I have not been very good at updating this thread so I am going to backtrack a little. Over the winter I completely redid my interior switching from Tan to Black. I never minded the tan but after 17 years of ownership, I wanted something new. Here is what I did:
Stereo: New amp - JL Audio 600/4 amp
JL audio 10TW3 Sub in a custom box in spare tire well - Main focus to be easily removable for track days
Keeping MB quart front and Alpine Head-unit
Sub volume measurement:
Fiberglass box with plywood top:
Final result:
Amp & Battery install:
Lightweight sound deadening material and battery tray:
Amp installed using rubber standoffs and all wiring for battery and speakers:
I decided to recover the headliner, a-pillars, Rear bins and center console in suede instead of trying to find black. I worked at an upholstery shop for a few years while I was in high school so I had experience in recovering upholstery. It had been about 15 year but I figured it would come back to me. Austin at ESH Upholstery was nice enough to sell me a few yards of foam back and non-foam backed suede. I would have probably just let him do it but shipping costs would have been a lot for the headliner and bins. I used DAP HHR contact adhesive, sprayed on with a gun.
http://www.yourautotrim.com/noname37.htmlThe hardest part on the headliner was removing the old tan vinyl and foam. You have to be pretty gentle and carful as you can easily ruin the fragile headliner. Once all the foam is removed, I rough cut the material and then sprayed both surfaces with the adhesive. Once the contact adhesive dried to a very low tack, I carefully covered the headliner. One trick is to put paper on the areas you don’t want to stick and work your way around removing the paper. I also had my wife helping holding the material up. I got it perfect the first try, was extremely happy. I will be honest, if you have never done this before, I would take it to someone….
The bins were a little easier, I just sanded everything down and then sprayed it with contact adhesive. I smoothed out the lock on the passenger side. I am planning on making smooth covers down the road.
I still have need to buy/install SpeedHut gauges and repaint all the interior panels. I am not a fan of the textured finish so I have been struggling with what to do with them. I am leaning towards a smooth, satin dark charcoal gray to set off all the black.
More updates to come!
