If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
Please let us know if things are working or not. This is still somewhat a work in progress so don't be too surprised if things magically appear from one visit to the next.
The making of new arm rest. 4 pieces of MDF cut to shape which will be glued together and then sanded to perfect shape. A slot for the door pull handle will be made afterwards.
After some sanding. I will have to throw some mud on this one because I cut too deep in one spot. The other side came out perfect. No biggie though as it's gonna get covered in leather anyway.
For the next step I needed to make the decorative curve in the panel. I decided to make the indent inline with rear trim panel (see arrow).
This is achieved by adding a second layer of plastic on top part of the panel. Cutting along the line and then leaving a small gap in between. After that the panel is glued over top.
I needed to make a hole in the arm rest for the door pull handle. I am using handles from Ford Escape. Handle location is approximately same as stock 03+ armrest.
After handle was done I moved onto the rest of the door panel. I added a strip of plastic to cover the top metal brace.
There was a gap that needed to be filled on the door panel where it curves around the dash. I cut a piece of plastic then used industrial hot glue to hold it in place. Not sure if that was the best glue to use but it seems to stay in place pretty good.
Next I need to make a spot for the speaker. This is roughly how it will sit. Then mark and cut.
Once the hole was cut I needed to make a pod to hold the speaker cover in place. MDF to the rescue once again.
Mocking up completed panel on the car. As you can see speaker hole in the door doesn't quite line up with speaker pod on the panel. Not much can be done there short of attaching the speaker to the back of the door panel.
After that I made a bracket to hold the door pull handle to the door.
Next up is upholstery. I won't go into too much detail here as it's pretty self explanatory. Cut the leather to shape then spray everything with glue and go to town. I
This is the result.
A strip of plastic is added on top to cover the seam.
Door card upholstery is done in similar fashion. I added some padding on top to make the panel soft.
Not sure what this stuff is called. Just something I had laying around.
The padding is glued into place first. Then I only glue the leather on the edges as well as along the seam leaving the middle sections lose.
Rear door cards will be a bit more economical. Still using plastic for the cards but had to resort to using hardboard over top because I ran out of plastic. Nothing fancy here. Just gonna make the panels match front door panels and adding tweeters.
Thanks. I have 6 speakers altogether. I am not an audio guy so I don't have anything fancy in there. The only new speakers that I added are these small tweeters for rear passengers. Only did them so they match front doors and so the cards don't look so plain. Plus I already had the wiring in there from before so was just a matter of installing them.
Now that interior is done I am thinking of tucking my bumpers. Something that I started working on last year but never finished.
Comment