Jason Coupe DeVille Resto: Interior Pieces Out for Some Upholstery Work and Painting

[Jason Edge]

Two interior issues being addressed on my 64 CDV:

While I was off work this week I removed the bench seat to have new fabric sewn on the back bottom of seat, and to fix a missing button and add some new padding.  Along with the seat, I also took the arm rests that need to be redyed and some cracking on my left driver side arm rest. I also might see about dying that gear shift lever cap sandalwood.

For the paint shop, I removed all the items that unbolt from the dash including lower dash cover and left ash tray, over the column cover, steering column itself, glove box door, right side ash tray door, and top front door panel metal plates and took all to local paint ship for painting. Looking closely at the dash 95% of the scratching was on the removable panels and not on the small % of core exposed dash once everything is removed.  If paint will match up close enough to dash it will save me from removing the entire dash....but will be ready to take that step if I need to. 

I also ordered and have on hand a new rear package shelf and think I can install that myself.  I will post some more pictures of the rear package tray as it goes in.

Here is a panoramic of my interior with the interior items removed and some earlier pictures before everything was removed.

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE:

 

  

 

[Jason Edge]

Must add my wife Cheryl was a big help with that piece..it definitely helped having a 2nd set of hands and unlike the engine work I did last year (and most of the year!) she could get into this more. Next up is trimming down the new rear package tray and installing.

 

[Jason Edge]

I've made a bit of progress on my interior by cleaning and reinstalling that headliner material on the strip below the rear window that had detached from the board below and had some dirt and staining. I gave it a good cleaning with carpet cleaning and then let my wife gently steam iron with a cloth barrier.  Next I hit it with Westley's bleche-wite and a brush then let dry again. Right before it was completely dry I hit it with the iron again and let sun dry on my black metal car hauler. I also took the thick resin cardboard backing and wet a bit and laid a board across and let it dry flat. That was yesterday.

Today I glued the fabric back with the 3M 90 spray adhesive and have to say I was very, very pleased. My interior guy, Tommy Gardner at Auto Interiors was spot on when he said I might be able to remove clean and re glue and save that piece instead of trying to match up the headliner material..which thankfully so far is all 100% original and pretty nice condition other than this piece. There are more pictures in the photo album at http://6364cadillac.ning.com/photo/albums/jason-coupe-1964-deville-... but will insert before and after pictures here:

 

 

 

[Jason Edge]

Got the rear seat, rear qtr interior,  and rear package tray out and have posted pictures in this photo album:http://6364cadillac.ning.com/photo/albums/jason-coupe-1964-deville-...
 
Most of the headliner is very nice, however, the thin strip below the rear window had wrinkled and was wavy and looked bad.  Just like my interior guy indicated, once I removed that piece, the cardboard was really decent and the 50 year old material had just come unglued and needed cleaning and pressing a bit. I cleaned with some carpet cleaner then took inside for some gentle steaming and ironing by my wife Cheryl. It is going to be not bad at all when I get it glued back to the cardboard and reinstalled. The new rear package tray was just a little bit wider on the outer curved area but have it marked and can easily cut it down a bit when ready to go in.

I'll post more pictures as I go along. Check out the photo album of all pictures.  Here are a couple showing the rear interior items removed.

With rear interior out I took the opportunity to get some pictures of those rear seatbelts mounted in placed.

I really, really, really like these rear Fleetwood 60S courtesy lights but believe they will come out and will replace with the original with eggshell plastic lenses. These is a Super Nice set with excellent chrome and will sell the complete setup including harness for $100.

[Jason Edge]

Auto Interiors in Raleigh, NC. is doing the upholstery work and Lee's Collision here in Garner is painting the interior metal panels. I've been dealing with Tommy Gardner at Auto Interiors since they first sewed the new sandalwood dover fabric in the seats and side panels back in 1996 and have been dealing with Phillip Lee at Lees for a  few years now. Both have been in business 30+ years and very familiar with working with classic vehicles.  Phillip painted the side metal trim on the bench seat about 6 months ago to check out the match and thought it was close enough to just try the panels that have to be removed from dash anyway first.

I'm going to get very busy around the weekend of Nov 8-10th as I should get all parts back from both locations on that Friday, and then have a car show the following weekend!