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My wife wanted to go to sleep last night and I didn't want to lose what I had written already, so I went ahead and posted at a good stopping point.
After the floors were sorted, everything was kind of torn down enough that I convinced myself I should go ahead and do body prep and paint it.
This was all over about 8 months - I had my coworker doing it at the shop on the weekends so it took a bit a time, but the insides of the doors, hood, hatch have all been painted. We needed to repair some cracks in the metal in the jambs this week prior to. After jambs, we'll hang the doors and paint the whole thing.
The color my wife chose is a Porsche color from the mid 80s. We were at a car show one night and she saw one go by and said, "That color!".
Almost there!
Also, I have front ball joints, hubs, brakes, steering components, and a shift kit to install.
It's going to be getting remote start/alarm as well. I do a lot of compustar/idata products so I know them well.
Yeah that was actually the main draw in the color! In some lighting, it looks very gray, sometimes blue, and sometimes even violet looking.
The flares and bumpers are going to be satin/semi gloss black to match the wheels. We've been toying with the idea of either maybe pin striping or vinyl graphics. Luke Cook Designs does a 2 door vinyl kit with a good selection or even custom color options. Still undecided on that, I think it'll be easier to decide once there's color on it and it's assembled.
Interior is also fully custom. Our upholsterer is doing it on the side for me. The seats will be 3 piece design. The centers will be this material.
For reference the stock photo is super zoomed in. This is like 2 square in of material. The bolsters will be essentially the same material but solid tan and the surrounds and backs will be a tan vinyl. Pretty stock looking but will a little flare. All of the plastic paneling is also being covered in the same tan vinyl. I think it'll give more luxury feel to the interior. Rear speakers and 8-10" sub will be frenched into the rear panels before they're covered.
Do you want to really wow your better half ? Have the seat bottom and back foams built up to fit her by an outfit like Oregon Aero.
Those things are 18 hours non stop comfortable.
You know, that's a really good idea! I'll have to talk to my upholsterer; I know he's for seats to customers in the past.
We finally have PAINT.
I really do love this color, it's so rich
Door seals, hatch seals, scrapes, sweeps, felts, ect ect ect are on the way now so I can seal the whole thing up. I got lucky and our windshield guy happened to stop by today and he's set me up on Monday to come install new glass/trim in the front for me. I can do all the rubber seal stuff.
Off topic but I'm sure people would appreciate some of the stuff I work on when I'm on the clock
FJ80 with an LSA. New kong 2650 blower, DUAL heat exchangers. I designed the cooling system, set up engine, blower and accessory drive, fuel system... blah blah blah
1971 911e 2.2L new cams, timing set. Rebuilt the mechanical fuel injection pump too, super similar to a diesel injection pump.
Oil separators on an AMG Mercedes. Their failure caused the rear main seal to suck in. 30+ hours of labor involved
All door seals have been replaced. I accidentally misplaced the passenger door glass, which is frustrating, but I took the doors apart over a year ago. I do remember thinking I needed to put it somewhere safe - too safe it would seem!
Well there was a 2 door in a yard not too far and it had glass so I scored that and got the doors fully assembled. Cleaned out the latches thoroughly, lubricated and installed with the strikers. Went ahead and installed the OG door handles for now as I'm still waiting on my new ones and some neato gaskets that a guy named Dakota on eBay 3d prints for the XJs.
Also prepped windshield frame with POR15 and had our glass guy come out and put the windshield in.
Door seals and hatch seal, but the hatch glass seal was not advertised correctly. So we're waiting on that and then she's all sealed up!
My 2dr has developed some cracks in the lower b-pillar, too. I really appreciated you sharing how you dealt with that - I've got to do it as well some day!
I've personally been swamped with work cars, coworker cars and my own cars. In exchange for the paintwork, I did a cylinder head and timing chain on my coworkers turbo mini. It ate up some weekends and he definitely got the better deal, but I was glad he didn't have to total the car.
We've slowly been buffing panels and about ready for hanging and gapping all the panels. Finally got the rear sealed up today too. I'm due for a timing chain in my BMW too, so it may be a few more weekends before I really dig back into this thing.
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