So you don't like your original trim? But you think your a savvy enough guy to do it yourself?
Well here is what your gonna need to do.
First thing is your gear knob, these cant really be made, so unfortunately, your going to have to buy one....
Majority of these are universal, and simply have 3-4 screws on each side that will tension in, holding it in place.
Gear knob... DONE
Next you want to get some smish new leather for that gear shift boot.
1. Pick your color
2. pick your fabric (it needs to be something that isn't too thick and can be easily stitched together and bend when changing gears)
I used some marine vinyl, strong, bit of give, easy to use and sun wont effect it too much.
You will want to sacrifice your old boot... Its a little bit risky, so if you don't feel up to it, maybe find one from a wreckers or keep aside some money encase you need to buy one
Unpick ALL the stitching so you have separate pieces, remember to label them (front back left right).
Now simply trace these onto chosen material (making sure the stretcheyest sides run left to right, you don't need it to stretch up and down.)
Also, be sure to note where you stitch - not where the fabric was cut, as the extra 0.5cm or so that was left over will make your boot cover 2cm too big in total!
Lay everything out infront of you, and pick up your front piece and your right piece, put your tongue in between your teeth, on the right side of your mouth and then squint your right eye.
This helps to figure out how these two pieces will be sewn together.
Once you got the two sides, lable them both "1" or "a" or "monkey", it doesn't matter. MAKE SURE YOU LABEL AND DRAW ON THE INSIDE!
Repeat this for all 4 sides making sure you dont use monkey for each oneroblem:
If you don't have a sewing machine, or you don't know how to use it, ask your mum or grandma, they are pro at these things and would love to sit you down and teach you I'm sure.
Its not gay, it's for my car bro :ugeek:
Stitch away with your chosen color of stitch... your stitch style, color, pattern or what ever is totally up to you, I used a small zig zag and it turned out fine.
STITCH EVERYTHING INSIDE OUT!
Once your done, flip everything back the other way, it will look like a 4 pointed star :shock:
Don't worry, its just the material, get it all, flatten it out, COVER IT and iron it.
You might find that with some heat, your material suddenly becomes putty in your hands
Finaly, you jsut need to flip it back the other way (so its inside out again), put the little black ring thing :? (you'll know what I mean) in UPSIDE DOWN! and zip tie it off... tight...
Cut your little holed in the U shaped tabs at the bottom, and fit it to your bracket the same way your origional came off!
Congrats on your sweet looking gear shifter buddy!!! :clap:
Eww.. is that your hand break? yea.. that needs to change.
you have 2 options...
Buying a handbrake kit. or making a sleeve cover.
Your sleeve cover, I haven't made, BUT! I will make one and I will tell you how its done.
It will involve 2 triangle pieces and 1 long rectangle..
(I'll make a blue one for my car and post it tomoz)
As for your second option, the 'universal' covers you can but, usualy with different shaft and all!!! mmmm, love me that shaft.. :shock:
First step, sacrificing your old handbrake :twisted:
This thing needs to be sliced off in whatever way you want.
Try to keep the bottom in tact, as you will sue it surprisingly! :crazy:
Here it gets a little.... weired...
The cover I had was too fat to fir over the thin handbrake leaver once the cover was off, and too thin to fit with it on.
So i needed to cut a strip of the handbrake rubber, wrap it around the inside of the cover to make it a snug fit.
Simply slide this over the shaft (thats what she said!) making sure the button is already inside :| while putting preasure on the cover, making sure its pulled back tight against the shaft :lolno: then use the screws to tension it up so it doesn't slip.
Grats on your sweet new handbrake bro! :clap:
Trimming doors, painting highlights and maybe even seats! still to come.
So Today I received another PM about the car painting.
Heres how.
As always, pick your colors.
I suggest pairing something with black, as its an easy way to go.
I'll talk through what I did to get black and white, so just replace your colors.
First thing is first, removing parts.
Air con vents, sides.
Best bet is to lever them from the bottom, using a screw driver or even something made of hard plastic, be careful not to do too much damage.
Once these are off, remove the backing vents as you don't need them and don't want to get paint on them.
The actual air directional vents will come out too, its a little U shaped link that pops out, you'll figure it out.
Next you do the doors.
Once the crew is removed, it will just pop out.
When removing the door handles, there is a screw up on the inside. Keeping the door handle open.
These will almost fall out now.
Main center control unit will pop out with a little force, and the clock and such can simply be unscrewed from behind.
Remove center console by taking the carpet layer out of center bin and removing the two screws.
It will now pop out from the other end.
Under this end you will see two screws that hold the next part in.
Also, two screws located in the circles ON BOTH SIDES!
The area your head unit is located will pop out.
Everything else is a bit of a job and I didn't bother doing.
Now for colors.
No steps can be skipped!!!
