Interior vinyl installation Part 2

Once I saw what the vinyl from JoAnn Fabrics looked like, I really was not completely satisfied with the color match to the original trim. I decided to go to the upholstery shop that recovered my rear seat back. Once again Noreen came through and had the matching color I was looking for in stock.

The original trim piece matches the new vinyl color and the JoAnn Fabric vinyl was just too dark. Had I known the first time that Noreen had it, I would have gone there…the price was the same minus shipping fee, of course.

Once that was done, I cut out all the patterns and laid them out upside down. The pattern matches my drawing quite nicely.

Before they could be installed, the fabric mesh backing had to be stripped off. First, paint thinner and lacquer thinner had to be dabbed onto a little corner section of the backing to release the fabric.

Then, with gentle persuasion, I had to carefully tear the rest of the fabric mesh backing off. This process took four days to do all eleven pieces!! The vinyl was too thick and not pliable enough to mold into the creases when installed. And, the adhesive should stick better to the stripped pieces.

After wiping the car body clean, I applied the adhesive spray to the back of the vinyl.

And, began to install the vinyl pieces. This one is the lower rear windshield strip. Once each piece sets, I will go back and trim them with a sharp razor blade.

Some will need to be clamped with wooden strips and clothespins to hold them in place until the glue sets like this one between the lower portion of the door opening and the rear seat pocket/armrest.

This slow process will continue this week until all the vinyl trim is installed. Then, the rest of the interior will be installed along with the front and rear windshields.

Thanks for visiting.

Toddy

Interior vinyl installation Part 1

Before I could start working on Old Biddy again, I had to receive both the vinyl, which I ordered from JoAnn Fabrics, and the revised interior vinyl pattern from one of our BMC1100 Club members.

Thanks so much Herberta Gray from the Northwestern state of Washington! Notice she even marked how each piece overlapped the other pieces! I think this may be the only interior vinyl pattern for ADO16s (that I know of anyway) on the internet!

Then, a week later, my vinyl finally arrived. It is two shades darker that the original color but at this point, I am fine with it!

I decided to take a couple before pictures.

Notice the headliner “hoops” which the later 1300s and Austin Americas had. I had no need for them so I easily removed them. They will be appearing on that auction site soon. The gross hard foam is now gone, also.

I had some brown packing paper that I used to measure and draw the patterns on. I decided to fabricate the two largest and most complicated pieces first so the rest would be easier.

After the first one was cut out, it was fitted in place on the car and fine-tuned.

Then brought back into the house and traced on the vinyl.

I had to remember to flip it over to get the reverse pattern for the other side.

Then I brought the first one back out to the car and set it in place. It looks fine and will have to be trimmed after it is installed.

My goal for this weekend is to have all eleven vinyl pieces cut out. After that, I have to remove the fabric backing on the vinyl because it is thick. This will make the vinyl more pliable and the sparay adhesive, Super 77, will stick it in place better.

Thanks for visiting.

Toddy