Who has done their own interior?

Im looking at a new hoodlining and door panels + parcel shelf for my 68 Beetle, and instead of paying the 1300-1800 I would like to save the dosh and do it myself. Any words of advice on how to undertake such a task? I'm not bad at sewing (i make a lot of my own clothes) but have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA as to where I should start or what I should do.

Any help or reference greatly appreciated:kiss

I've done my own three times. One thing I would definitely handover to the pros is head lining. Its a nightmare of a job and will look shabby if not done correctly. Add to that the fact that you have to remove the windows to do it correctly, its not the type of job you want to do more than once. For the seats, I un-stitched the old ones and used them as patterns. Wasn't too difficult. Although if you want to using piping, it gets a bit more interesting but very do-able still. Carpert is easy. Again, I used the old ones as pattern then took them to a trimmer for the edging which didn't cost much. You can use molding carpet which has a plastic film on the back which you can heat with a heat gun then push it on the surface to mold it to shape.
Good luck
Raf

Hood Lining kits are available at Classic VW in Rydalmere. Get an upholsterer to fit the hoodlining, it is a difficult job to get right.

E I just finished my interior. Bought a roof lining from Mick Motors and installed it myself (you need to have the windows out) around $120 for the kit.

Door panels are 3mm MDF sheet (Bunnings sells sheets for about $8 and you'll need 2) cut and drilled to match the existing (spray them with enamel paint on both sides to seal them from moisture before you cover them. Think up a design and sew it up to a whole sheet that will fit over the panel. If you want padding use 1/2 inch dacron (get it from Spotlight cheap). Use your outer cloth then dacron sheet then calico and sew through the whole lot for the ribbed effect. Stretch the whole lot over the panels and glue it over the back (about a 1 inch overlap).

I did my door trims, seats and parcel tray for around $180 in materials. There is a couple of pics on page three on the thread "Angry Gumby" in members rides. The one that shows the seat front would be the same as how you would do the door panels.

Regards

Brendan

HI,

I am about half way thru mine, and it's actually fairly easy.

But I recommend getting someone else to do the hoodling.

But like everyone is saying...slowly but surely wins the race.

Think about what color etc u want, and if u want patterns.

Try the following
Bunnings for ur MDF and spray glue. I used 3mm on the doors, and 6mm on the shelf. After cutting the shape, check and re check it before putting ur materials.
Spotlight have a great range of fabrics, including vinyls. keep away from patterns unless it's a random one.
Also it's best to have wadding on the back, or a rubber coated thin foam. (clarks)
If u want sections close to the board, then just leave the foam out of that area.

Also, I'm putting plastic on the door (between door and the MDF) to give it extra protection, as well as scotchgarding adn waterproofing the material.

For carpet, u can get offcuts from most carpet places, so it's cheaper (limited to what is left over). Just make sure u get enough for the job, and also probably best to get rubber backed one. If ur not in a hurry for it, u can just keep going back and checking until u get what u want.

Also, I recommend getting them to sew edges for u, but u might want to try it urself. i don't recommend that unless ur machine handles really heavyduty stuff.

The backing clips u can grab from super cheap. Take one in, because they maynot understand what u want unless they see it.

The best part about doing it urself is that ur only limited by ur imagination....which in my case is scary, cause I keep coming up with different color schemes. So far it's grey and white, but likely to change when car is painted later (in about 12 months)

So I recommend giving it a go.

So far, my door panels and back parcel have cost about $50.00.

d4

Thanks guys...

what do you mean by backing clips? Ive never heard of them...
my carpet shouldn't be a problem, as it is fairly recent, and I guess judging by the general consensus I should have someone else install the hoodlining, which Isnt too bad

A question with the rear parcel shelf - how do I get the shape right? I'm a huge perfectionist, so I want it to fit perfectly.

does anyone have any advice for installing a unit similar to this?

Headliner is One of the worst jobs I know of......

The headliner kits are terrible too.....
Nothing like the original......

One size fits all.... would probably fit a lot of things......
not shaped like a beetle's roof at all.....

One of the locals here had a headliner made & fitted by a trimmer many years ago....

I did have a site with many pages of instructions on the headlining installation..... but it has been discontinued....
I should have printed it out..... I only read it a few months ago....

Lee --
http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug
http://au.msnusers.com/My1968restoredBeetle/shoebox.msnw?

The clips that hold the door panels on--
there are many many varieties....
plastic/nylon and metal....
VW used the metal ones.... which can scratch the paint on the doors very easily..... when replacing the panels...
If You can find any plastic ones to do then job buy them....

otherwise use the Original VW ones with little rubber boots....
stops the holes from rusting away....
plus You need to protect the panel from water with a sheet of thick plastic... something which I haven't found as yet...
adhesive would be best but You can always glue it on....

Best of Luck...
and a BIG congratulations to the people who have done the interior themselves.... A Very difficult job well done....
Most of the sites in the US I have visited have had the interior done by experts....

I did pad the dash of Beetles I owned back in the early 70s..
Here is a pic of My dash so far.... Vinyl is good to work with..

http://au.msnusers.com/My1968restoredBeetle/shoebox.msnw?
tells how everything that could go wrong.... actually does...

Lee Noonan --





[Edited on 27-1-2005 by 68AutoBug]

E,
Best to find a beetle with a perfect fitting speaker rear tray,
and ask to get a template from it.....
it will be easier if there are NO speakers in it....🙂🙂

I sold a Beetle 2 years ago that came with the rear speaker tray and I left it in there.... I'm kicking Myself now... well My Son actually sold it, as He was driving it and going to cut out the rust in the rain channels near the rear window.. but it was too big a job... so He sold it......

I want one that fits perfect too.....

Lee --

I've done my own, even made custom headliner (glad it was only in teh cab area!) which looks super smooth and schmick.