Let everything dry between coats, don't just wait till you think its dry.
Clean every piece with wax and grease remover, as this will ensure a clean finish.
Once clean and dry, apply a plastic primer, let it dry and re-coat.. coat about 2-3 times for a flat finish or once for textured, a good 1 coat though, don't be stingy.
Finlay, apply your color. Your color should be just plain spray pain, don't use plastic paint as it wont stick to the primer well.
Apply coats as desired.
As for black, you can buy a kit called "bumper black", it has a cleaning agent that you should use, then like a shoe polish applicator with dye inside.
This will give you a nice black finish to any of the grey plastics.
Apply a few coats and let dry in between.
This is the easiest and can sometimes be done without removing the parts.
Seat re-trim
I went to my local wreckers and bought a seat to experiment with.
I took the original seat apart by removing screws and lifting tabs.
Also, the seems in your seat are held down with a type of valcro.
Ouside nuts
Inside bolts
Lift tab
Tab lifted
Clip that pulls top of seat tight
Valcro stuff
Under side of seat
Under side plastic lining clip - bit hard to get off
I started by labeling everything as we did with the gear shifter boot (above) and then un picking everything except the back vinyl stuff, as we decided we would use this for the new seats too!
When I had everything off, I simply used spray adhesive to glue the pieces face down onto the material i wanted and cut them out exactly, saves tracing, time and gives cushioning!
I have sewn some of it together, but just snapped my 3rd needle, so picks will come when I'm finished, failed or not!
Ok... So I got my new needles..
I finished off the front part, and preyed the back part of the seats with a vinyl spray (black)
Once it was all done, I started to sew it together.
This was extremely hard, I used a whoel row of staples to hold it in place, sticked everyhting about 5 times and FINALY ended up with the inside out car seat.
Flipped it the write way
And managed to squish it onto the seat. (this was nearly the hardest part)
Two of the tabs that I made to valcro it tight where back to front So I'll have to fix that, and I missed a corner on the head rest.
So far... It looks like I've done it myself...
Its not a pro job by any standards.
Its not finished quite yet, so I'll finish it up, fit it well and take some picks.
UPDATE:
YAY!!!
Finished one seat...... only... 1 more and the back to go
I don't think I'll be starting another any time soon, this was extremely hard, a lot of patience and concentration, frustration and head aches.
The end result is... ok.... they arn't amazing, but I think for someone who had never used a sewing machine before, its not a bad effort.
Well here is what your gonna need to do.
First thing is your gear knob, these cant really be made, so unfortunately, your going to have to buy one....
Majority of these are universal, and simply have 3-4 screws on each side that will tension in, holding it in place.
Gear knob... DONE
Next you want to get some smish new leather for that gear shift boot.
1. Pick your color
2. pick your fabric (it needs to be something that isn't too thick and can be easily stitched together and bend when changing gears)
I used some marine vinyl, strong, bit of give, easy to use and sun wont effect it too much.
You will want to sacrifice your old boot... Its a little bit risky, so if you don't feel up to it, maybe find one from a wreckers or keep aside some money encase you need to buy one
Unpick ALL the stitching so you have separate pieces, remember to label them (front back left right).
Now simply trace these onto chosen material (making sure the stretcheyest sides run left to right, you don't need it to stretch up and down.)
Also, be sure to note where you stitch - not where the fabric was cut, as the extra 0.5cm or so that was left over will make your boot cover 2cm too big in total!
Lay everything out infront of you, and pick up your front piece and your right piece, put your tongue in between your teeth, on the right side of your mouth and then squint your right eye.
This helps to figure out how these two pieces will be sewn together.
Once you got the two sides, lable them both "1" or "a" or "monkey", it doesn't matter. MAKE SURE YOU LABEL AND DRAW ON THE INSIDE!
Repeat this for all 4 sides making sure you dont use monkey for each one
roblem:If you don't have a sewing machine, or you don't know how to use it, ask your mum or grandma, they are pro at these things and would love to sit you down and teach you I'm sure.
Its not gay, it's for my car bro :ugeek:
Stitch away with your chosen color of stitch... your stitch style, color, pattern or what ever is totally up to you, I used a small zig zag and it turned out fine.
STITCH EVERYTHING INSIDE OUT!
Once your done, flip everything back the other way, it will look like a 4 pointed star :shock:
Don't worry, its just the material, get it all, flatten it out, COVER IT and iron it.
You might find that with some heat, your material suddenly becomes putty in your hands
Finaly, you jsut need to flip it back the other way (so its inside out again), put the little black ring thing :? (you'll know what I mean) in UPSIDE DOWN! and zip tie it off... tight...
Cut your little holed in the U shaped tabs at the bottom, and fit it to your bracket the same way your origional came off!
