Mustang Upholstery Part V

I thought I’d take a minute finish up the write-up on the very first upholstery job.  I finished it up a two weeks ago and really missed driving the Mustang, but that’s what happens when you do your own work and you can only fit it between all the normal life stuff that needs to get done.

Yes, as I  was reminded twice by a couple of car acquaintances, I used a kit, some say they aren’t much different from slip covers, but as you can see in my shots here that’s a bit of an understatement.

Now these next two videos are not all that great but I think you can see the removal of the back and the fasteners.  I’ve worked with these type of fasteners before in my father’s body shop (back in the early ’70s) nearly all door panels and seat back were fastened in that way.  They work really well but bend them (and they do bend easy of they aren’t aligned with the hole and pressure is applied) and you’ll have to spend sometime reshaping them, even then they might not hold properly, or replace them.

Check out the videos:

 

 

 

Here are a few more photos and the finished product.  Not to bad for my first one.  I have the passenger’s side to do.

With the plastic seatback removed.

Needed to remove the back release

2 piece

release removed.

Helpful hint:  All the hardware and fasteners have to pass through upholstery.  Rather than  try to cut holes, I made X cuts and pressed the screw or hardware through.  This made it as tight as possible.

Markings on the Foam

Good shot of the cloth sleeve with the wire passed through.

Here you would pass the hog wire while in the hog-nose pliers through the cloth between the upholstery and the wire.  You then have to shove this down between the two pieces of foam and grab a spring.

Finished product.

Replacing the seat track was done before I married the bottom and back.  Placing it back in the car was a little tricky..until I figured out that moving the set on the track was the way to get the studs to drop back in to holes in the floor board.

Over all this was not as tough as I thought it would be.  The passenger side will be quicker.  I’ll post the final product on that side.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

 

 

 

What’s coming up? Take a look!

I have a couple of interesting pieces coming up.

1.  Mercury Marauder name plate

2.  Closure on the upholstery for my ’70 Mustang.

3.  Reader choice – you choose the next engine to highlight

I have a couple commercial ventures on the near horizon:

1.  Certified Auto Appraiser – I’m about to finish my certification and will be specializing in Classic, Muscle, Antique and speciality cars.

2.  Auto restoration project management.  Focus is on those individuals that love their cars, but don’t have the time nor the experience to know what needs to be done.  I’m actually waiting for my first car.  It is a 1975 VW Bug coming all the way from Iowa City, Iowa, should be here this will for inspection and the beginning of its restoration.

So what engine would you want to see highlighted?  Drop me a note here or on Facebook.

Thanks for reading

 

Car Production Numbers. They Made How Many? 1961

For this entry let’s visit 1961.

There were 17 auto makers that year.  The race for production numbers show Ford and Chevy nearly tied.

Ford – 1,338,790

Chevy – 1,318,014

Not even close in third place was Rambler  with a total 377,902

Here are the rest of the companies placed:

Plymouth – 356,257

Pontiac – 340,635

Oldsmobile – 317,548

Mercury – 317,351

Buick – 276,754

Dodge – 269,367

Cadillac – 138,379

Chrysler – 96,454

Studebaker – 59,713

Lincoln – 25,164

DeSoto – 3,034

Metropolitan – 969

Checker – 860 regular automobiles (non-cabs)

Some Notable Notes:

– Studebaker added a four speed option for its Hawk offering

– In the chassis lubrication war Ford produced pre-lubed, 30,000 miles grease fitting and Cadillacs offered lifetime lubrication.

Know what a Fitch GT was?    Let me know and win free gift.

 

1961 Dodge Dart Pioneer Station Wagon

 

1961 Rambler Cross Country Wagon

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim