Interior refresh

[71se3834v]

Thought I'd create a thread of my latest project on the Charger since I now can at least post a link to some pictures though neither Dave nor I can figure out why I can't post the pictures here. So if you don't mind clicking the links follow along with my progress and I'll try to provide so tips along the way.

As usual I get going on something and forget to take some before pics of the condition of things. I set out to replace my carpet which was faded and had quite a large hole on the passenger side. I also figured if I replaced the carpet most of the stink would go with it. Here's a pic of the interior.
www.flickr.com/photos/182536383@N06/48303774802/in/dateposted-public/

Started this back in January on one of those warm days. I thought winter would never get here so why not? Maybe if I start early I could get done by early summer and still get a good amount of drive time in. The car was stored in the garage at one of my rental houses which was up for sale. Worked on it one day on a warm Saturday afternoon then park it inside, at an angle so I could open both doors. Figured I'd bring my heater over and work on it more over the winter. Then the house sold. Drove it home and parked it under my carport. Then it got cold. Bone cold. Jeff don't like the cold anymore so the car sat. Then spring came, late and so rainy and it's busy at work so the car sat.
Finally after work slowed up a bit, it warmed up a bit and I got caught up on the spring chores I got back at it. Stripped the floor and side panels. Hey, anyone know what these clips are from that were under the carpet? After pulling out the headliner I still don't know.
www.flickr.com/photos/182536383@N06/48227356747/in/dateposted-public/
I also found the round slug that was cut out for the shifter to come up through the floor left under the carpet in front. Ha! and a few extra trim screws.

After cleaning it up a bit here's what I got.
www.flickr.com/photos/182536383@N06/48227353177/in/dateposted-public/
www.flickr.com/photos/182536383@N06/48227258741/in/dateposted-public/

Not bad. Just some minor surface rust. Cleaned that up and threw some paint on it.
www.flickr.com/photos/182536383@N06/48227292676/in/dateposted-public/

That's all for now. Gotta hit the sheets. Stay tuned, more to follow.

[chargervic]

hello . if I,m not mistaken they look like windshield or back glass moulding clips.

[71se3834v]

Jul 16, 2019 21:40:55 GMT -5 chargervic said:

hello . if I,m not mistaken they look like windshield or back glass moulding clips.

I identified them in a catalog but don't remember what they were. Funny that if they were used for the outside trim they were found inside. Maybe the worker was also responsible for installing something on the inside too and they fell out of a pocket. Or they were just tossed in during some hijinks.

[hanks73340]

Nice job! Looks great...

[odzking]

I have a friend with a 68 Coronet sedan and during his resto, he found a paper cup from the Chrysler break room under the carpet. Flattened naturally but has Chrysler Corp and the Pentastar on it.
We joke, he should take it for DNA testing and find who's responsible .

[DynoDave]

Wow...solid floors. Jealous. My car had rust in goofy places. Had rusted where the cowl cap is welded to the front-of-dash (aka firewall) right behind the booster. Water leaked down under the carpet, and no one ever knew. Fortunately the floors are still decently solid, but have a few pin holes.

[71se3834v]

The car has it's issues. I was told it sat under a tree in Tennessee before being brought up here. When I restored the engine bay I found under the cowl where the wiper arms are were loaded with pine needles resulting in the bottom rusting out. Since then I don't hose off the windshield cause it'll run right inside. Also a rust hole behind each hood hinge. Strange place for holes but it's where the inner fender is double plated for support and must of trapped some junk. I'm certainly not complaining. The outer body is very solid with only a few "soft" spots bubbling up. The car was only driven here in Michigan a few years before it was stored in a garage for some 20 years. That saved it from the weather.
A couple of pics of the headliner before removal. Note the mouse holes at the sail panel and 2 more on the other side. A nest was up there but not much mess. Also found a nest under the rear seat back.
www.flickr.com/photos/182536383@N06/48227364191/in/dateposted-public/

In this second pic note the yellowing below the visor the I feared was a cache from the mouse cause it was crunchy. Turns out it was just dried glue and some of it bleed through.
www.flickr.com/photos/182536383@N06/48227307381/in/dateposted-public/

One more of my apparently rare Gunmetal headliner.
www.flickr.com/photos/182536383@N06/48227427852/in/dateposted-public/

After pulling the trim down I found the sides were only glued where the seams were. Only the clips as noted in Jeremy's thread were holding it up along with the clips on the trim piece.
www.flickr.com/photos/182536383@N06/48227363646/in/dateposted-public/

Tomorrow is work on the car day in the heat. Hopefully I won't be so wiped out so I can post more pics. I'm way behind in posting cause the headliner is already in and trim is going back in!

[DynoDave]

My '72 was also rusted behind the hood hinges...a common problem. Motor City Originals (MCO...long gone) out off Gratiot used to sell a nicely made patch for that area. I have a couple welded into my inner fenders. After they went out of business, I'm not aware of anyone that picked up production of those parts, but someone may have.

Cool to see that original headliner!

[71se3834v]

Fortunately the hinges cover the holes. I also had a rotted out battery tray, now replaced, and a hole a few inches across on the inner fender. I shoulda patched that up when I refreshed the engine bay but I was extremely pressed for time. That whole engine rebuild started in July and snowballed into the engine bay refresh. I was working outside so needed to get done before winter or the car wouldn't get into storage. Worked on it every day (wasn't working at the time) and finished the 1st week of Nov. Drove it around for a week, put 50 miles on it and put it away on a day with snow flurries. I'll let the next guy patch the holes. Hey! I did all the mechanicals for him Ha!

[71se3834v]

Forgot to say previously that this project was supposed to be just the carpet. Then I remembered that the package tray needed to be replaced so out came the rear seat back. Since all of the trim and panels were faded I was cleaning and painting them. I pulled out the sail panels, looked around and thought "It wouldn't take much more to get this headliner out." So before I did that I search for a Gunmetal colored one. Long story short after checking with all the big vendors I couldn't get one. One seller on ebay said he could get one made out of OEM material for $325 + shipping, paid up front. I passed on that and ordered a black one. Then out came the headliner.
Searched for these cardstock panels but I don't think anyone makes them. I'll insulate with something else.
www.flickr.com/photos/182536383@N06/48227436457/in/dateposted-public/
www.flickr.com/photos/182536383@N06/48227378086/in/dateposted-public/

One thing to keep in mind is to keep track of your trim screws as there are different ones & lengths used in different spot. as an example the A pillar uses screws that have a shoulder on them, the visor srews are larger than others, etc. I'm kinda anal about the stuff labeling everything but it makes reassembly a whole lot easier.