Congrats on your sweet looking gear shifter buddy!!! :clap:
Eww.. is that your hand break? yea.. that needs to change.
you have 2 options...
Buying a handbrake kit. or making a sleeve cover.
Your sleeve cover, I haven't made, BUT! I will make one and I will tell you how its done.
It will involve 2 triangle pieces and 1 long rectangle..
(I'll make a blue one for my car and post it tomoz)
As for your second option, the 'universal' covers you can but, usualy with different shaft and all!!! mmmm, love me that shaft.. :shock:
First step, sacrificing your old handbrake :twisted:
This thing needs to be sliced off in whatever way you want.
Try to keep the bottom in tact, as you will sue it surprisingly! :crazy:
Here it gets a little.... weired...
The cover I had was too fat to fir over the thin handbrake leaver once the cover was off, and too thin to fit with it on.
So i needed to cut a strip of the handbrake rubber, wrap it around the inside of the cover to make it a snug fit.
Simply slide this over the shaft (thats what she said!) making sure the button is already inside :| while putting preasure on the cover, making sure its pulled back tight against the shaft :lolno: then use the screws to tension it up so it doesn't slip.
Grats on your sweet new handbrake bro! :clap:
Trimming doors, painting highlights and maybe even seats! still to come.
So Today I received another PM about the car painting.
Heres how.
As always, pick your colors.
I suggest pairing something with black, as its an easy way to go.
I'll talk through what I did to get black and white, so just replace your colors.
First thing is first, removing parts.
Air con vents, sides.
Best bet is to lever them from the bottom, using a screw driver or even something made of hard plastic, be careful not to do too much damage.
Once these are off, remove the backing vents as you don't need them and don't want to get paint on them.
The actual air directional vents will come out too, its a little U shaped link that pops out, you'll figure it out.
Next you do the doors.
Once the crew is removed, it will just pop out.
When removing the door handles, there is a screw up on the inside. Keeping the door handle open.
These will almost fall out now.
Main center control unit will pop out with a little force, and the clock and such can simply be unscrewed from behind.
Remove center console by taking the carpet layer out of center bin and removing the two screws.
It will now pop out from the other end.
Under this end you will see two screws that hold the next part in.
Also, two screws located in the circles ON BOTH SIDES!
The area your head unit is located will pop out.
Everything else is a bit of a job and I didn't bother doing.
Now for colors.
No steps can be skipped!!!
Let everything dry between coats, don't just wait till you think its dry.
Clean every piece with wax and grease remover, as this will ensure a clean finish.
Once clean and dry, apply a plastic primer, let it dry and re-coat.. coat about 2-3 times for a flat finish or once for textured, a good 1 coat though, don't be stingy.
Finlay, apply your color. Your color should be just plain spray pain, don't use plastic paint as it wont stick to the primer well.
Apply coats as desired.
As for black, you can buy a kit called "bumper black", it has a cleaning agent that you should use, then like a shoe polish applicator with dye inside.
This will give you a nice black finish to any of the grey plastics.
Apply a few coats and let dry in between.
This is the easiest and can sometimes be done without removing the parts.
Seat re-trim
I went to my local wreckers and bought a seat to experiment with.
I took the original seat apart by removing screws and lifting tabs.
Also, the seems in your seat are held down with a type of valcro.
Ouside nuts
Inside bolts
Lift tab
Tab lifted
Clip that pulls top of seat tight
Valcro stuff
Under side of seat
Under side plastic lining clip - bit hard to get off
I started by labeling everything as we did with the gear shifter boot (above) and then un picking everything except the back vinyl stuff, as we decided we would use this for the new seats too!
When I had everything off, I simply used spray adhesive to glue the pieces face down onto the material i wanted and cut them out exactly, saves tracing, time and gives cushioning!
I have sewn some of it together, but just snapped my 3rd needle, so picks will come when I'm finished, failed or not!
Ok... So I got my new needles..
I finished off the front part, and preyed the back part of the seats with a vinyl spray (black)
Once it was all done, I started to sew it together.
This was extremely hard, I used a whoel row of staples to hold it in place, sticked everyhting about 5 times and FINALY ended up with the inside out car seat.
Flipped it the write way
And managed to squish it onto the seat. (this was nearly the hardest part)
Two of the tabs that I made to valcro it tight where back to front
So I'll have to fix that, and I missed a corner on the head rest.So far... It looks like I've done it myself...
Its not a pro job by any standards.
Its not finished quite yet, so I'll finish it up, fit it well and take some picks.
UPDATE:
YAY!!!
Finished one seat...... only... 1 more and the back to go
I don't think I'll be starting another any time soon, this was extremely hard, a lot of patience and concentration, frustration and head aches.
The end result is... ok.... they arn't amazing, but I think for someone who had never used a sewing machine before, its not a bad effort.
