Cheap Interior Fixes/Upgrades - Now Flat Broke...

[PWagon]

I finished my recent 5.3 engine swap, but I'm now flat broke. Those engine swaps are expensive! But, now I want to start working on restoring/fixing/upgrading my interior. I have the original cracked dash, worn out seats, and cigerette burned carpet. Do any of you guys (and gals) have any suggestions on how to spruce up my interior on the cheap? It's gonna be a while till I have some spending money again, so everything I do for the next few months will have to cost next to nothing.

 

[Fordum]

Depends on how much ghetto you can stand.........

Most carpet places will throw away remnants and discontinued carpets pieces. Around here I have seen piles of it next to the road for anyone who needs a small piece to just come by and pick up.

Couple of pieces along with some backing will make the floorboard look OK. If the dash is really bad, you can carpet it also.
Looks a little tacky, but often better than the cracked plastic with pieces missing.
Especially if you take your time and cut the holes carefully and glue the edges down well and select the right style carpet.
Long shag just looks nasty.......

The seats do not do well with carpet, but you can fill any holes with the foam backing that goes under carpet.
Then go to Pep Boys, or one of the chains and buy a saddle blanket type seat cover to go over the foam.
Fairly cheap, and don't look too bad.
Even has pockets along the bottom front to store stuff.

 

[89yimmiJ]

If you think that you plan to do it nice in the near future. I would drive it like it is and upgrade when you have money. Any time and money you spend now goes out the window when you redo it the way you want later.

Do the freebies mentioned if they are quick and make a difference but you may find yourself redoing all of it in 6 mos.

 

[Fordum]

Do the freebies mentioned if they are quick and make a difference but you may find yourself redoing all of it in 6 mos.

Exactly. That was why I went that way.

Almost none of it will affect any later repairs except for the dash, and if its badly cracked, then gluing carpet to it will not hurt anything.

Throwing down carpet on the floor and filling the holes in the seat with foam rubber will cost nothing if he gets it for free, and can be pulled out and thrown away when he is ready to upgrade.

 

[89yimmiJ]

Exactly. That was why I went that way.

I fully agree and great ideas, but I sometimes find that when you do the quick and freebie repair, you end up saying "good enough" and then you live with it too long. Where if you just leave it at is, you end up "finding" the money a bit quicker. Not debating with you, just stating the trap I fall into pretty regularily.

 

[drew4x4]

it would take a lot of elbow grease, and a small amount of money, but a DIY truck bed liner to replace your carpet might be a real good way to go.

 

[diesel4me]

Junkyards here practically give away interior parts unless your looking for late model vehicles,even those sometimes go cheap beacuse they will get ruined left exposed to the weather once the doors are sold and the windsheild taken out--also reduces their profit when it comes time to scrap the shell,they get charged for the "fluff" the seats and carpets leave behind at the shredding facility..

I'd say it might be worth looking at a junkyard,some people had taken good care of the interiors but didn't keep anything under the hood maintained well...I have seen some trucks with recently replaced carpets and seats that got junked when an engine or tranny blew more than once!..dash pads,you wont likely find a decent one,and taking one that looks good out usually gets cracked in the process...a dash cover is a better idea,or a new replacement aftermarket one..