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Mustang Interior Upgrades - Interior Superior!Take Your Vintage Ford's Inner World Another Notch Higher With Valuable Pointers From Mustang & Fords From the March, 2004 issue of Modified Mustangs & Fords By Jim Smart Photography by Jim Smart
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Through the years, we've done all kinds of interior how-to articles. We've shown you how to replace upholstery, swap door panels, install dash pads, lay carpet, pad seat buns, replace armrests, and install headliners. How much of that can anyone stand? It is time for us to get into something really useful when it comes to vintage Ford interiors. We want to highlight the secrets of restoration professionals and amateurs that truly make a difference in the quality and outcome of an interior restoration. We want to look at the things that frustrate us-and how to make them easier to live with. Our own Project KISS has been an on-again, off-again project dating back two years. To update you, Project KISS (Keep It Super Simple) is a budget-level project, which demonstrates you can have a fine restomod without selling the farm or taking out a second mortgage on your house. KISS shows how to get there with less money, and teaches how to do it ourselves. We've built a reliable, flat-tappet 302ci small-block at Performance Automotive Warehouse and a C4 Select-Shift transmission. We visited Currie Enterprises and put together a conventional 8-inch differential (that's right, not a limited-slip with 2.79:1 gears). We also fixed the cowl vents, worked the body, and painted KISS at 1-Day Paint & Body in Los Angeles, installed a Grab-A-Track suspension from Mustangs Plus, and opted for new Stainless Steel front disc brakes-also from Mustangs Plus. A couple of issues back, we showed you the new trunk-carpet kit for KISS from Distinctive Industries and Texas Mustang. We're on a roll here! This month, KISS is going to be fitted with its interior from The Paddock. Nothing fancy going on here. Remember, this is a budget ride we want to get looking nice. KISS is for those of you who just don't want to sink a lot of dough into a hole in the driveway. Let's get started. Seat Tricks
We see countless restorations with crisp, new upholstery, but seats that work and feel awful. There's the spring that catches you - well - you know where. You're short on legroom. So, you grab the seat-adjustment lever to slide back, only to discover one of the tracks has shown up for work. Maybe the most recent journey found you in the back seat, when the front seatback broke at the pivot. This is all easy stuff to correct. Silence
If you own a newer vehicle, you've likely noticed the quiet when you hit the road. We can't make classic Mustangs any more aerodynamic than they are, which would surely make them quieter. However, we can isolate road boom and driveline harmonics with a firewall pad and sound-deadening kit from Mustangs Plus. Our job begins with space-age technology-stick-on sound absorbers that soak up vibration and resonance. They stop the echo effect we get from steel panels and unit-body construction. When the stick-on sound absorbers are installed, we lay down sound-deadening material that not only absorbs noise; it keeps out heat and cold to boot. We're going to show you how easy the hush can be.  One of the most important...  One of the most important seat tricks is protecting yourself. Before removing seat tracks, always carefully remove the helper spring, which will reduce the risk of injury from a runaway seat track.  Whenever you are reupholstering...  Whenever you are reupholstering seats, clean and lubricate the seat tracks for smooth, reliable operation.  Also troublesome for '68-'73...  Also troublesome for '68-'73 Mustang seatbacks is the latch mechanism. They fell apart with great regularity. While the foam and upholstery are stripped off, check yours for proper operation.  In 1980, Ford did a recall...  In 1980, Ford did a recall addressing '68-'69 Mustang seatback failures. These failures were rooted in the inboard seatback pivot point. The fix is a bolt-on pivot assembly installed by drilling a hole and installing the new pivot, which is much stronger than original equipment.  When your seats are stripped...  When your seats are stripped down, install new burlap material for "like-new" support. Do not forget to reinstall the wire structure shown here. Some folks leave it out, thinking it is unimportant. But this is what you're going to hog ring the new upholstery to.  We see a lot of interiors...  We see a lot of interiors with loose-fitting vinyl. There is a way around this. Mike Ambrose Custom Interiors in North Hills, California, lays down 11/42-inch layer of foam over the gauze material. This fattens up the seat, and makes it more comfortable to boot.  Project KISS is getting new...  Project KISS is getting new standard-black-vinyl upholstery from The Paddock, manufactured by Distinctive Industries. What we can expect is an outstanding fit.  Seat Tricks Mike Ambrose...  Seat Tricks
Mike Ambrose shows us an easy way to slip on the new vinyl without frustration. He places a vinyl bag between the new vinyl and the foam, which makes the Distinctive upholstery easier to slip on.  Mike suggests going by the...  Mike suggests going by the book whenever you're building seats. He uses steel hog rings, not copper, because steel hog rings are easier to use. Hog ring pliers are a must.  Belt One On Owning and building...  Belt One On
Owning and building a classic Mustang is a lot safer than it used to be. Three-point safety belts from Classic Accessories install in a few hours, and can save your life. Our Custom Accessories kit is the most current type of restraint system available for vintage Mustangs and Cougars. It is a bolt-in system you can have working in a matter of hours. this system is better than the previous version because it has the ability to bolt right on '67-'69 Mustangs and Cougars using factory holes. For '65-'66 Mustangs, you will have to do some drilling. What's more, Custom Accessories offers this passenger-restraint system for rear-seat passengers as well. We will show you a complete, step-by-step installation of this system later in Mustang & Fords, after we get KISS's headliner and carpeting installed.  The '68-'69 seatback's foam...  The '68-'69 seatback's foam arrangement differs from the '65-'67. This two-part foam block makes the seatback thicker. Don't be foolish and throw it away, thinking the aftermarket offers a reproduction. It doesn't. Use 3M Trim Adhesive to rejoin the two foam blocks.  When you install the seat...  When you install the seat tracks, adjust the tracks by pushing both of them all the way back or forward. Tighten up the turnbuckle to a point where the seat-adjustment lever releases both seat tracks. Do not overtighten or the seat tracks will stay released.  Instrumentation Destination...  Instrumentation Destination
