Interior ideas on '83 SC? Let me see your black interior!

[tirwin]

Fellas,

Looking for ideas and opinions on what to do with my interior on my '83 SC. It's triple black color scheme. There is nothing terribly wrong with it, it's just tired looking. And with everything black there is just no definition to anything. Someone said it's like looking into a manhole.

Here's where I'm at. Front glass needs to be replaced (don't have the heated kind). Rearview mirror is losing it's finish. Carpet is faded. Headliner is brittle around the sunroof opening. Looks like there is some prior water damage (maybe sunroof was left open and it rained?) but no leaking now. Floor pan is dented in 3 places where some idiot tried to jack the car improperly. Driver side seatbelt needs to be replaced. Front seats are in relatively good condition. I re-dyed them and that helped a lot. The seat bottoms have lost some of their definition. The door pockets on both sides are mishaped like someone squashed them by leaning on them. The leather is not cracked or anything but it's very dry in a lot of places. Dash is in good shape - not much needed to do there. Visors are kinda flimsy. I already have installed a MOMO Competition steering wheel.

I want to do DEs with the car so I am thinking about doing a hot rod/minimalist style interior using silver (or grey) and black color scheme. I want whatever changes i make to be functional and not just for looks. Plus just looking at the coin it would take to replace what I have tit-for-tat would be mega expensive. And I don't want to do anything "ricey" (what's the German *car equivalent? Sauerkrauty?). I realize that is somewhat subjective. Not looking to start a holy war. I have no plans to ever sell the car.

I'm thinking about doing the following in phases. Ideas/suggestions on each would be great. And if you have pics on anything similar I'd love to see it! What other things did you do along the way?

Project 1: Replace headliner and front windshield. Run new power connection for a power rear view mirror with auto-dim, built-in garage door opener and power connection for radar detector. Add Blendmount for radar detector. Maybe find a set of used visors?

Project 2: RS style door panels. Maybe grey/black basket weave? Or will RS panels look out of place on a non-RS car? I just really like the look. Maybe silver pulls and aluminum lock knob?

Project 3: New seats and seatbelts. Thinking some kind of Recaro or similar but when I look at options my head hurts. I'd prefer a seat is adjustable. Thought about adding a harness bar but I understand you need to do full roll cage if you do that. So what seat types and belt combinations are recommended?

Project 4: Replace carpet and mats. Can the existing carpet be re-dyed if it's in good condition? Thinking maybe doing track mats but I need to fix the dents in the tub. I assume those can just be pounded out? I would like to do something like the Rennline aluminum *pedals with the extension and adjustable throttle so I can heel-toe. Maybe do the aluminum footrest on the passenger side too.

I'd like to make the car look as good as it runs. I just don't want to sink a fortune in stuff that could be used for other things, so I also want to hear your creative ideas.

I know this is a lot. And to some extent I'm just daydreaming to pass the time. I'm sitting in the hospital with my dad who just had a triple bypass. At 82 the man is tough as nails. He's amazed the doctors and nurses with how well he's doing. I got Wayne's engine rebuilding book for Christmas and have been reading it a lot too. I'd post pictures but I can't right now. Besides it would just look... black.

Ok, enough of me... Let's see what ya got! Happy New Year!

[mschwien]

Hangin with Dad, best wishes for a speedy recovery - So on to the 2nd priority - I'm partial to black myself

[tirwin]

Looks like you have some aluminum appointments. I like it! That's what I'm talking about. It just visually breaks up the monotone look. I'm not thinking of getting away from black all together.

Everything in mine is black. If it stays like this I'm gonna nickname the car Darkness.

[tirwin]

By the way... Are those stock seats?

[kiwiokie]

I put in an off-white headliner in my car to avoid the manhole feeling. Very happy with the decision. Really brightens up the interior.

[will hung]

Sorry to hear about your father.

The interior in my car was looking a little worn, so I decided to refurb it. I wanted to reduce the weight of my car, but being primarily a street car, I wanted to keep it factory looking.

So I removed the heat/sound pad from the back seat area. I installed a black RS carpet, deleting the rear seats. But instead of keeping the all carpet backseat area from the RS carpet, I reinstalled the interior quarter panels and parcel shelf. When I made my door and quarter panels, I used lightweight (and waterproof) coroplast. I also deleted the center console.

