Simple interior project gone crazy

[bcs163]

You're planning on putting ezcool on top of the fatmat? That isn't kinda overkill?

It may be, but for the cost of EZ Cool ($42) - I'd go with overkill for that price to do the front floor and tunnel.

[georgeramos]

I think thats smart, I get a LOT of warmth from the floor and the firewall...on super warm days it gets uncomfortable

[RRoller123]

I doubled up the EZ cool over the Cat Con section of the floor, it gets pretty hot over there.

[bcs163]

That looks nice RRoller123!!

I just finished up with adding EZ-Cool to the front section of my car (pics coming soon)

Now I'm digging into the electrical wiring. Not sure if I should try and restore the original wiring or rip it out and go with the Painless harness that baltobernie and others have documented.

The harness has been modified by the PO - extended some wires (I'm assuming to make re-assembly easier), vampire taps and other splices. It also has some degraded insulation in some spots (brittle, broken) and some melted wire (appears they had an incident and then did the 'brown-wire-fix') and to boot - not everything was hooked up when I got it.

loose connections


melted wires


vampire taps


splices (this one jumps from one side of the engine bay to the other - from what I can tell they linked the headlights together)


broken insulation


random disconnected wires (at least these were capped)


I would like to have the electrical gremlins taken care of but I'm also a little afraid to rip out the wire harness - has anyone else done this? Any suggestions?

[blurple124]

I went about it the hard way, but it can definitely be done.

See the more recent posts on this thread: http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 2&start=90


It took me about a month to replace the original wiring harness with a completely custom designed one, but I feel A LOT more comfortable with my car's electronics now that I once did.

[bcs163]

I went about it the hard way, but it can definitely be done.

See the more recent posts on this thread: http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 2&start=90


It took me about a month to replace the original wiring harness with a completely custom designed one, but I feel A LOT more comfortable with my car's electronics now that I once did.

Wow... just simply wow - that is freaking impressive!! I wish I was confident enough to tackle the job head-on like that or just simply lived in the same town as you.

After stepping back from the ledge I took a second look at the items I need to fix - I don't think ripping out the entire harness is necessary - just repairing the modified connections and tracking down the loose ends and then comparing them to wiring diagrams.

[bcs163]

So - it's been a while - but don't worry they didn't come and lock me up in a rubber room... yet

Electrical systems are always *fun* , but I'm slowing working my way to the finish line.

Taking a quick break from the madness, I decided to start getting the interior back into place (since that was the original goal of this project) by starting where I was finished with the other projects.

I was able to start fitting the carpeting on the passenger side and I was starting to freak out a bit that the carpeting kit wasn't lining up with the car very well. Once I learned/accepted that the kit is meant to overlap and I will be putting in floor mats in addition, it started looking better.



then I put the trim back on the map pocket panels, the door card in, the door seal, the threshold plate, door handles and I threw in the old seat (waiting for funding to stabilize)





Then I though - why not just set in the dash?


It definitely feels good to see a 'car' again - the restoration project was starting to make me feel like there was no end in site.

So, a quick question to the group - when is the best time to replace the windshield? (A - while the interior and dash is out, B - before the paint job, C - after the paint job, or D - doesn't matter)

My windshield has a few chips in it and there are a lot of large bubbles forming at the bottom.

[njoconnor]

What is it about placing the dash which seems to say "Now I'm REALLY getting somewhere?" Great looking work, especially after what you started with. Keep at it. Interesting that we are both wrestling with Sgr Marelli at the moment....


Neil

[bcs163]

Thanks Neil - I've been following your project as well - looking good I might say!

I was able to reconnect most of the electrical systems (without and sparks or smoke!!) - I just have to figure out out the turn signals and get the power outlet, courtesy light, hazard switch and fan switch connected.

But I was able to start it up - which was a huge weight off of the chest - especially for have the car ripped apart for the last 5 months!!

I'm not turned my focus to the interior, I have most of the carpet kit installed - I just need to fiddle with the upper and lower console and figure out a solution for seatbelts.

[njoconnor]

About seat belts: I ordered a custom set for the front from these folks: https://www.seatbeltplanet.com/

The custom part was a change to the retractor to allow it to work in a horizontal (fore and aft) orientation in lieu of the standard vertical (up and down, along a door post) orientation. I'm using the (once) hidden factory shoulder belt bolt holes on the rear wheel wells, and routing the shoulder belt through a later model shoulder belt guide which attaches to the headrests. Not installed yet, but close. I think I paid $90/set. Beats what came stock (simple lap belts).

I may try a test fit this weekend to see if there are any tweaking issues. Good to take a break from Sgr Marelli.....

Neil

[bcs163]

I wish I would have done a little more searching around a few months back - I ended up buying mine from MrFiat: http://mrfiat.com/italian/fiat/fiat-124 ... t-new.html ...definitely over-paid from what what I just saw on the SeatBeltPlanet website

Yeah, I wasn't sure if I was going to just re-install as the factory setup (lap belts) or try and utilize the mounting points behind the rear seats and using some guides that sit on the headrest - but then you run into the problem or routing the belts from the back seat to the heard rest - will this get in the way of the windscreen & brackets?? This is something I'll have to fiddle with for a while.

Either way - it's going to be better than the stock ones I had - they were supposed to retract, but the were completely rusted out - they were mostly for show.

So, its just down to the upper console electronics & getting my turn signals working again (it may be tied into the hazard switch). Then figuring out what I'm going to do for my wood dash panels (I have none - thinking about building my own after seeing some prices so far) and seat covers.

Speaking of seat covers - has anyone used Car Upholstery Guys (M&T Manufacturing) for their seats? https://www.carupholsteryguys.com/categ ... w?cat=2424

[njoconnor]

I was going to make my own (even bought the correct hole saw blades for my drill press), but did some price checking, and found that I couldn't ignore Chris Obert's prices at Fiatplus. The dash wood in my pictures is from him. I kept all the old pieces, and will likely make a set of templates with the hole saws once I'm done with the car (and can re-arrange/clear the work space). Once I balanced time/money, going with Chris' set made more sense.

Can't help on the seat covers. Got an excellent quote by a local re-upholsterer (recc'd by the guy who did my floor pan), which included foam rebuilding and matching the grain to the existing door cards. Then, this past spring, the local guy whipped up a top boot for me in matching vinyl, with seat back padding better than my original, for about $150. Might want to at least get a quote from some local folks.

Neil

[bcs163]

So, my seat upholstery arrived today!!


Kitty likes when playhouses... err boxes arrive.


I ordered these from M&T Manufacturing - the color is : Sierra Vinyl: Red - #4558




They came with hog rings and pliers - but it looks like I'll have to go and get a decent set of pliers




So, while waiting for the pliers, I decided to start on the headrests. (Yes, that's my kegerator as a workbench - anyone want to help with the install? )


Using a plastic bag and the shopvac - it squeezes the foam down to a manageable size.


and then the cover slips on! after a little fidgeting with the cover I was able to get the shape right.


So, hopefully in the next couple of nights - I'll have the seats together and installed.

[Ptoneill]

Very nice job, I have not started my interior yet. I went with the dynamat and dynapad, I agree with everyone when there is no regrets with to much insulation. I give you credit on the electrical, I think the previous owner had a substance abuse problem!!

[nibbes123]

Is there a web site for M&T? If so can you please post.
Thanks
Nick