Light restoration, light modifications: Order of operations?

[bemmett]

Opinions from previous experience needed!

I purchased my Silver '87 Carerra a few months ago, and now that I've lived with it for a while I've got my list of things I'd like to do to it pretty well sorted to my liking. I'm generally keeping things stock, but any mods I do will be light, minimal and reversible.

I know the order that I'll approach the mechanical bits, but it's the body and cosmetic part that I need some insight on.

The interior needs help, a good portion of which I think I'll try for myself. Carpets, headliner, Momo steering wheel, door panel fixes (or maybe backdate to RS?), and either refinished stock seats or something a little more sporty.

Additionally, the rubber seals appear to generally be all original (except windshield which was replaced a few years ago), and really need to be replaced. I'd eventually like to do a windows-out, fenders-off, bare metal repaint. The existing paint job probably has a few years left, but it's starting to look pretty sad. I don't want to go with a concours quality paint job, as I'd like to go out for spirited drives and not have to worry too much about the occasional chip, but really just something to bring a nearly 30 year old exterior back to life for another 30.

So the question really ends up being: should I work from the inside out, or outside in?

I ask because it seems to make sense to do the paint and the rubber at the same time, and then work my way inward, but I wanted to see what other folks had done previously.

[SpyderMike]

I am in the middle of mine...a 1985 Targa that I've had since 1989 and have 250k miles on. I decided on this approach:

Do all my mods (a.c. delete, cruise delete, backdate heat, remove consoles, newer fuse panel, stereo delete, interior lights delete, power door locks delete, flag mirrors delete, New brakes, New bearings, New mounts, New suspension, refurbish steering, refurbish wheels, remove exterior rubber bits/seals, then

backdate body and paint exterior, then

replace exterior rubber bits and seals, then

do interior work - new carpet, refurbish gauges, new steering wheel, refurbish seats or new seats, new door panels.

My thoughts are that it will be easier to do these tasks in this order to prevent damaging work already performed.

Good luck with your project!

Mike