When Well Enough Can't Be Left Alone; Backdate, EFI/ITB, AC, and more!

[Nditiz1]

Excellent work Julian!

[nospiners]

A clinic in creativity and perseverance is what this build is all about. Wonderful !!!!!!!!

[chrisbalich]

Julian,
Stellar work, as is your way.

I drove the LBDC to work today. We're getting close to back-road-ripping season.

[Mixed76]

Outstanding work

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

[Joesmallwood]

That is awesome!!

[1980 SC Targa]

That is just awesome work.

[Showdown]

We're back from another seemingly long break with a bit of an update.

When I initially started this project I didn't think I was going to do much with the interior- mine was and is in really great condition and it seemed absurd to alter something that was fine.

But of course that is my way and in keeping with the theme of this here thread, I just couldn't leave well enough alone... again.

The interior was supposed to be a project for this past winter but life changes got in the way of my plans and the interior would have to wait.

My seats were and are ok, but I'm small and skinny and I slide all over them and more than a few times found my derriere a bit too close to comfort with the shifter, at least for this PG rated thread...

The big question for me was what seats would I want? I was lucky at this years CheckedItOut show to sample a lot of seats. In fact if some dude came up to you and said something along the lines of "I really love your car, can I sit in it?" that was probably me, doing research... yeah, research.

I had settled on a set of BF-Torino Nurburgring R seats- the reclining version because kids but was not settled on the cost. Well, remember that strange two weeks when both the Euro and Pound crashed hardcore and all of a sudden the US dollar was mighty again... It's oft said never let a good disaster go to waste. Well, I pulled the trigger and because of the favorable exchange rate I saved over $800! Yahtzee!

Unfortunately the seats only came in black and that wouldn't work for me so I bought the vinyl version knowing I would change that. It was always going to be leather and fabric, brown and grey of course.

I looked around for a used Juki sewing machine after realizing that mine wasn't up to the task and was shocked at the cost. Around this time, I very serendipitously came across a boat upholsterer a few blocks from my house and began talking to him about tips and tricks. Eventually he got the hint and gave me a price that was less than the cost of the used sewing machine so I really couldn't say no.

I sourced the leather from a wholesaler I work with and got 3 full hides for under $600 and procured the gray fabric from West Elm for $20 a yard on sale. The upholstery work was $1200 and the seats $2200 after shipping, totaling about $4k for two custom seats. Not bad.

The leather is an almost spot-on match for the cork vinyl and it's super supple. The gray fabric has a diagonal pattern to it but on the driver's seat the angle goes from the top right to the lower left, and non the passenger's seat, it's the opposite... the seats are effectively book matched; a subtle detail but one that I was insistent on and I thin it matters. Remember, we're in the era of "everything is important"

I debated on grommets but after sitting on seats with them I just didn't like the feel. They look cool but functionally I feel they're a compromise.

I got the seats back this week and avoided doing any real work for an hour to get them installed. I took the car out this Sunday for a few hours, mostly to gather a data log to refine my VE table, but wow, these seats change the entire feeling and interaction with the car. I’m 5’11” and 145# and I wear 31x32 levis. I fit in these seats like they were designed for me. The support is perfect, the bolsters…perfect, the cushions…perfect. I couldn’t be happier with them.








In preparation for redoing the rest of the interior making this coming winter, I borrowed a new carpet set from Nick here on Pelican and have created templates. It’ll be a combination of the brown leather and gray fabric used on the seats. I'm optimistic that I can start making the pieces this summer and fall so that when winter comes along I'll be ready to go.

[Showdown]

Without a big project to work on I have been tackling smaller things. I changed my AFR table from the pig-rich get-it-started one that I had previously to something that more resembles a car complete with fuel economy where necessary and a Saudi-like disregard for everything at WOT. Suffice it to say the car runs and performs much better. Tuning continues and at this point it’s little refinements that are kind of fun to chase down; a bit more tip in at this RPM, a slight stumble at that RPM…. Now that I’m comfortable reading data logs and understand all of the levers to pull, it’s a joy to diagnose and solve an issue in a matter of minutes rather than days. Eventually I’ll take the car to a dyno again just to see, but I don’t feel like I need to at this point.

I also bought a mini lathe and now everything looks like a turning project. To wit, I made some door lock pulls to replace the plastic ones. I’ll be deleting the round knob when I do the door cards and these are taller allowing the door to be unlocked and locked without the use of the round knob, which I find ugly and redundant.





I also made a shifter extension. It’s only about 2” but it’s all in how you use it… isn’t that what she said? It’s a simple piece modeled after the bicycle compression stems I use on my road bike; a shaft with a flare at the bottom and a bolt that pulls a wedge into the shaft and expands the flare thus locking it into place. Eventually the whole shifter will get dressed in leather and the extension covered.







Speaking of leather, I practiced my leathercraft on the strut brace for a clean bespoke look, just like everyone else. This is how I'll wrap my steering wheel and shifter.





And since my fuse box cover tabs were broken, it received a leather strap with snap to hold it in place. Leathercraft is really fun and if my day job doesn’t work out, I guess I can make BDSM leather goods…?

[1980 SC Targa]

Beautiful work!

[Ginger77]

Great update. Must be very satisfying to have the seat upgrade come out this well. Not only the great look but good fitment too.
Digging the leathercraft in the last three pics too. All the custom touches add up nicely. Well done!

[Showdown]

Originally Posted by Ginger77

Great update. Must be very satisfying to have the seat upgrade come out this well. Not only the great look but good fitment too.

Even though I sat in a LOT of seats I wasn't able to sit in a set of these so it was a HUGE risk. The favorable exchange rate was good enough that if I didn't like them I figured I could break even or maybe better reselling them. That said, I was VERY relieved!!

Only problem is that they make the rest of the interior look worse!

[jac1976]

Love the combo on the seats. Albeit a German car, the grey and tan wouldn’t look out of place in Milan.

[mepstein]

Love the seats. I'm with you, no rivets.

[Hulley]

Once again, I'm in awe of your work! Love the seats, I'm in need of a pair myself.

[AG81]

Julian,

Great work. As usual. The seats seem similar to mine. Love them.

[chrisbalich]

Originally Posted by Showdown

And since my fuse box cover tabs were broken, it received a leather strap with snap to hold it in place. Leathercraft is really fun and if my day job doesn’t work out, I guess I can make BDSM leather goods…?

1. I need to do something similar. That GD cover just won't stay on. (My tabs aren't even broken!)
2. I lol'd at you crafting BDSM leather goods. Based on what I know about your day job, I reckon you'd have to get into leather goods as a side hustle.
3. I'm just awestruck at the craftsmanship of the leather on that strut brace. Skilled labor like that is beyond my ability to understand. Very well done, my friend.

I'm out of town this weekend and next. But when I get back, I'm coming up to Chicago or I'm going to have a BBQ and you're coming down to central IN. Your choice.

[nospiners]

Just an awesome job all around , love the seats !!!!!!!!!

[jpnovak]

Glad to see the final product. Well done.

[Missed Approach]

"Leathercraft is really fun and if my day job doesn’t work out, I guess I can make BDSM leather goods…?"

As with any Showdown post, I come for the excellent photos & writeup and stay for the great humor.



Cooking on a Porsche 911- The herb butter made the difference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvXBR50rH9E

[PTSG]

Hey Showdown, any chance you could help me out with a "desk clock?" Would love to gift to my dad on Fathers Day. Happy to pay...of course