M20B29 w/ Triple Webers into my '71 2002

[CubbyChowder]

amazing!

[SkiFree]

Mikey - thank you so much for the info, I will try and do it how you recommend and see what happens. I've got another ten knobs to tinker with.

BMW 2002 Bucket Seats.

This project began with figuring out which seats I wanted to use. The Scheel bucket seats found in the E9 CSL have always been my favorite. They offered great lateral support (compared to the stock seats) and had a sporty euro look I've always liked.

After doing a fair amount of hunting, I went with the Nurburgring seats from BF Torino.

http://shop.bf-torino.com/bf-autositze/nurburgring.html/

Mocking them up, I found the H-point to be extremely close to the stock seats. That was a nice surprise!

The seats needed something extra to make them a bit more fun! Inspiration came from the Bugatti Veyron Rembrandt, with it's two-tone leather weave. The issue is that custom two-tone leather weaving isn't very common.

However, that is when fellow vintage bmw owner and fashion guru, John Carbajal of KingPin studio stepped in to offer his assistance. His experience in textiles proved invaluable. We met up in downtown LA and went to his favorite leather supplier. The store was gated and only through John's credentials was I able to get inside. However, once inside, it was incredible. Stacks and stacks of real Italian leather! The smell was amazing! We looked through a dozen or so appropriate hides and picked out two thick half hides to use for the weaving.

A couple weeks over he sent this picture. With the woven panels ready the seats and the leather portions were sent over to my upholstery shop.



Earlier this week I got the call saying they were done! Here's how they turned out. Not the weaving was hand done, so it is not perfectly symmetrical. Call it a touch of character.





Distilled Information
x2 BF-Torino Nurburgring Seats + adapters + tilt kit
x2 Italian Leather ½ hides
x1 John @ KingPin Studio
x1 Secret upholstery shop


BMW 2002 Esty Custom Carpet.


I emailed Esty for the carpet of course! She suggested I take a leather sample to a carpet specialist and match an appropriate carpet color/material.

The best match we found was a Palomino-colored German Fine-Tufted velour used in older Mercedes. It was soft to touch, but very hearty. Ended up with 7 yards to send off to Esty.
http://www.gahh.com/carpet-german-ve...o-60-wide.html


Esty was kind enough to extend the tunnel section (since there will be no center console) and went with a contrasting black heel pad. She was great to work with, could not ask for a better experience.

Here's a close up of the carpet and her work.



The front section laid out with the finished seat.



Distilled Information
x6 yards of Palomino Fine-Tufted Velure (for carpet set, floor mats, and trunk mats)
x1 Esty's skilled touch


That nearly finishes off the interior plans. With the car now at my house I have had the engine in and out at least eight time trying to get everything just right. Next up will be to finish the bodywork for prior to paint.

[2mAn]

I need one of those knobs for my gazelle project. I want to make a dash panel and doors from walnut also, so this would be an awesome finishing touch

[CubbyChowder]

Went with Walnut.

That's what I thought based off your first post but the raw blanks appear much lighter to me so I thought it might be something else, but I know the sappy walnut can get pretty light/honey golden.

Just a suggestion, and not sure if this is even what you're after but if you want a more natural walnut finish you could find a darker walnut wood to cut your blanks from (in raw form it resembles a chocolate milk color). You could skip the prestain/stain steps altogether and go straight to an oil based polyurethane wipe on finish (1 part boiled linseed oil, 1 part pure tung oil and 1 part satin heavy duty polyurethane) and do maybe 3-4 light coats of that, meaning apply liberally with a rag so it's soaked, wait about 5 minutes and wipe off all excess. Helps eliminate brush marks and gives it a nice hand rubbed finish. The oils help pop that dark color out and soaks in deep, and the polyurethane obviously helps protect it. It's a great combo and I've been learning about it and using it in the shop a lot lately. Might be worth messing around with, could save you some time! Either way they look great man

[SkiFree]

Went with Walnut.

[CubbyChowder]

Thank you for your help! This was my first "wood finishing" project.

No problem man, what kind of wood are you using for the knobs?

[SkiFree]

Those turned out awesome Andrew!

Thank you for your help! This was my first "wood finishing" project.

[SkiFree]

Quick steps to finish your own knob.

1st: Prestain





2nd: Stain





3rd: 1st coat of Sparr Urethane



4th: lightly sand (320grit)



5th: Spray 2nd and 3rd layers of urethane.

6th: Assemble knob



7th: Use wood polish, and bob's-yer-uncle!

[CubbyChowder]

Those turned out awesome Andrew!

[SkiFree]

I'm happy to say that the new shift knobs are almost done. Didn't see any that were perfect, so why not make some.

The design started from a couple sketches on yellow notebook paper which made their way into solidworks, then machined from either T6061 or walnut, and finally finished into what you see here. The shape itself is reminiscent of the original mushroom topped knobs, while being ever so slightly larger.

The emblem choices: The shift patterns hearken back to the long-since discontinued Amco shift knobs. The 4-speed emblem is a direct homage, while the 5-speed emblem is a personal twist. Amco never did this 5-speed overdrive pattern (as found on our Getrag 245's), so a couple quick sketches and a talk with the emblem manufacturer was all that it took.



The aluminum knob has a nice heft. In addition to the center being threaded, there is also a small set screw to help assist keeping the knob in place.

This walnut wood knob is my favorite. It features an aluminum threaded center sleeve while still including a set screw at it's base. These will be available in “piece form” if you wish to do the staining and assembly yourself, as well as finished form.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

^Nnnoooooooo.... Its a bunch of dressed up beetles and fiats I'm afraid. We had an E30M3 that came in, it was my favorite car in the shop!

Having extra time in the evening is very nice. Rather than getting home at seven, I am home at five thirty. The kids and I get extra time to play everyday.

Stan, I'm still developing some things for IE when time allows. Just not there in a day-job capacity any longer.

Very nicely dressed beetles and fiat's. Congrats on the new job.

[Reichart12]

Wow that definitely is a great view. Enjoy being at the new shop!

[SkiFree]

^Nnnoooooooo.... Its a bunch of dressed up beetles and fiats I'm afraid. We had an E30M3 that came in, it was my favorite car in the shop!

Having extra time in the evening is very nice. Rather than getting home at seven, I am home at five thirty. The kids and I get extra time to play everyday.

Stan, I'm still developing some things for IE when time allows. Just not there in a day-job capacity any longer.

[MR 325]

Andrew, not sure if you're aware of this, none of those are old BMWs...

[2mAn]

I want to work at a place like that