280i FHC Re-trim Starts
Discussion
Here's another example of the dreadful build quality on these cars. Have a look at the gaps where the rear and side panels come together...
Right.
Left.
The cut-outs for the overlapping corners are different on each side but both are far too big so the gap will be visible even with the closure panels fitted. Both sides will need building up with GF to get the right gap. Or maybe it might be easier to leave an overlapping fold of scrim & vinyl to cover the holes?
This car was built in March(?) 1981. Did the build quality improve on the later ones?
On cars which have been re-trimmed, have flaws like this been corrected or preserved in the interests of "originality"?
Right.
Left.
The cut-outs for the overlapping corners are different on each side but both are far too big so the gap will be visible even with the closure panels fitted. Both sides will need building up with GF to get the right gap. Or maybe it might be easier to leave an overlapping fold of scrim & vinyl to cover the holes?
This car was built in March(?) 1981. Did the build quality improve on the later ones?
On cars which have been re-trimmed, have flaws like this been corrected or preserved in the interests of "originality"?
Edited by v8s4me on Tuesday 20th June 09:08
No prizes for guessing what these are for...
Looking at the photo I’m wondering why I didn’t make them fit more neatly around the rear panel. I measured and cut them with the wheel in place and they looked OK then. Oh well, I’ve cut and edged the carpet bits now so I’m not doing them again. In true TVR style, near enough is good enough and they will be easier to get out with that little bit of "slack" to get my fingers under. Maybe edging the carpet pieces is a bit of overkill though...
Looking at the photo I’m wondering why I didn’t make them fit more neatly around the rear panel. I measured and cut them with the wheel in place and they looked OK then. Oh well, I’ve cut and edged the carpet bits now so I’m not doing them again. In true TVR style, near enough is good enough and they will be easier to get out with that little bit of "slack" to get my fingers under. Maybe edging the carpet pieces is a bit of overkill though...
I simply used the old vinyl pieces as templates. The velour was shot to pieces but the door card covers were easy to measure and cut. I made new door-cards from 3mm ply because the old hardboard ones were rotten. For the carpeted areas I made templates from Proplex.
Most of the materials came from a local trimmer. When you come to do yours you will be amazed at how much you spend on the sundries eg glue, thread, sound-deadening etc. The actual materials you see eg the carpet and the vinyl are quite a small part of the overall cost.
This project has give me a very good insight into why trimming is so expensive and shown that it is hard graft as well. My fingers, knees, back and neck will stop aching eventually, or so I've been told
Most of the materials came from a local trimmer. When you come to do yours you will be amazed at how much you spend on the sundries eg glue, thread, sound-deadening etc. The actual materials you see eg the carpet and the vinyl are quite a small part of the overall cost.
This project has give me a very good insight into why trimming is so expensive and shown that it is hard graft as well. My fingers, knees, back and neck will stop aching eventually, or so I've been told
v8s4me said:
Driver's door-card and cap done...
In the photos the concealed fir-tree clips are much more noticeable. I used large diameter low profile ones as well. Strange.
Hi JoeIn the photos the concealed fir-tree clips are much more noticeable. I used large diameter low profile ones as well. Strange.
Did you use some scrim foam over the clips before putting the vinyl on?...and did you glue the facing vinyl to the door cap?
v8s4me said:
I used 3mm scrim foam which I stuck to the moulding with spay glue.
Thats good..v8s4me said:
I then used a thin coat of spray glue to hold the vinyl to foam.
Ahh..this is why, normally the vinyl is stretch over and only glued on the back...Personally I would use a thicker scrim foam...say 6mm...Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff