Interior Mustang Mods

Done! I need the room.

 

The 1981 Capri dash structure has more steel braces than the Fairmonts. I got the whole dash including the under-dash supports back to the firewall. The problem was that the Fairmont braces on the firewall didn't have the mounting holes. So there I was holding the dash with my head against the bottom of the windshield and marking the holes relative to the Capri brackets. Felt like Paul the Soccer Octopus.

Had to install and remove the main steering column brace to drill the holes a few times, but now I can get the harness located and finish mounting the AC/Heater box, then the dash frame and instruments.

I was going to do the console first, but some of the wiring has to pass below the carpet to the console, and I still have to hook up the e-brake system and install the cables to the rear wheels.

Rain in the morning, so I'll work on the seat upholstery inside the house.

 

Excellent article on reupholstering Mustang/Capri and almost any fox-bodied Ford bucketseat:
http://www.musclemustangfastfords.com/tech/mmfp_0708_fox_body_mustang_upholstery/index.html

 

I tested the seat fabric for dyeing from Mustang Red to LTD Brown. Won't happen. At least they're clean.

The problem arises at the seams with the vinyl (I had a chunk from the old Mustang seats in the 1978 Donor sedan.) The dye sits there and goes blotchy. I'll have to wait until I can reupholster the front and rear seats myself. I'll rent an industrial machine (or buy a used one) and use the LTD seats for patterns at the front and the mustang split seats for the rear. The rear seat bottom is from the LTD. For now, I'll use these, unless I can find some brown seat covers.

I can dye the cargo carpet though. Found a sweet and short article on it:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4474392_dye-carpet.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_6180697_dye-carpet-truck.html

I used SEMS on the original passenger carpet, but I should have used a real carpet/fabric dye to keep the nap from getting stiff. It was OK on the fabric door panel carpet sections, but not on the floor.

Oh well. I need the wagon running to get more done on the house renos and use the trailer for building materials. Bah! Humbug. Onward...

 

If the dye gets blotchy it's generally because the seam areas didn't get clean enough. I'm with you though, dying the seats is less than ideal. They get too much friction from the old behind to hold up long term. Red goes with brown. Just redo the whole interior red!:banana:

I may just have to take a drive to Winnipeg some day just to see that very cool Fairmont. Oops, I'll have to renew my passport. It used to be us north americans trusted each other better. I think the ole Cooga needs a road trip.

 

You'd be more than welcome too! Just remember that Andy has veto power. He's got 2 fox wagons.

Don't like red interiors, but the fold down backs usually stay folded down anyway. No kids, no dogs. Only the occasional old neigbour needing a ride to the mall in the deep winter cold. I'll get the house done and set up a small work area in one of the bedrooms, next Spring.

We've got a huge needle trade here, so decent sewing machines are reasonably affordable and my dad was a service tech for Singer. I know my way around them. We want some custom window seats upstairs with fire ladders inside, so I'll make good use of it.

 

Norm you blow my mind, you can make progress on the Fox and still work on your house.
Man I got zero done on the Fairlane this summer.
But I did -Replace the bathroom floor -Put in four veggie gardens - Did a brake job on the Mustang -
Made tall grass short 50 times - New deck lighting -And a bunch of stuff I cant remember.
And still work a full time job.
I'm jealous.
How about some pics?
Rick

 

I have to agree with tbirdsps on ..blotchy...clean enouph.

I have not yet tryed to dye a different colour but with great sucsess re-dying (same colour) fox seats useing "RIT" fabric dye that can be puchased at Wall Mart etc. Wash HOT then repeat, if in dout, do it again. Simple green is what I have used and a kick @ss shop vax with a good scrub brush. Same thing, aply dye HOT, not with spray but dipping scrub brush in solution, scrub and vac, and repeat.

No dogs, Norm?

 

I don't have any experience with dyeing auto upholstery, but I'm thinking the results would have to be 'iffy' at best. Seems to me the 'wear' areas on the seats (particularly the drivers seat) would show the original color through in a short time. Also thinking that any woven cloth upholstery like Norm's doing might get brittle as well. Better off spending the extra money for new fabric, vinyl and leather that is professionally done (dyed).

 

Busier than a blue-a$$ed fly in mating season Rick? I know the feeling. Fountain of youth, doing stuff to move forward, whereever that is.

Pics coming tomorrow evening.

 

Used to raise hunting dogs when I was about 8 to 10 years old - 22 dogs at one point. Way before dried dogfood. Canned or fresh meat, and they'd get confused as to whether I was the snack du jour!

My last dog Spot, all white with a tan-beige spot over one eye got run over the day we were leaving to move to Quebec. Broke my heart. Never had the space or time for another one. I love them though, and all the barkers around here, go mum when I walk passed them. I've got the knack.

This dye job was only for the Mustang rear split seat backs and the carpet backs, but its a mix of rayon/polyesther and the vinyl beading and vinyl web at the base of it. I kept the baby LTD chocolate back seat rest to see if I could dye the faded top and sides and then make the Mustang 'splits' into matching units. But I'm gonna do the cargo carpet with the RIT dye, much along your tips.

It's just the Mustang Folding seat backs. I'm using the baby LTD chocolate seat cushion in the rear, so I can still seat 3 back there, like when the wife's tribe come next year.

Anyway, I already steam-cleaned them and reassembled them today and reinstalled and adjusted them too. I could sleep four adults in there!

The front seats recline and the back seats fold down! The Fairmont Hotel was never so compact!

 

Dash harness and maybe, if I'm really lucky with no worn wires, I might get the dash frame and instrument panel in. Maybe the ebrakes too.

I tested one of the Capri rear cargo panels inside mine and realized that all the length difference is after the rear wheels, except for one inch in the floorpan (Wagons are 1 inch longer). That means the Capri/Mustang ebrake cables and future replacements will be around for many, many moons. The Capri was a 9 inch rear drum setup and mine are the 10 inch drums. No ebrake cable issues. Just a quick swap, after I get the handle mounted in the Capri console. I undercoated all the Fairmont brackets under the floorpan, in case I ever want to / have to reinstall them.

 

A mild hi-jack/sidebar for the Conversation police.

The old harness plastic does get crispy-crunchy, especially around the roof and pillars and on power door lock and window wiring at the hinges., But I've also found worn and frayed wires under the dash, where the assemblyline guys forgot a clip or some kind of harness support. I've done this on 3 Fairmonts (the original 1978 donor, Andy's and mine (3 times), and I just thank my lucky stars that I've checked and replaced the bad ones. Its a pain to find some issue that forces you to hang like a bat under the dash, trying to find where the busted wire is later.

 

This is the affordable international event anywhere! We try to visit about 10 'countries' every year. Only in Winnipeg, and the largest cultural event of its kind.

http://www.folklorama.ca/

45 countries this year!
http://www.folklorama.ca/index.php?option=com_pavilion&view=pavilions&Itemid=54

We take a couple of our old (over 80) neighbours out to meet up with their old-country cronies and every now and then, even the diplomats show up. They come on the hush, hush with their families and help promote their events. Cheap, well organized and very interesting.

 

Tbird remembers my old tailgate ordeal. It was a windy day, the car was all painted, and the tarp grabbed the tailgate and warped it. I fixed it reasonably well and even got the new glass installed. Well, a friend was guiding me back into his yard, and forgot about the clothes line post, some time in March. I knew I had to reseal the glass for a small leak.

Well, that warped the frame again. Now its a 2 foot gap at the top about 3/8" wide. I knew I had to replace the tailgate, so I got one last fall. I just have to clean it up, fit it for the rear wiper and refinish it. About one day to clean it up and mod it for the wiper and 3 days of prep, prime and roller painting. Still have enough wood grain to make it like original. The paint needs 10 hours between coats at 2 per day - 6 coats should be enough.

Gotta get some window sealant too.

I was fitting the rear cargo carpet and just happened to look up and noticed how big the gap was. Since the tarp extends over the roof, the rain didn't get inside.