Projects Shoebox interior project on a budget

Wanted to share my attempt to do the interior in my 49 Ford on a budget. Never done any interior work, but that's the point of hot rodding...right? Just figuring it out as I go and using the HAMB for tips and tricks.



Here is a picture of the car. Outside looks pretty good. Interior...well, not so much. I must confess that this is what the car looked like when I got it. Wish I could take credit for the body and paint work, but I can't. I will be taking credit, or blame, for the majority of the interior work though.



Bare metal. Very hot, very noisy.



Four bucket seats from a couple wrecked BMW's. Look much better in some old american iron anyway.



Starting the heat insulation. With no AC in the car, will be very important. The 460 puts out a lot of heat, even without the hood.



Adding some sound deadening to the doors. Used one of the tricks I found here on the HAMB...used Peel & Seal from Lowe's...works great.



Building the package tray. Again, using tips and tricks I found on the HAMB. Turned out pretty good, even for a rookie.



Here is the package tray installed. Can also see the new headliner. I had the headliner done professionally. Wasn't going to take that on as a rookie and with the chopped top.



Here is the back panel that will go behind the back seats. The recessed portion is where the center console I built fits. Will submit pictures of the console, carpet and door panel construction later.

 

Oh my.

 

That bad eh

 

The style of the car is not really HAMB friendly, but the interior project you have going will be of interest to many HAMBer's, including myself, so, carry on sir.

Nice work space, too....my wife would shoot me with my own staple gun if I tried that.

 

Best part is my wife is helping me with the interior and she hates the cold. Let's me do some of the panel building in the kitchen.

 

Naa, I ain't gonna say it but you must have spent way way too much time looking at that green shoebox with the big honkin scoop and no hood that floats around the west side.


Good looking work you are doing on the inside, when are you going to loose the gaudy scoop and put a hood on it so it looks like a custom?

 

I get it that a lot of you may not like the pro-street style of my car and I respect that. Just glad to be part of the community and trying to add some value. Back to the interior thread.



Building the center console from some leftover 1x6 decking from when we replaced the deck last summer.



Center console from the front. Relocating the window switches from the gauge panel to the console.



Adding 1/8" Landau Foam to the console for some comfort.



Adding the carpet padding over the finished heat and sound deadening.



Installing the carpet.



How the center console will look when installed.



The almost finished center console. The red accent not only adds some color but also was needed to cover up a rookie mistake. Always learning.

 

Looks GREAT for a rookie. I'll send you mine!

 

Update to the interior project. Finally got a chance to do some more work.



Building the back side panels



Made door pulls out of a couple of pieces of 2x4.



Making a pattern for the door panels.



Here is the passenger side door panel with the door pull installed. Trying to figure out the design of the door panel. Plan to have a combination black and red vinyl.



Driver's side door panel. Hope to be adding the foam and vinyl this weekend. That's if I can stand the 30 degree temps in the garage. Wife won't let me spray the adhesive in the house.

 

I saw your post on thommyknockers thread... when using closed cell foam, scuff it lightly with med sandpaper to give it tooth for the glue. And on your edges, it depends on how you want it to look. If you knock the edge down a bit it looks cleaner to me. By the way 30 degrees will play hell with the glue. Most glues dont like it under 60. PM me if you have any more questions.

 

About the edges ,If you like the rounded look cut the foam evenly about 3/16 over the edge. Then pull the material evenly around, staple evenly. You can look at the edge profile as you staple. If you like the flat edge look,do as Jim said,sand a taper evenly around the edge.Be sure your edge lines [on the board] are straight and even.They should be cut back from the door edge 1/8 all around,that lets the foam and material bring it even with the door edge. Did I mention it all needs to be even? Jack

 

Thanks for the advice Jack and Jim. I appreciate it. I have been keeping all of the glue and material in the house where it is warm and only taking it out to spray and set. I did cut the panels back an 1/8" and have had them on the doors at least 3 times each checking fit. I have learned that slow and steady wins the race and that it's nice to have people here to get advice from.

 

I think you are posting to the wrong board...

 

Yeah you're right. Nobody on this site cares about doing their own upholstery????

Ignore the comments of the assholes Wally. The exterior of your car may not be traditional, but your upholstery methods are helpful for a lot of us. Thanks for taking the time to share.

Wonder why some people are hesitant to post tech threads on here???

 

Well,i didnt ment to be a dick,but upholster job for the center console and the design of the door interior panels are streetrod stuff,nothing to do with the traditional hot rod/kustom messageboard like this.

 

As far as traditional goes, you're right...nothing traditional about a 49 Ford that is chopped and shaved with molded bumpers and frenched lights. Is it pro-street style, absolutely. Is it HAMB friendly...nope, obviously not. Is it hot rodding and customizing...hell yes. Don't like it, kick me off or don't follow the thread.

That being said, there are a ton of amazing craftsmen on this site with a wealth of knowledge. That's the point of a forum, to learn and share.

 

Some of the dicks would hold a parade in your honor if it had a sbc in it regardless of the rest of the car.
Shoebox...check
chopped...check
drivetrain swap....check
a million hours of blood, sweat and tears...check

I do believe it is more traditional than alot of cars on this forum. Of course I could be wrong as I didn't chop my first Model A until about 1965...

Carry on

 

Thanks for the support 73RR. No SBC here, BB Ford 460 all the way.

 

Neat job on the center console. Are you using just the adhesive, or are you using a heat gun too?

 

Keep it up, like the thread and learning.

 

Interesting,,,HRP

 

Maybe not entirely hamb friendly but i love it when i guy takes on something himself and takes a shot at something. To me that's traditional. Keep going. Things evolve and bet you'll change your mind about a lot of things. I do it all the time. Nothing is permanent when a new idea pops up.

 

i too like to dabble in upholstery ,due to the fact that most shops around here stink or take forever to get your car back to you.i like to learn so im looking.wish there was more tech on here and less bs.good job.theres always a "traditional " nazi ready to jump some one .been a victim more than once...

 

thank you, i just showed this to a friend who is trying to do his own interior

 

They may be a slightly different shape, but the principles, tools and methods are exactly the same!

 

So, should I post my boat interior build? Different shape, same tools, methods............

Stock car chassis? Different shape, same tools, methods........

 

For the center console I used 3M 90. Did have to sew a seam where it transitions from the top down to the switches and sew in a triangle piece at the bottom where it transitions from the switch panel to the flat panel where the shifter will go. I didn't think it would stretch that much at the bottom.