Some Tips for Classic Car Interior Restoration
While a lot of the work we do and share from our shop of Customs and Hot Rods of Andice involves big and flashy exterior and engine work, it's not all we focus on. Sure, those big transformations make for some outstanding photos, but we also do our fair share of delicate and detailed car interior. Our crewman Jay does most of our trim and upholstery work and he does a superb job. In fact, his gorgeous car interior restoration work on the Billy and Thomas's 1939 Oldsmobile convertible helped contribute to that vehicle winning the prestigious 2016 Don Ridler and Street Rod of the Year awards! He and a few other CHRA crew members also did extensive work on the interior of this '56 Chevy to give it a really sleek feel inside and out.
In short, if you're looking for some classic car interior restoration work, you've come to the right place. Curious to see how some of this car interior restoration begins? The following is a look at a few of the basic steps and tips we follow in preparing a classic car or hot rod to receive some major interior updates:
Tips & Steps to Getting Going with Classic Car Interior Restoration
- Stripping to nix that old car smell. If you've been around older vehicles then you undoubtedly know exactly what musty smell we're talking about. While a whiff or two can certainly evoke good memories, few people want that smell around forever. Thus the first step is to take out any materials that retain that musty odor, such as stripping out factory hardboard and replacing stained carpeting.
- Install and test working heat and a/c lines. A frustrating mistake restoration novices often make is to do the whole interior first and then try and fix air conditioning units only to get antifreeze leaking all over the vehicle's new carpet. Instead, all heater hoses and air conditioner lines should be installed and tested shortly after stripping the interior down and always before installing upholstery.
- Don't skimp on sound deadening materials. There are places in any car restoration project where you can opt for cheaper or recycled products to get the same effects as higher-end products. This is not true when it comes to sound deadeners and heat shield materials. Due to their design and the tech available at the time of their production, classic cars and vintage hot rods will invariably have more road noise, vibrations, and heat transfer than you'll experience in a modern car. The installation of high-quality sound deadener and heat shield materials will make a world of difference in terms of providing a cooler and quieter interior that you'll really enjoy driving both short and long distances. If you are looking to save money on this part of the car interior restoration project, you can install most of these materials yourself... Just note that it can be a time-consuming process.
Contact CHRA to Get Started With Your Car Interior Restoration Project
Ready to transform your car's interior? Contact us today to schedule your visit!