Interior Work on the 54

Going to "re-post" a few "tips", which for some reason didn't go through:

HANDLE MOUNTING: The handles most likely are going to be mounted on the existing door panels; which makes it a very tight (handle up against the panel) working area. Make sure your tool is up close, up tight to that handle itself, really uptight.

HANDLE PLATE/WASHER: As seen in the pics, the handles are going to have a "Plate/Washer" between the handle itself and the door panel. The "Plates/Washer" is very thin, so MAKE SURE your tool is right up against the handle, between the handle and plate; plate out of the way.

TENSION SPRING: As seen in the pics, some handles (window crank) may have a "Tension Spring" between the "Plate" and "Door Panel". These springs have a pretty good amount of tension, they need to be pushed out of the way, allowing you to do the work. I found using the larger, flatter tool show in the pics works great for getting the spring pushed in, out of the way.

Good Luck

JPL/OHIO
 
Ok, I think these doors are going to come out OK, for what and how I am doing them.

DOOR PANELS: Plastic panels, 1/4" thick, got them at the Surplus Store, $5.00 a panel

DOOR PANEL MATERIAL: Naugehyde, again got them at the Surplus Store; total cost $18.00.

Cutting the panels with a box cutter, trimming with a filet knife.

Glueing the material on.

Using "Christmas Tree Clips" to hold the panel in,

Once I paint and re-install the top door portion; won't look bad.

JPL/OHIO
 

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Still working on the interior on the 54; as I stated in other post; I'm getting this interior simply in a presentable manner, old school restoration that has been sitting for far too long; So:
New Door Panels
Repair - Dye Seats
Pulled Carperting; coated floor, we'll se where we go from there.

Today, was going to get the back seat in, out of the way and work on the remaining door panels.

Open the trunck and noticed that divided, carbboard type material dividing the trunk from the rear seat was old, damaged...hmmm, I'm here, might as well see what I can do.

As an "old school" car guy, I like to see what's in the shop, and go from there.

Pics show my progress, work done; check it out, comments welcomed.
 

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Rear seat in......the cloth that was on the seat was old, worn and badly stained; vinyl still in pretty good shape.

Spray Died the cloth, not a "show quality", but looks better then prior.
 

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That’s really coming out nice. As you said, very old school, whatever you find in the garage. There’s a piece of 1/8” plywood veneer (left over from something) between the seat and trunk of my Thunderbird. It’s got a scissors jack, handle, tool roll bolted to it. Been there at least 20 years now.

I’ve sprayed vinyl, cloth, and even tight carpet. You’re going to be surprised how good it looks and holds up when your done. Nice work.

Since it’s apart, you might think about some underlayment in the interior. Heat and sound. Cheap alternative to the expensive street rod stuff. Worked for me on the bird, too. I used my formica rollers to put it down, but almost anything will work. Don’t tell your wife that’s where the rolling pin went.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/butyl-insulation-question-peel-and-seal.953154/
 
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Agree with the underlay prior to the carpetting. I recenlty did a 65 VW Bug and used the shiny, sticky on one side heat shield they sale for covering home heating ducts; works great.

As I said, the 54 got good bones; I want to get her respectiful, start driving and see where I go from there, so don't want to spend a lot of money on the interior just to find out it could have been spent on some mechanic concerns.

I'm pleased with the door panels (pics above on another post).

Thanks for the reply; I'll keeping posting as I go on.

I hope, like I've done in the past that some of these post will give someone else some ideas, or show something that can help

Take care;

JPL/Ohio
 
And then there is the package tray (adjacent to the back window). I took ordinary carton cardboard cut from a very tall carton (probably from a water heater shipping carton or something like that) and cut a piece of vinyl to match my seats and door panels and glued it on top of the cardboard.
You can take a small drill-bit and poke thru from underneath to locate the two holes for the package tray button-clips.
 
Didn't notice any such package tray on the 54 (Customline), but I'll look again.

Just to reinerate how I do my work on a number of Classics I find and work on:

The reason I enjoy playing with the "Old Cars" is that they take me back to yester-years; and back then (in my teens and early adulthood), I was always turning wrenches, getting ready for the local Friday Night Drags; local small airport was an organized "Drag Strip" on Friday nights, and yes every once in a while, while at the staging area, the Christmas Tree would all of a sudden go to ALL FLASHING RED, stopping everything so we can let a small plane land....no ****, that's the truth; LOL!

Anyway, back in those days when I worked on cars, we would fix, repari, rebuild stuff with what was in the garage, laying around; old srpings, a fender that needed a littl "pounding out"; most of my cars were "primer" or later on after doing some "body work", got love BONDO.....we'd save up the $29.95, sand the car and run it down to Early Scwibes......those days were fun, and I enjoy attempting to re-live them.

Now don't get me wrong, I've had and currently have a "Show Stopper", "Trophy Winner" car (Corvette currently) that get's the top notch treatment, but the "Daily Drivers", the keep a role of Duct Tape, Gallon of Water and some "Zip Ties" in the trunk, I love those cars.

OK, back to the 54

Later
 
Well, the door panels are done, just need to sand, prep, primer and paint the top portion, metal portion on the inner doors.

Thinking a gray just to set it off from all the black?
 

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OK; little "UPDATE", going to attach, show the Driver Door Door Panel with the upper metal piece installed, complete, summary:
Plastic Panel for backing - Surplus store purchase: $5.00
Naugerhide covering - Surplus store purchase: $4.00 pr. door ($18.00 roll will cover all 4 doors, and even cover the rear back window tray
Spray Glue: Gorilla Glue: $2.00, bought 2 cans, good for all the doors, and some left over.
Push Pins (Christmas tree type) to hold panels in tight: $5.00 pr door (.79 each)
Paint: painted the door's top metal portion a light gray; $10.00 a door (cost of paint is crazy, rattle can stuff)

Total Cost per Door: $26.00 (approximately)

Not bad for a "Shade Tree" job

Going to hold off on the carpetting; going to get this thing on the road and see where, if any additional funds need to be placed.
 
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