Interior Successes and Woes

I have been working diligently on completing the interior.  Sometimes it seems like things are just working against me.  I ordered all of the interior materials from what was considered a very reputable company that specializes specifically in Jaguar interiors.  I also sent them my console and the hinge and latch covers from the rear hatch because I wanted them to be "professionally" covered.  The covers are covered in moquette, a material that has a coarse fuzzy texture used in several places in the early Jag E-Types. All of the moquette is supposed to be the same color.  As this upholstery project proceeded, I pulled the moquette out of storage and began calculating just how it all would install when I thought "wait a minute there's something wrong here".  I went and got the hinge and latch covers from their box and they were covered in a totally different color moquette.  As I learned when I had to order more vinyl, these people NEVER answer their phone.  You have to listen to a very long sales message before you can even leave a message.  Then they call you back at their leisure.  I was appalled at their lack of concern, but I won't get into that, although I'd like to.  I think I have finally gotten it all straighten out and they are making it good, although I did have to pay to send the pieces back to be recovered.

All of this moquette is suppose to be the same color

The original seat doesn't quite match,
but that's not anybody's fault, I just can't
afford right now to get them redone, but it's on the list

That's not the first difficulty I have had with this particular supplier, but life goes on.  Considering that I know nothing about what I'm doing, I'm making good progress.  The little courtesy boxes just behind the seats, on the quarter panel, needed to be covered, originally they were flocked in gray.  Mike Darby gave me some very fine wool cloth very similar to the headliner, it was perfect but as it turned out, there wasn't enough there.  I went up to Bay Auto Glass and Upholstery and rifled through their remnants and found something that looked pretty good.  Now covering them was another head scratcher.. I managed to get it looking a lot better than I thought I would though.

Quarter Panel box (covered)

Original Quarter Panel box (uncovered)

Quarter Panel box installed

These small boxes were included in only the earlier cars.  I found them still in their place when I was removing the old interior.  They were hidden by the newer style quarter panel that a previous owner had installed.  I think it's pretty neat to resurrect them, and they might actually be useful.  I'm thinking... I'll come up with something to put in them.

Quarter Panel installed

I got the quarter panels installed.  It wraps around the door jam  and screws into place. There is another vertical piece that has to go in there too, making it pretty difficult to get it all lined up.I actually don't see how they could have built even one of these cars in
a month, let alone in the numbers that they turned out.

Installing the cantrail

The cantrails are some upholstered pieces that surround the rear window and door opening.  If you have been following the blog, you will remember when I was struggling with getting them covered.  Turns out, getting them covered was the easy part.  Getting them aligned and screwed in was more of a challenge.  Rodney came over tonight and was able to help with the driver's side, making it a lot easier.  It was completed.  In fact, nearly all of the interior is done now.  In celebration, we shared a glass of Glenfiddich single malt, and talked about how great we were. 

Both cantrails are installed.
it's nearing the end

I do lots of researching of pictures

The colors aren't different, it's just
a reflection or something.

I'm ready for a drive, just need to put the engine in.

There are actually quite a few other things that need to be done, but the single malt stilled seemed like a good idea.  I have to figure out where I'm going to mount the retractable seatbelt thing. The luggage rails in the back still need to be mounted, then there's the doors, I haven't even started on them yet.  That'll probably be the next big thing I work on.  I'm expecting the rear brakes and transmission very soon, then I can put the rear suspension in, it's all ready except for the brakes.  I have to finish making the clutch and brake lines, the fuel line, install the guts into the fuel tank, none of which is major, but it's gonna be hard driving the car without getting it done.  I'll keep ya posted.

Moquette... Hardura... Cantrail... Brits do speak a foreign language

I'm pretty tired, I have accomplished a good bit this week even though I have had a fair amount of work to do on my "real" job.  Working on the upholstery is not something I have ever done and I don't feel real comfortable doing it.  I have been plesantly surprised at how it is turning out.  I'm not going to spend a lot of time typing here tonight, but here are a number of pics showing what I have managed to accomplish.Today was a long day.

Upper Cantrail

This cover goes over an access hole in the left rear wheel arch.  It gives access to some of the wiring and the fuel filler tube.

This is a little pocket that was in the quarter panel one on each side behind the seats. I discovered them when I pulled the old upholstery out.  I just HAD to use them but to do so I had to modify the two quarter panel pieces.  Evidently only the early E-Types had them.  These were evidently covered over by a previous owner.