Who says your standard interior has to be standard? M-Detail, The Mustang Market, has custom instrument-face kits for classic Mustangs that will completely change your Mustang's inside demeanor-and for less money. KISS is getting silver-face instrumentation from The Mustang Market. It is also getting amber instrument lighting from The Paddock. Check it out!  T-Lock It We have seen a...  T-Lock It
We have seen a lot of security devices for vintage Fords, including brake pedal locks, steering wheel locks, and even wheel boots. finally someone came up with something simple and easy to use. It's called the T-Lock from Vintage Automotive Products, and it is virtually invisible. This automatic-transmission, floor shifter T-handle is a locking one that looks identical to original equipment for '65-'68 Fords. Lock it, and your Ford cannot be placed in neutral or in gear. Unlock it and take a spin. The T-Lock installs just like a stock shifter does. Use a Torx fastener instead of the Allen set screw, and make it tough for some low-life to steal your Ford.  Instrumentation Destination...  Instrumentation Destination
Disassembly begins with opening up the cluster by removing the bezel screws as shown.  Reproduction instrument bezels...  Reproduction instrument bezels are plasti-chromed inside and out from the factory. Original equipment was painted flat white to reflect instrument lighting. You can mask and paint your bezel flat white inside, which will improve instrument lighting. Lay it down in very light coats.  Did you know The Paddock has...  Did you know The Paddock has new instrument bulb helmets in a variety of colors? You don't have to live with the original aqua-blue lighting anymore. Scott Drake Enterprises produces these bulb helmets in red, yellow, and blue- just to name three available colors.  Our finished '68 instrument...  Our finished '68 instrument cluster has fresh lamps, bulb helmets, silver faces, and a new bezel. Can't wait to get it installed and look at it in the dark.  Instrument removal is simple....  Instrument removal is simple. Remove the tinnerman's nuts at the posts. Do not discard the cardboard insulators. You're going to need them when the instruments are reinstalled. The ammeter has soft plastic insulators that must also be reused in the interest of safety.  M-Detail, The Mustang Market...  M-Detail, The Mustang Market suggests using soapy water behind these peel-and-stick instrument faces. We didn't. We carefully laid down these faces and worked the bubbles out. For a more forgiving application, use the soap and water for adjustment purposes. Once the soap and water dry, the face is permanently set.  The Scott Drake bulb helmets...  The Scott Drake bulb helmets install with ease, using one self-tapping Phillips head screw. Some applications have a hex-head screw. Our silver-face instruments will sizzle in red.  The original instrument lens...  The original instrument lens retainers need to be removed from the old cluster, and used on the new one from The Paddock. Take care never to touch the new lens. Skin oil and rough skin will scratch the surface. This is a very soft plastic.  The new bezel is installed...  The new bezel is installed as shown. Take extra care to make sure indicator light shields are in place. Some are cardboard. Some are plastic. Make sure they are seated, which prevents light leaks.  Lubricate the speedometer...  Lubricate the speedometer head and replace the instrument voltage regulator (also called a voltage limiter). Install new GE 1895 bulbs also.  This is the stick-on sound...  This is the stick-on sound absorption kit from Mustangs Plus. We begin with stick-on synthetic strips, which stick to the steel panels. You can install these all over the floor pans, wheelhouses, doors, and firewall. Installation is easy. Make sure you install these synthetic strips on a clean, rust-free surface. Once installed, they soak up a lot of noise and vibration.  These sound-deadening pads...  These sound-deadening pads not only keep out noise, they keep out heat and cold as well. Spray the trim adhesive, included in the kit, in liberal amounts on the back. Allow to tack off for five minutes. Then, lay it down.  Press the sound deadening...  Press the sound deadening in place. Even if it doesn't stick firmly, the carpet will hold it in place.  Heads Up Custom Accessories...  Heads Up
Custom Accessories brings us a lot of good things to make our classic Mustangs safer. you can order headrests for, not only '65-'67 Mustangs, but '68-'69 as well. Because the '68-'69 Mustang and Cougar bucketseat has a thicker back, we need a thicker headrest. Custom Accessories answers the call with these good-looking headrests available in a variety of colors. Installation is a snap.  Position the headrest assembly...  Position the headrest assembly in place, and mark the screw hole locations with an awl or white marker. Make sure the headrest is properly centered. The headrest should be just above the seatback, but not touching. Drill four 31/416-inch holes at the four screw points. Install the cross bar with four self-tapping screws included in the kit.  This is how your installation...  This is how your installation should look. This installation can be customized to your application. For example, the crossbrace can go inside the seat, using bolts and nuts for added security. This makes the hardware virtually invisible.The seatback cover pops in place, as shown. This is not as easy as it looks. Get the clips lined up with the holes, and give it a flat-palm nudge. Some shops will use a utility knife to start the hole, making the install easier.  This is the completed installation....  This is the completed installation. We like the look of these headrests. They look period, without looking afterthought.
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