1965 Buick Special Convertible

crashtech;2559 said:
Maybe the owner should purchase some correct, rebuildable seats, or at least some GM ones where the make and model are known. At some point you have to make it not just your problem, but his, too. It is his car, after all.
Click to expand...

Great minds think alike!
Just got off the phone with him and that is the new plan.
Found some on eBay but wow the price for rebuildable seats is in the 300-500 dollar range. At least we already have the new foam and covers.
 
They made a '78 Maverick? Wow.

'68 Coronet R/T, glad to hear you got it sorted out with the owner. Nice headache relief!
 
Owner decided not to go with mag wheels so asked me to blast and paint steel ones.
WheelPainted.jpg
 
Some work on the seats.
The rear bench seat had some serious water damage and rust. The lower portion of the seat back padding was hardened and the springs in places were rusting away:
RearSeatBackDamage.jpg

RearSeatBackRepair.jpg


I removed the hardened batting and rotted burlap portions:
RearSeatBackRepair1.jpg


Next I took a wire wheel and removed the worst of the rust then treated it with Ospho Rust Converter by SEM:
RearSeatBackRepair2.jpg


I added some galvanized wire to give the springs more support:
RearSeatBackRepair3.jpg


Removed and reused a wire listing to tie in some new burlap. This was covered by a larger piece of burlap:
RearSeatBackRepair4.jpg


I used some upholstery thread seen here with needles already attached and stitched the bottom layer of batting to the burlap:
SeatRepairUpholsteryNeedles.jpg

RearSeatBackRepair6.jpg


I used spray adhesive and put the remaining layer of batting on then went to work installing the cover:
RearSeatBackRedone.jpg


The seat bottom was in a little better shape:
RearSeatBottomDamage.jpg


Followed the same steps:
RearSeatBottomRedone.jpg


Ran out of hog rings so I couldn't finish stretching the covers into place.
 
I just finished installing new foam and cover on bucket seat back.
Started with:
OldSeatBackFront.jpg

Removed the cover:
OldSeatBackPadding.jpg

Stripped the old padding and foam:
OldSeatBackBattingremoved.jpg

Installed new burlap over springs:
BucketSeatBacknewBurlap.jpg

Installed new foam (a lot bigger and thicker, had to remove about 1 1/2" from bottom edge):
BucketSeatFoamNewBack.jpg

Chrome was looking pretty bad but it will buff up okay:
ChromeCorrosion2.jpg

New Cover next to old:
BucketSeatBackNewCover.jpg

BucketSeatBackNewCover1.jpg
 
You did a fantastic job on it.** Believe it or not, but I love to work on cars in that or worse condition. . I don't do many GM's or Mopars , I prefer the Fords and Studebakers. I don't know much about fiberglass and am not really interested in it, but I did do a Avanti, I knew they were fiberglass, but it never crossed my mind when I said yes over the phone and 6 months later the trailer arrives and we roll it off and I'm walking around it thinking this is a pretty solid car or the rust has already been fixed. Then the light bulb goes off in my head....dim at that.Not to hijack your thread but this is a before and after of a '40 Ford conv. The bottom 4inches was mostly gone.

40 ford rf.jpg

40 ford begin.jpg
 
Thanks for the kind words Keith.
I have always wanted to do an older car and have my eye on a 29 Ford Coupe right now but the extensive metal fabrication necessary and lack of tools to accomplish it have held me back. That and the $4k needed to buy the relic in its present condition.
Then there's the pull of the Corvette restoration, the Hemi Dart clone, the 66 SS Chevelle, the '69 Mach 1, and so on and so forth. LOL
Truly I enjoy working on these classic cars and bringing them back from the dead. I also love to admire the work of others so forums like this one are extra special to me. Some truly experienced pros here and their work, like yours, speaks for itself.
 
Installed the sound deadening and carpets (the camera flash tends to wash out the black and make it look lighter):
CarpetRear.jpg

CarpetFront.jpg


Installed the seats and rear panels:
BucketSeatsInstalledRight.jpg

BenchSeatRight.jpg


Installed the Convertible Top:
P1010043.jpg

ConvertibleTopRR.jpg


Boot well liner:
P1010044.jpg
 
After a 2 month wait on the chrome shop I started putting the car back together again.
Got the windshield put in:
WindshieldInstalledLeft.jpg


Started on the grill and front bumper:
GrillandFrontBumper.jpg


Then I notice how poor quality the repair was on the front bumper. It has a split in the center seam about 1 1/2" long and should have been an easy and invisible repair but . . .:
FrontBumperPatchJob.jpg


Started inspecting some other pieces a little closer and ended up contacting the car owner about the shoddy work. Soooo, everything is on hold again for the moment.
Gonna have to pull the back seat and trim panels again to fine tune the convertible top adjustment. It comes down about an 1" left of center. :( Once that is done a final adjustment on the windows and I can hopefully complete the interior. I would like to see this thing gone by the end of February.
 
Need some Advice with this.

Well, I am finally back on this car again trying to wrap it up and get it gone.
I need some advice on finishing the ends of this vinyl wrapped cord. I don't believe there are end caps for this or at least I have never seen them does anyone know for sure what the proper way to finish these off is?
Need to make a decision on this ASAP so please send your ideas.

P1010001.jpg
 
Well finally saying goodbye to this car - I hope.
What started out to be "a driver quality freshen up so the owner could just drive it on cruise night" turned into a nightmare that wouldn't end.
The dull spots in pictures just left of center are from a smudge on the camera lens that I didn't notice until I posted them. :(
65 Buick Done Front.jpg

65 Buick Done Interior.jpg

65 Buick Done Right Rear.jpg
 
Very nice job! The car looks great! I know it is a great feeling of accomplishment when they leave. The only question is....what's next? :)
 
I hope you don't remember is a a nightmare, but as a great accomplishment full of valuable experiences.
 
gregstith;10346 said:
Very nice job! The car looks great! I know it is a great feeling of accomplishment when they leave. The only question is....what's next? :)
Click to expand...

I need to finish my 1968 Coronet R/T so I'll spend some money on a few more parts.
 
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