Lower Cantrails

All of the panels are covered

Rodney has been a tremendous help.

Installing the Moquette on the wheel arch.

 

Maybe I can finish it tomorrow after I help Rodney install his garage door opener that got hit by lightning.

I think the Headliner is finally finished.... except for the dome light.

Rodney and I got an early start this morning.  First I met him at Mike Darby's for the final adjustment on his newly rebuilt SU carburetors for his MGB.  After that and some all important visiting was completed he and I stopped at Kraver's Seafood Restaurant for a quick lunch, then on to my house to do some more work on the interior upholstery on the E-Type.

Rodney's putting the final bolt in the fuel tank

We decided that putting the fuel tank back in ( had it in once but had to remove it to put the rear bumpers on) would be the next thing to do before we got too carried away with upholstery.  It didn't go in quite as easily as it did the last time we did it, but after a little struggling and a few cups of coffee, we got it back in and connected.

We then started working on the final stages of the headliner. We barely got started good before we realized that it was time to get ready for a little field trip to Pensacola to Mini of Pensacola's 2nd birthday party. We were going to ride over in Rodney's classic Mini, but the heat and humidity forced us to opt for something that had air conditioning.  After the party, we stopped for a quick "all you can eat" Barbeque dinner and headed back to Daphne. The sun was still up and we decided to get back to work on the Jag. 

Rear brackek for the trim wool

Gluing down the skirt

Rodney drilled and mounted the brackets at the rear of the ceiling that had been missing from my car but were fortunately on the old '69 parts car we have.  I removed them the other day and cleaned all the rust off and painted 'em.  These brackets allow you to tuck the headliner cloth into the gap where it is grabbed by some teeth in the bracket, holding everything good and tight.


Then I got on my back in a somewhat less than comfortable position in the car to glue down & fasten the final parts of the headliner down.  The last thing that needed to be done was neatly lap the two ends of the wool together with a nice fold and mount the dome light.  After scurrying around looking for the dome light fixture, Rodney finally found where I had hidden it and handed it to me. I inspected it and realized that I should have had it re-chromed when I did the rest of the stuff... "forget it, I'll use it like it is" I thought.   I took the lens off of it and promptly broke it.  Actually it was very brittle plastic and pieces were breaking off of it.  So much for that light...  I'll have to order a new one on Monday.

"Thumbs up" for the Driver's side

Finishing up the passenger side.

The dome light goes in the middle.

The bottom 2 inches will be covered by trim

I'm really happy about the end result.  For never having done this before, I think that, with the tremendous help of my previously mentioned "crack team of old farts", we did a pretty good job!!

The Headliner Saga Continues

I have managed to get the wool skirt covering installed in the grove around the top of the cantrail.  This is a piece of very high quality English wool, matching the wool that we just installed on the ceiling.  There is a rubber hose sewn in a hem on one side of the wool that is supposed to be squeezed into a tiny groove around the ceiling.

Just getting it started

This wool covers the area between the roof and the and the windows.  Stuffing the hose into the groove was, to say the least, difficult. I spent most of the day getting it done without ripping the wool.  Laying on my back with all sorts of protrusions poking me in the back was definitely not comfortable.

Then working with my arms stretched out above me was tiring.  Am I whining?  You better believe it, but I did managed to get it done.  Now I have to work my way down installing the rest of the interior. I was by myself, so nobody took any pictures of me actually working...  but I promise I did.

Whew!!  I honestly didn't think I get it done.

One side finished

One more thing I managed to finish was the handbrake. It's a pretty complicated little bugger. It's kinda like building a ship in a bottle with all the pieces you have to get aligned inside of the handle through a small hole in the end. I know, the one piece on the side is supposed to be chrome...  I forgot to send it to the chrome shop with the rest of it...  It doesn't show anyway, so I just coated it with a Cad spray from Eastwood. It should lasts another 40 years or so.

Rodney came over tonight and he and I started measuring and fitting the moquette on the wheel arches.and making a plan of attack for the rest of it.  In case you aren't aware of it, it's rumored that Rodney is an "expert" at interiors, even if that rumor isn't true, I'm still very appreciative of his help.  The same is true for many of my friends. Mike Darby, Stuart Waddington, Michael King, Noel Eagleson and many others.

My vinyl is supposed to be here tomorrow according to UPS.  We'll see.  If so, I should be able to get a lot done this weekend.