Hello Everyone,

 

So after looking at prices for interior kits, full retirms and the like I decided to bite the bullet and go at it myself. I sewed a picture of a bird when I was 7, so how hard can a car interior be?... I have a tenancy to try and make things rather than buying them, for better or worse the experience is always great and learn a lot.

 

The plan is to retrim the arm rests, door cards, gear and handbrake gaitor, steering wheel and seats. First off, the Center arm rest which was trimmed in a crappy leather/vinyl.

 

So I ordered a bunch of Italian Leather, needles, thread, Calico Cotton, and went guns ablazing. I borrowed mums sewing machine but quickly found that it wasn't up for negotiating thick leather, and trying to do smooth stitches was impossible!! So ordered something new...

 

 

 

The old, but heavy weight Singer 211U566A Industrial Sewing Machine with a Walking foot and needle feed, both crucial for thick slippery material! And also a Servo motor, which allows very steady slow slowing!

 

So far the shopping list looks like this:

 

- Sewing machine £550

- Leather £85

- Alcantara Samples £ Free

- Original Steering wheel £25

- miscellaneous sewing bits £40

- Spray Glue £10

- Foam Lining £8

 

Here is the results of tonight's first try, using the original arm rest as a template.

 

Original Interior:

 

 

 

testing top stitches:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actually really pleased with the first try. And I must say that the sewing machine makes ALL the difference!! Spent hours setting it up just right for my thread weight, but well worth it.

 

I will try and use this as a record of my lessons learned and see who far I get!

 

Thanks for reading, William.

Edited August 22, 201510 yr by wchestnutt

I have to say that you've done really well there Will:thumbup1:, For someone who is on his second attempt at upholstering, they look fantastic:thumbup:

Sorry I can't help it but it looks like a really happy face :laughing:

 

It does indeed, try and incorporate a ZX and this can be the happy chaps nose :).

Thanks Richie! some updates form today's fitting...

 

Update - Seats almost complete so only final touches to do. pretty happy with the result. Will make some charcoal alcantara inserts for them at some point too so I can change the colour.

 

next up - twin subwoofers built into the boot floor in the toolbox alcoves.

 

 

 

 

Update - Seats almost complete so only final touches to do. pretty happy with the result. Will make some charcoal alcantara inserts for them at some point too so I can change the colour.

 

next up - twin subwoofers built into the boot floor in the toolbox alcoves.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]96675[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]96676[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]96678[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]96680[/ATTACH]

Niiice, can the seats slide on the rails or are they static?

yep sliding on Bride rails :)

weekend of woodwork..

What for?

 

So even without the bottom or side on the sub box it still makes SUCH a difference to the sound! Sounds like a proper sound system. Love it. Not that I ever listen to music as the exhaust note is good enough, but the option is nice.

 

So now I am wondering whether it needs a bottom to the box or whether I could just fix the top of the box onto the boot floor instead??....

[video=youtube_share;BWhlS25VkTQ]

haha hopefully not quite like that ;)

Update time: Sub is sounding amazing! Much much better than I expected. Turned the amp right down and adds the perfect depth to the sound. Doesn't resonate or feedback so you can't tell where the bass is coming from, it just fills the cabin. just roughly cut at the moment so need to sand it and cover it but very happy!! May even make a fiberglass one eventually to save some weight.

 

 

And now I have to decide what to do with the seldom used rear seats. I would like them to match the theme which is reasonably minimalist/sleek with the Carbon kevlar bucket seats and charcoal alcantara. I have been inspired by teh singer porsche rear seats and am going to mock up some designs for building solid seats with alcantara "cushions"... ie.

 

 

i think this could be matched with the other carbon work going on in the car, and may work cosmetically due to the seats being composite.

i would look to keep the two piece design as the main advantage of the LWB is it's practicality.

Decided to start practicing up some sketching tonight as I want to render some concepts for the rear bench, here is the first attempt at a rough pencil sketch from memory... more to come hopefully.

 

Attempted to cover my drivers door card in Alcantara this evening. Pretty happy with how nice the alcantara is to work with, but I think I might prefer a charcoal rather than this deep black... Will test fit tomorrow and see!

 

Thoughts??

 

I hate working with Alcantara (he says, knowing that his own interior is in that stuff)! It's nowhere near as forgiving as leather is, for me anyway.

 

Are you not carrying the theme from the seats over to the rest of the interior...?

I hate working with Alcantara (he says, knowing that his own interior is in that stuff)! It's nowhere near as forgiving as leather is, for me anyway.

 

Are you not carrying the theme from the seats over to the rest of the interior...?

 

Oh really that's interesting. I guess I havent done leather panel work yet so this just felt like a nice change from sewing!

 

The seats have cushion inserts with I am chancing for a black alcantara as the blue has faded as you guessed haha. Dont mind that I have it a go but on to alcantara in a black for those too, but keeping the black leather surround for the seats. Wanted to keep the style really sleek and simple which is why I chose deep black, but I am worried that the pleather on the panels is too faded and dull looking compared to the alcantara :s

Interior back together and alcantara covered. Going to do the rear panels soon too.

 

Now I desperately need to get on with those seat cushions

 

Looks neat :rockon:

 

Were those cushions blue and faded beige? If so they don't last long do they.

Thank ali. Haha they used to be a deep blue, but mondo warned me and I never got around to getting uv protection on them. Yeah really didnt last long haha! It was an old nubuk leather, but the alcantara will never fade.

Thank ali. Haha they used to be a deep blue, but mondo warned me and I never got around to getting uv protection on them. Yeah really didnt last long haha! It was an old nubuk leather, but the alcantara will never fade.

 

I did warn you... ;)

 

The Alcantara will fade over time, and it'll be much more noticeable on the black than it would be on a lighter shade. But as long as it's genuine stuff, it should last a good few years before you start to see any sort of real difference. :thumbup1:

 

It's all a learning curve though and finding what things work within a car environment (aside from automotive-specific leather, of course) can be trial and error. And expensive!

Spent a bit of time finish one of the seats today. Built new cushions which give me he perfect driving position and a lot conifer than the stock bride cushions. Added more lumbar support.

 

 

 

Now just wondering whether to add some sections to the backrest like this:

 

Nice, but what's with the connector? I'm pretty sure that's the electric seat connector block but its just for the seat belt on your seat?

Nice, but what's with the connector? I'm pretty sure that's the electric seat connector block but its just for the seat belt on your seat?

 

Thanks Ali. That is the seat belt light. not sure if it is a series 4 thing, but when you have the belt unclipped it will put a light on the dash

Thanks Ali. That is the seat belt light. not sure if it is a series 4 thing, but when you have the belt unclipped it will put a light on the dash

Ok, on earlier versions the block is a much smaller thing for the passenger side as it doesn't require power.

Some good progress today with a new carpet from Ali, and the seats back in. Loving the black on black look!!