My car already had a new black headliner and now had a black carpet, so like you, I wanted to give it some color. So I upholstered the door cards, quarter panels, and parcel shelf with the black watch tartan (a factory option in the mid-70's). Since the photos below were taken, I installed a silver Momo Prototipo to further brighten the interior.

My seats are old Recaro LS models. The seating position is lower than the factory seats and they weigh a little less than my factory seats. Additionally, they are recline-able. Since they are appropriate for the look of the car, I got a set of Coco floor mats, black with blue dots.

To help with heal/toe downshifting, I adjusted the brake pedal until it is level with the gas pedal when depressed fully and then placed 2, 12mm washers under the right mounting bolt of the throttle pedal to bring it closer to the brake pedal. Huge improvement and cost me 2 washers that I had laying around.





To answer some of your questions,
Project 1 - sounds like a valid plan
Project 2 - I like RS door panels for all 911's. But IMHO, they only look good if you delete the back seat and have a set of light weight buckets. For my car, I like having door pockets.
Project 3 - Definitely go with Recaro's. If you delete you back seat, recline-able seats aren't a necessity, but are nice to gain access to the back seat area (It's where I like putting my laptop back when I drive to work). The best alternative, would be a fixed back seat like a Pole Position for the driver's seat and a recline-able seat like a Speed for the passenger.
Project 4 - You can redye the carpet, but you'd be surprised how much weight can be lost with an RS carpet.

[tirwin]

Hi kiwiokie,

Just read through your build story. Fantastic! You should be proud. I like your seat/harness combo. Where does the harness attach? You have given me some things to think about.

The houndstooth looks good on your car but it is against my religion. I very much love the arrow blue. I think orange is also a great color choice.

Happy New Year!

[mickey356]

You can do the track mats from Rennline, but the ones I've seen scratch. Someone on here did a great dash plate using an aluminum door kick plate.
Mine is "minimalist" to say the least. If it didn't serve any function for me it got taken out.

[tirwin]

Will,

I am digging those Recaro LS seats! Have you ever used harnesses with them? I like the tartan too.

Thanks for your feedback!

[tirwin]

Mickey,

Good tip on the track mats. I might do the rubber Lloyd mats in that case. Are your mats tucked under the Rennline panels. My mats slide around a bit and that bugs me. Do the panels hold them pretty securely?

What wheel do you have? It looks more cone-shaped. I like that a lot. Looks like you've got a lot of room between the dash and the wheel. I'm starting to convince myself the RS panels are the right way to go.

[Reiver]

Mike,
I totally agree with you. Not enough color. Dump the seats. Send them to me.

[mschwien]

Yes those are stock sport seats from the late 70's early 80's.

Boy I have a headache!

[tirwin]

Mike,

Now that I look at it, those look like my seats except they mine are squashed out of shape.

I imagine a few people have a bad case of wine flu or liver cramps this morning! Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated is the key.

[mickey356]

Wheel is a Momo Mod7.
And yes, I have the mats slid under the pedals. They stay put for the most part.

[will hung]

Originally Posted by tirwin

Will,

I am digging those Recaro LS seats! Have you ever used harnesses with them? I like the tartan too.

Thanks for your feedback!

No, I've never used harnesses with the LS's. I've just used the stock belts. You'd be surprised how well the seats hold you in place on their own. I've seen pics of people that have used harnesses with the LS's. They have head rests, so they don't need the usual holes cut into them for harnesses. Plus there are nice options out there right now for harness bars too.

Thanks for the compliments. My car is green so the black watch tartan goes well with the car too.

[RoninLB]

Originally Posted by tirwin

Fellas,

Looking for ideas and opinions on what to do with my interior on my '83 SC.

I want to do DEs with the car ......

I'm thinking about doing the following in phases. Ideas/suggestions on each would be great.

And if you have pics on anything similar I'd love to see it! What other things did you do along the way?

I'd like to make the car look as good as it runs. I just don't want to sink a fortune in stuff that could be used for other things, so I also want to hear your creative ideas.

[tirwin]

Post holiday weekend bump. C'mon now... Those hangovers are over!

[cole930]

tirwin:

I'm old and simple and don't like a lot of bling so I was looking for
something spartan and added a little touch of color. Nothing fancy but
it works for the Old Sled.

















Cole