After the discussion over the past few weeks concerning upholstery (high
cost, poor quality etc) I decided to do the Midget buy myself.
I bought
4 yards of nice quality black auto carpet ($30)
3 yards of good underlay ($20)
2 cans of SEM vinyl refinisher (not the crappy autozone/pep boys stuff) $24
new interior fasteners ($5)
lotsa sharp blades
contact cement (pro stuff that comes in 10 gallon drums...they poured some into
a coffee can for me for free...its green and runny and STICKS! I can get the
name if anybody wants)
I finished the vinyl in around eight hours...removed all panels, cleaned and
dried them and gave them 4 to 5 coats of the SEM stuff....very very nice finish
and it sure doesn't come of that easy (as my watch strap and hands show).
The 'camel' color is a nice beige/hide
color similar to the beige of the Spit/midget interior shown in VB.
I patterned the carpet using newspaper (I didn't have old carpet), and cut
out the pieces a little larger. I patterned and cut the underlay and
fitted that first. I then started at the back and worked forward. The
wheel arches were a bitch, but with glueing a little, cutting, darting, glueing
a little, cuttting, darting etc...the carpet looks 'sprayed in' (ala S. Fisher).
I'm actually using the same carpet...one with heavy duty plastic backing
for the high wear flat areas, and another version with a v. flexible light
backing. Flexibility is a must over the curvy bits. The carpet must be able
to 'absorb' some small bends and curves without puckering and the need for
'darting'. The front of the gear box tunnel was also a little fiddly...
especially with all the holes you need to cut for bolts and access holes.
All I have left is the front and passenger floor pan to do.
Marcus
The interior now looks absolutely beautiful...and with bit of wear will look
even better! and all for $80. I was a bit wary at first because I've
seen many cars with cruddy home DIY carpets/interiors....but if you spend
the time it's cheaper and more satisfying. I reckon I've spent 25 hours
to do a very nice job. Its also a LOT quieter now in the cockpit.
My recomendation...don't blow $150 on carpet etc!! DIY is more cost effective.
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