The Journey Begins - Series I V6 Restomod

[Aladin Sane]

I know how time can slip away.

 

[Bill Blue]

Aro

I know how time can slip away.

Around here, it slips away in great, ruddy chunks.
Bill

 

[Aladin Sane]

I'm lucky when I can get half a day in the garage on a weekend. Slow slow progress, and my relocation to the UK is going to be here very soon. Right now, that looks like early July. Prep for that trip will also limit garage time.

 

[Bill Eisinger]

Another modest step forward…decided to install the headliner in the hard top before painting it as it’s easier to protect the head liner during the painting process rather than trying to protect the paint while installing the head liner. The dark blue is going to match up nicely with the rest of the interior…

 

[Asm109]

Just discovered your saga. If I missed the pictures I apologize. What louvers did you choose for this car?
What size condensor where you able to fit?

 

[Bill Eisinger]

I assume you are referring to Heat/AC vents?....using cylindrical vents sourced from Old Air Products...2 under the dash and 2 in the console...defrost vents are stock.

The condensor that I settled on is 18" x 12"...the size was selected primarily based on being able to install/remove it from the front through the valence. For airflow, I'm going with twin 9" electric pusher fans...just from our initial test runs, they seem to provide more than adequate cooling.

 

[Asm109]

Very nice. These round vents provide both A/C and heated air, correct? There is no dedicated floor heater outlet?
I noticed on the old air website that some of the rectangular vents had floor exits built in as well. Too bad I don't like that look for our cars.

 

[Bill Eisinger]

There is no dedicated floor heater outlet?

Floor heat comes directly out of the heater box itself...it will vent out through back of the console near the firewall.

 

[Bill Blue]

We settled on Old Air's rectangular vents used under the dash. Adds a couple of inches knee room, especially noticeable while entering/leaving the vehicle. I fine tuned their installation by moving them forward of the dash. No impact on air output and moves them away from knees. I have no idea of what is available from Old Air. Our installation dates back about 20 years. I had a very strange problem, the unit would not cool while using the smaller compressors. Luckily, there is room for full sized units, which work just fine. No impact on air output and moves them away from knees.
Bill

 

[weaselkeeper]

Milestone day…engine compartment complete, fluids loaded, and wheels on…next up is a bit of electrical testing (to make sure the smoke doesn’t come out) and we’ll be ready to fire it up to see how the EFI works and then on the upholstery shop.

Beautiful Bill

 

[Bill Eisinger]

It’s been way too long but my upholstery guy has finally made some progress…

 

[Aladin Sane]

I really like your console, dash and gauge install. Nice work.

 

[DanR]

Yes, it is shaping up nicely.

Ride time will be soon,

DanR

 

[Bill Eisinger]

Slowly but surely (emphasis on slowly) my upholstery guy is making a little more progress…

 

[sunalp]

Really nice work! Great craftsmanship.

 

[alpine_64]

@Bill Eisinger the car is looking Greta and the interior... I do however have a suggestion...I really think change the headliner of the hardtop.
Dark headlining makes them feel like a cave... The Earl tops wrap around rear window does let a bit of light in, but the dark lining will absorb the light

Trim it to match the lighter colour you used on the seats and door panels.... If you're really adventurous you could also pleat the headlining ...
But I'd definitely switch to a light colour... When I had the hardtop lining go from black to white felt like a new car...so much brighter and more spacious feeling

 

[Bill Eisinger]

@Bill Eisinger the car is looking Greta and the interior... I do however have a suggestion...I really think change the headliner of the hardtop.
Dark headlining makes them feel like a cave... The Earl tops wrap around rear window does let a bit of light in, but the dark lining will absorb the light

Trim it to match the lighter colour you used on the seats and door panels.... If you're really adventurous you could also pleat the headlining ...
But I'd definitely switch to a light colour... When I had the hardtop lining go from black to white felt like a new car...so much brighter and more spacious feeling

Thanks for the suggestion but the train has left the station… the amount of time the hardtop will actually be on the car is a non issue…

 

[Bill Eisinger]

Convertible top in final fitting stages. With everything else we’ve done to this car sticking with the standard ho-hum top didn’t seem like the way to go so we worked up a custom design cloth version…much more elegant looking.

 

[alpine_64]

Bill it's a lovely looking top.. and you have streamlined the design....
A few words of caution...

You have eliminated the gutters over the side windows.. make sure the windows slot all the way up into the recess between inside and outside.

You have eliminated the flap around the rear that gutters water off the joint between the body and the top.. the later style tops eliminated this on the back by attaching it direct to the body, bit for the sides marinated flaps so the hood could fold away as securing the top to the body on the sides prevents it from folding away... Often people accidentally retain the top on a series 3-V at the sides and it won't fold.

How have you secured the top at the sides...I sorr of see the top wrapping under?

 

[Bill Eisinger]

Working on the window issue…SI’s didn’t have the cantrail pieces so there isn’t much to work with there...in reality, for this car, the top only has to be secure enough to get the car home if it rains…this particular car won’t ever be more than a few miles from home (or a trailer)…I’ve been doing car builds for quite a while and, to date, I still have a couple that have never been wet…other than a wash…