88 Cabrio - with updates

[MoreMayhem]

How I spent my spring break, by Mayhem:



3D printed a cover for the tow hook opening on the RD rear apron







Replaced the front window lockstrip. Window is filthy from all of the soapy water I used to massage the new strip into place


Bought some stuff to re do the seats and door seals...

Dark red leather seat covers from Lseat and door weatherstripping from amazon


new back and side bolster foam for drivers seat


new seat bottom foam for drivers seat


new seat heater elements for both front seats


naked seat bottom. had to have the bolster support re welded on one side


naked seat back


seat back side bolsters going on


seat back in progress


seat bottom side bolsters going on


seat bottom in progress


seat back about done


head rests


drivers seat done


here's the old drivers seat


back seat done - didn't get any in progress photos unfortunately


all seats in, still have to re cover the convertible top compartment lid.


also bought a shiny cat-back exhaust from Ireland. Wanted Stromung, but after too many unanswered emails I moved on.


Condor rear spring pads. Used 10mm on left side, and 13mm on right side.


before spring pads:


after spring pads - hasn't settled yet, this is just after removing jack stands


no photos of the muffler installed, although you can just see the muffler in the gap between the tire and rear apron in the above photo. I'm waiting on some tips I bought from 42 Draft Designs (the same ones posted above by staszek)




Now the not so pretty part. The seat backs. As this was my first time doing upholstery of any kind, the seat backs look pretty bad. Particularly the driver seat as I did this one first:


and I couldnt get the material to wrap smoothly around the edges like the OEM seat backs. Would have been nice if the pieces from LSeat were just 1" bigger all around.


passenger seat came out better, to the point where I may order a new piece from Lseat and re do the drivers seat back. Still not perfect, but at least you don't really see the seat backs when the seats arent folded forward






Next things on my list are to re cover the convertible top compartment lid, dye/paint or replace the carpet and front speaker kick panels in black, replace the top and the tension straps, finish replacing the remaining bits of weatherstriping.

replace these hinge things (new aftermarket one at top of photo)





Oh, one interesting thing about the old seat covers in my car. The seat surfaces were all covered in vinyl, but the seat backs were leather!



That's all for now, thank you for looking.

Love,

Mayhem

[2mAn]

Mike36 Should be jealous of this car....


MoreMayhem This thing is great and Im sure Ive seen it before. It looks like you're in LA, bring it to the mid-city gtg this Friday night!

[MoreMayhem]

MoreMayhem This thing is great and Im sure Ive seen it before. It looks like you're in LA, bring it to the mid-city gtg this Friday night!
[/QUOTE]

You may have seen it before. I’ve been to just a couple of gatherings. Once or twice to the old Van Nuys gathering, and one big gathering in Ventura. A drive on Friday night sounds like a great idea!

[Mike36]

Mike36 Should be jealous of this car....

Hell yeah Im jealous! Mine should be up and running soon...

Lots of tasteful upgrades so far

if your new exhaust still sits at an angle then you may need new hangers. Also longer tips since you have that rear valance now.

the tonneau cover is painted factory black underneath. You just peel it off and remove the adhesive and itll come right off. I have a black one with black vinyl that you can have for cheap. Im located in the Valley.

i also had fitment issue with my rear lseat covers. I used extra foam from an autoupholstery shop on the center bolster to get it to fit nice and tight.

[benwalsh91]

and subscribed, really like the update on this. i have been looking at LSEAT for a while now but i am just a bit hesitant as I've never done upholstery before either.

[MoreMayhem]

if your new exhaust still sits at an angle then you may need new hangers. Also longer tips since you have that rear valance now.

the tonneau cover is painted factory black underneath. You just peel it off and remove the adhesive and itll come right off. I have a black one with black vinyl that you can have for cheap. Im located in the Valley.

i also had fitment issue with my rear lseat covers. I used extra foam from an autoupholstery shop on the center bolster to get it to fit nice and tight.

The new exhaust sits nice and level. I did get new hangers with it so that might have been the solve. Tips should be here in a week or so, then I'll need to find someone to weld them on.

I'm not opposed to peeling off the vinyl, but the black is a re-spray from the original bronzit. Black lid with black vinyl may be a good way to go though, as the samples of vinyl I've received aren't a perfect match for either the seats or the door cards (which also aren't perfect matches to each other).

The rear seats I may leave as is, or try massaging with a heat gun to remove the ripples. It doesn't bother me much. At least not as much as the seat backs!

and subscribed, really like the update on this. i have been looking at LSEAT for a while now but i am just a bit hesitant as I've never done upholstery before either.

Thanks! I'll try to make the updates worthwhile!

Upholstering the seats wasn't really that bad. I took my time with it and spread it out over probably 6 or 7 days. I ordered a set of hog rings and a hog ring plier from lseat. I ended up needing WAY more hog rings, so ordered a big bag from Amazon after not finding the right size at any hardware stores or upholstery shops near me.

If you don't want to tackle it, call around to local upholstery shops and see what they'd charge to put them on. Lots of people go that route. I called two and the cheaper of the two wanted I think $150 per seat surface to put them on, which would have come to something like $900 for their labor. But probably would have had a better looking result on the seat backs if I'd hired them.

[MoreMayhem]

So there are things that have been done. Little improvements mostly.
I see some of the build threads here and am amazed at people's skills (and budgets!).

This update isn't one of those.
This update is about things I've done that range from necessary to silly.

Here's what has been done recently and not so recently in no particular order...



Mostly finished turning the interior into various shades of red. Carpet is still tan, and eventually I'll do something about it.









Added a retro style stereo





Then 3D printed a set-back bracket so it mounts flush to the dash (and also added a magsafe phone mount thing)





Then I noticed some newer cars come with a little "puddle light" that puts a slight glow on the center console.
It's not as bright to my eye as it is to the iphone camera...







Added another 3D printed thing: a cupholder









Replaced the clutch







Brightened up the road ahead with some LED headlights







Replaced the soft top











Added in rear camber and toe serrated adjusters






Replaced rear speakers that stopped working








Added a fire extinguisher





And yet another 3D printed thing, these silly headlight louvers (oh, and a silly personalized license plate)





And lastly, recovered the sports steering wheel








All-in-all it's been a lot of fun. Thank you for looking.

Mayhem

[Mike36]

Loves these back from the dead updates, looking good!