scrap yard. There are all sorts of better things you can do with out spending a load of cash.

[Bigcheese327]

Please. A straight column, a good looking wheel and a set of headrestless buckets aren't that hard to find for cheap.

[hillbillydeluxe]

Right. You can cheap out on the interior in a lot of ways. The boneyards I've gone through ask the same price for an S-10 tilt column as a 42 Plymouth. It doesn't HAVE to be a Ford, just look like you put some effort into it, and things trying to harmonize.

And, Gawd, don't tack any Avanit bits into it, either. Yellllch!

[DrJ]

Sometimes free parts are oddball parts (that's why they are free) and cost more in the long run in adapter odds and more odds to put together than the "right" part would in the first place.
With thzat said, there are pleanty of HAMBers cars running tilt wheels . If that's what works for you at the moment do it. nothing is permanent, unless you weld a '73 C10 dash into a Model A.....

[praisethelowered]

Actually the lamest part of my ranchero is the late model buckets.

But I searched and searched to find what I thought was the least lame chioce and ended up with these pontiac seats with pleated vinyl and open space-age looking headrests. They are still wrong to the purists but after 20 years of crawling under cars that adjustable lumbar support is niiiiiiiiiicccccccceeeeeee on a daily driver.

[SpeedRacer2002]

hell i put 96 cadillac eldorado seats in my old mans 48 plymouth... just right height full power and lumbar... much more comfortable on a long trip than the original seat... the back seat even fit in there perfect... but we are doing away with the headrests when they get recovered.

[FoMoCo_MoFo]

friends dont let friends install tilt columns...

[cheaterjack]

Why are you worried about safety when most of us have cars with no seat belts and are riding a few inches off the ground with a shit load of horses pulling us around??When I built my car I got it to run first and about 7 on my list was to get it to stop.

[Flipper]

I would guess that a lot of these cars that turn your stomach did not start out as complete cars. The builders found something they thought would work and went with it.

A lot of cthese old cars are built by average Joe's on a modest budget. The body and drivtrain get most of the cash (earlier milestones in the build-up) and the interior gets done cheaply to get the car on the road.

The $118 Mercedes death rod came with some kind of mini-van back seat in it (complete with fold down outside arm-rests!). I am cheap, but not that cheap. Something else will go back in. I doubt I am going to find any original seat. Old something or other would be cool, but I will have to see what I can find for cheap.

Oh yeah, the chevy truck (?) column is going too (welded in off center and crooked)

[Flipper]

such fine craftsmanship and taste.....

[38pickup]

I will keep the tilt Column and get a different wheel for now. The Column I have does not have a shifter so I will have a swanm necked shifter. and it has a tilt lever and turn signel and thats it. Maybe down the road i will change it. If I dont make it semi safe my Mom wont let me build it, drive it or have it in the driveway. :-P

[53_210]

I too can understand the no money situation and getting newer shit parts for cheap, but I personally think you see the stuff on total high budget old timer cars. I can't figure out why you would buy an old car to try and make it new. If I can't tell the difference between driving some whatever with bucket seats and a stupid column or a mid 80's GM, why not just have the "new" car?

Deke

[Glen]

http://www.hotrodsbyglen.net/uph7.jpg
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http://www.hotrodsbyglen.net/k12.jpg
http://www.hotrodsbyglen.net/interior12a.jpg
http://www.hotrodsbyglen.net/intud102202c.jpg
http://www.hotrodsbyglen.net/buickdash.jpg

[Animal]

I tried....I really did! I was going to stay out of this, because I'll probably just piss off a lot of people. But when has that ever stopped me? Not when the "big kids" told me they didn't like the way I built my bicycle, not when the other kids told me how screwed up my first car was (a '56 Ford, when everyone else was drooling over tri-five Chevies), not when the "outlaws" gave me shit for riding a non-HD, even though I put my heart & soul into that fuckin' thing, and rode three times the miles they did, not when bikers gave me shit for building a V6 trike with seats for four, so I could take my kids with me to show them what great people bikers are, and not now when I've got a pile of stuff I've collected to build my car. That's right.....MY car. It's going to be driven at least fifty miles daily, every day, to & from work, the store, the race car shop, wherever. It's going to be my car, my only car. If I want to put a tilt wheel in it, so I can shift these old bones around into different positions on the way to VLV or wherever, then I will. If the stock seats are too gawdawful uncomfortable to deal with, I'll swap 'em out. I've got an idea of what I want this thing to look like, but I'm not going to be tied into some "period correct" bullshit. I never signed up to have a totally period correct car. I never put in a show application with "period correct white trash daily driver" written on it, so I don't give a hoopin' funt what the "judges" think. If they get too close, nit-pickin' my taste apart, I'll just poke 'em in the eye. There http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. I got that off my chest, so I'll go take a double shot of Geritol & calm down.

[glassguy]

ive done all my own interiors except the seats..here a cheap way out..most uhpolstery shops will sell you the material i buy white preformed tuck and roll for 23 bucks per sqare yard and staple it to 1/4 inch plywwod drill some holes and stick the chrome thru. you can even use body side chrome to break it up,, screw it to the doors and your done.

[chris shu]

I hope this is the best place to post this...I searched for tacky interiors... so here is my ,too ugly for most people, but in my price range, interior..I used these tacky motel drapes for seat covers and arm rests... $25...I like it now but was unsure at first..