Winter projects

[Atlas]

That's it for this year on the 'nine four three point four'...

 

New tires are on, car drives like new, smooth and straight. Gauge cluster removed, fixed, and replaced. New upper dash pad installed, no more cracks. Everything works as it should from the factory. I used spray-adhesive to take care of the drooping headliner for now. It actually looks good? For now. The car will really benefit from a replacement. They use abs plastic cores now instead of fiber/cardboard.

 

The rest is cosmetic which I'll focus on in the Spring. I did a 40 mile freeway run last weekend on the new tires, and another 30 mile backroads run "victory lap" yesterday evening while it was dry. Shifts nice, runs great, handles great...it's nice having a fully functional instrument cluster *with* an accurate speedometer now, all backlighting works, and all warning lamps work as they should...I'd say this one is officially official, returned to service and awaiting Spring adventures.

 

 

Edit: It's not even winter yet. Ha! I call winter "spring" here (post January). Sure we might get a flurry or two but I'm always looking onwards/upwards at the longer daylight hours and the return of a few dry days after the New Year.

Edited December 4, 2025 by Atlas

[customboss]

[customboss]

 

Recovered and repaired dash pad laid in. 
 

Flooring tomorrow. 
 

[Atlas]

@customboss that's coming along nicely! Are you doing the upholstery work yourself?

[KARNUT]

On 11/25/2025 at 9:44 AM, KARNUT said:

Sound deadening has helped. Coat number two for fender wells today.

I just returned from a trip to McAllister Oklahoma. A six hour drive with stops for lunch and the usual reasons. The sound deadening knock about 50 percent of the road noise down. Only the loudest worse surface penetration. Once the temperature comes back around. I believe one more coat in the fender wells will be enough. 

[customboss]

6 hours ago, Atlas said:

@customboss that's coming along nicely! Are you doing the upholstery work yourself?

Thanks! Heck no. I paid a craftsman in Colorado Springs. 
Hey Atlas are you near flooding? 

Edited December 14, 2025 by customboss

[customboss]

still trying to get that damn vinyl flooring to lay down. 
 

[customboss]

Just now, customboss said:

still trying to get that damn vinyl flooring to lay down. 
 

[Atlas]

On 12/14/2025 at 1:50 PM, customboss said:

Thanks! Heck no. I paid a craftsman in Colorado Springs. 
Hey Atlas are you near flooding? 

 

I don't have the patience for upholstery. I'd have to hire someone too. Yours looks excellent, they did a nice job.

 

Our place is fine, we are on higher ground with hills (but not landslides). It's starting to get ugly trying to get around with major roads/freeways either flooded or damaged by slides. We are lucky. A lot of folks can't say the same.

[txab]

3 hours ago, customboss said:

still trying to get that damn vinyl flooring to lay down. 

Did you try a little heat?

[customboss]

51 minutes ago, txab said:

Did you try a little heat?

Going to with a steamer or heat gun ( used very carefully). Don’t have the strength I used to have to stretch and horse things around. 
 

Your suggestion was what Upholstery guy does. 

[diyer2]

Harbor Freight heat gun. mine has lasted a long time.

[Atlas]

We're in the home stretch of winter, so why not crank out a few projects.

 

Side note, it's time to put HVAC in the shop. This is supposed to be fun, but it's less fun when I can see my breath out there and my hands are so cold I can't feel them. My portable electric heater melted down in spectacular fashion, why am I not surprised. Mini splits or a propane shop heater, probably do mini's.

 

I think I'll keep the Camaro through this year. I'm working with a PDR guy to have him disappear a few minor dents. This is my first time with PDR, kinda excited to see how it goes.

[txab]

Don't know your winter temps, but mini-split is good, maybe go with a propane back-up for a quick boost on those super cold days. Mine is natural gas

[CamGTP]

More power.