Hey guys,

Just thought I'd share the progress of the 85 GS Restoration/Repair project. Here are some before and afters.... Let me know what you all think!

 

If anyone knows how to fix these wrinkles in the vinyl please let me know!!!!

 

Here's a few shots of my wankel..... (engine that is )

 

Attempt at fender repair....

 

Here's a pic of the new muffler ready to go on. I know it's not a RB. So i'm poor, kill me. This is a budget restoration mind you....

 

Nice man, can u explain how u did each thing and like how much it costs, im planning on doing something similar this winter

 

I took all the carpet out of the car and took it to the local quarter car wash. I used the pressure washer and washed it all with soapy water. The muddy water ROLLED out of the carpets. You could smell the cigarette smell coming out too. After that I threw it out in the sun to dry and then teased it with a wirebrush to bring the fluff back.

I got a piece of carpet from Autozone to re-carpet the hatch area with. I used the old piece as a pattern. For all the carpet shampooing and repair I'd say maybe $20, and one afternoon.

For the vinyl and plastic panels I used duplicolor's vinyl and fabric paint. I painted the door panels, seats, vinyl, everything. I'm not quite done yet as you can see in the pics. After it dried I used engine paint clear coat, for it's tough finish. It has a really nice shine and protects the other vinyl paint really well. I'd say maybe $35.00 for all you paints and stuff. Plus however long it takes you to take out everything and paint it.

The ashtray I got off of ebay and painted. The radio i got from a junkyard. $50 total for those two pieces. I got the floor mats for about $20. I think that's about it. I really haven't invested a whole bunch yet.

Oh yeah, $10 for the Bondo. You'll need some sandpaper too. If you do everything yourself, fixing up an old car isn't that expensive. PLus you learn lots of new skills!...

 

Yea ive dont alot of body work on cars so imma redo the complete extioroin on mine myself, but interrior i suck at so thats gonna be quite teh expierience

 

did you do any extra coloring to the carpets? they sure look red.

 

That looks beautiful. Perfect for us budget minded guys. In my case instead of restoring the interior, I've removed as much of it as I can. I guess I'm just one of those bare interior, weight reduction minded guys.

 

nice work on the interior.

after doing a restoration myself, and a rust repu restoration in progress, i've found out a few things that are helpful.

buy an electric sander. Kragen sells one for $19. makes sanding 10x faster and no sore arms.

sand any bodywork you do with 400 then 600 then 1000 grid sandpaper to make it ultra smooth before paint is sprayed.

por-15 Metal Ready really is the bomb for neutralizing rust, *after* it's been ground or sanded down.

there's primers out there called 'filler primer' or other such that will fill in small dips and scratches very well.

again, nice work!

 

WOW, thats... red!

 

me thinketh we should dub his car "glazed cherry"

 

hell yea it is, looks dyed. FUGGIN NICE!

 

It looks like it has soooo much Red, that I'd be afraid to wear any good clothes in there wit the fear that the red is going to stain them.

 

No I didn't dye any of the carpets. I just cleaned the crap out of the carpets in the front, and the carpet in the back is brand new, so that is why it looks so nice. I did paint the fabric on the door panels and I painted all of the upholstery on the seats. It worked really nice. They look brand new.

The stuff really isn't quite as red as it looks in the pictures, but it definitely grabs your eye. And as of yet I haven't had any of it rub off on my clothes. Lets hope that doesn't happen.

 

Get a hair dryer and try that on the vinyl. If not than pull it off and re secure it.

 

what do you mean use a hair dryer? Heat it up and then try to smooth it out? Won't it just come back when it cools down? Can you specify a little more for me? Thanks...

 

I redid mine in my 85 a few years back... Thank god yours isnt ripped up, well anyways.

Remove the door panel, pull the material off from behind the door, get super 77 spray adhesive. spreay the foam down really good under the vinyl and then stretch and retuck the vinyl back under the door... I recommend gluing the **** out of it on the back side so It doesnt come back off... Good luck

 

Looks great man, I like the red MUCH better than the nasty burgandy color. Once you're done restoring it, I suggest you swap in a manual tranny

 

Yeah, I'm hoping to put a manual in it eventually. Howver, I'm not sure what all that would entail. Are there any how-tos, or guides for that on here? What all would I have to buy besides a tranny?

 

do a search on the tranny swap... there's a nice list of stuff... also, talk with GregS... he is in the middle of doing it, and I (along with others) gave him a nice shopping list. Just dont forget the new pedal assy from a manual car.

 

just pull that vinyl off and restretch it... or do what i did to my 83: go to a fabric store, buy a large piece of vinyl from a roll.. cut it, and start from scratch. I suck at car stuff and it took me half a day start to finish. The car is put together like a lego toy

Enjoy,

Jack