Restoration on 89

[jeff in co]

Looks like you had more then just a little dynamat left over.
I need one of those mirrors, where did you get it.

I found mine years ago online. I kept in a drawer and when I bought the blazer back, I re-installed it. So nice to know the temp outside!

Made by Gentex (Mito) and was a GM factory supplier at the time. I don't know if they make the present day units but mine has been great.

On ebay quite a bit (but you need to get one with the power cord and temp sensor cord):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

or:

http://www.autoanything.com/mirrors/61A2075A0A0.aspx?kc=ffproduct


I don't have the map reader but that would definitely be nice. I would have thought it would look too bulky up there (compared to the small factory one) but mrluhman's look great and proportional! Nice job!

 

[ryoken]

i really like that rearview... $100+ tho, says it can wait a bit..

 

[Teck]

i really like that rearview... $100+ tho, says it can wait a bit..

x2 or find one in junkyard cheap.

 

[mrluhman]

So have you driven it with the doors, ceiling, and interior side panels dynamatted?

It's a lot better than factory. The most noticeable is the front speakers when loud. It sounds a lot less "tinny" than before.

So how long did it take you to replace the rear floor?

I didn't do that job myself. It was in the body shop for almost 4 months. If I would have been a tad smarter and less attached to this truck I would have just found another one or done a body swap.

I need one of those mirrors, where did you get it.

I got it from a local stereo place in town here. As already stated, you could probably pay much less online or used. The base one was $200 but the one with the map lights was $300. There was one even higher that had a garage door opener but then you lost the map lights.

 

[mrluhman]

I don't have the map reader but that would definitely be nice. I would have thought it would look too bulky up there (compared to the small factory one) but mrluhman's look great and proportional! Nice job!

Thanks for the compliments fellas! I do think it adds a bit of an modernized look. I use the map lights a lot and is much easier than lighting up the whole cab as before.

 

[mrluhman]

Seat Resore Final

Here are the seats after they were reupholstered. It kind of turned into a debacle as SMS sent me the factory correct color but not the "stretch" version as was factory original. I didn't figure this out until the upholsterer was half done and I noticed the seams. The problem was I didn't want the seams as it isn't 100% factory. He said that even given the right "stretch" material he still could not eliminate the seams.

In all honesty I think he did a really good job. He worked with me and gave me a break on the price so I thought that was fair. A nice byproduct was that the seats look a little fuller than factory and they are much firmer...which I like. The vinyl on the back seat was also torn so he found the exact factory replacement and did the whole section. As picky as I was at that point I couldn't tell which was new vinyl and what was factory so I was pleasently surprised.

If anyone else wants to redo their seats back to factory I would highly recommend getting in touch with the guy that did Brian's (Teck) 86 as they look about as factory as you can get.

 

[rjfguitar]

In all honesty, I think the seams look better. I have never been a fan of the stretchy factory material.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

I'd have to go look at mine to even know what seams we are talking about.

 

[y5mgisi]

You, Teck, and rj, have just got my jealousy meter pegged!!! I have wanted something that fresh and clean forever! Great work! Im very impressed!

 

[Teck]

You, Teck, and rj, have just got my jealousy meter pegged!!! I have wanted something that fresh and clean forever! Great work! Im very impressed!

Come on your giving me more credit then I think I should get.

 

[mrluhman]

I'd have to go look at mine to even know what seams we are talking about.

You won't find any in yours if they're still factory Andrew. My old ones looked pretty good still but on the drivers seat it was wearing through on the bar part (where the foam rests on the steel lip so it cuts into the foam and cuts and eventually frays the thin stretchy fabric material. Originally, GM took the skeleton and then injected the liquid foam into the "stretchy" seat cushion material. The foam then expands and fills it up and expands the material and gives it a full look with no seams. Remember in those years the molded cloth seats were the top level option. If you watch the motorweek it was spun that this upgraded seat finish would "hug" u better on tight corners versus the vinyl option. If you look under your seats now you will see that it isn't like most seats where they upholster the fabric over a pre-existing foam structure. Most upholsters won't touch these seats knowing they can't get them "factory exact".

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Probably explains why the foam colapses so well.

I have a set out of a '90 in mine that the story goes were removed very shortly after the truck was new. When I got them in '09 they were in great, if dirty, shape. Already you can tell the d-side is squishing from me going in and out.

Either way, next set will be something different.

 

[Teck]

Most upholsters won't touch these seats knowing they can't get them "factory exact".

Because you have to steam the old farbric off the foam,so not to destroy the pattern in the seat. Then rebuild the foam tif need on the sides. Sew the new cover togther. The new fabric then has to be glued down in the center and streched around the sides.
As the guy said that did mine you really only get one shoot at it, or it can be F****D.

 

[rjfguitar]

Here are the seats after they were reupholstered. It kind of turned into a debacle as SMS sent me the factory correct color but not the "stretch" version as was factory original. I didn't figure this out until the upholsterer was half done and I noticed the seams. The problem was I didn't want the seams as it isn't 100% factory. He said that even given the right "stretch" material he still could not eliminate the seams.

In all honesty I think he did a really good job. He worked with me and gave me a break on the price so I thought that was fair. A nice byproduct was that the seats look a little fuller than factory and they are much firmer...which I like. The vinyl on the back seat was also torn so he found the exact factory replacement and did the whole section. As picky as I was at that point I couldn't tell which was new vinyl and what was factory so I was pleasently surprised.

If anyone else wants to redo their seats back to factory I would highly recommend getting in touch with the guy that did Brian's (Teck) 86 as they look about as factory as you can get.

I will say those look pretty darned good to me. The 87+ seats are actually pretty nice seats. I looked at a couple of junk yards trying to find a set but no luck. Those seats are so much better than the stockers that were in my '85. For me they had to go.

 

[Teck]

If anyone else wants to redo their seats back to factory I would highly recommend getting in touch with the guy that did Brian's (Teck) 86 as they look about as factory as you can get.

That was a real big deal to me that they came out just right. I was not willing to change them in any way.

 

[mrluhman]

You, Teck, and rj, have just got my jealousy meter pegged!!! I have wanted something that fresh and clean forever! Great work! Im very impressed!

I think your leather seats turned out great! Knowing I was going to have seams, I probably would have preferred them done in leather. I was wondering how that back seat would turn out too but it really looks good. About a close a matche as you can get.

 

[82355]

I'm not trying to be a dick, and I really liked the way your interior is turning out, but why make such a fuss over a seam no one will ever notice, if you are going to use a non factory rear view mirror that people will notice???

Martin

 

[K85 Octane]

probably cause the amount of cash spent

this is a really nice blazer
far too clean for me, but I'd sleep in it any day
after spending that much, I'd prolly sleep in it for a week

 

[83k5blzrbob]

Nice job on the whole interior. The overall appearance and the work you have done looks to have paid off. I will be doing the interior on my 83 soon and this thread has provided some good ideas and useful information.

Thanks and keep up the good work.

 

[mrluhman]

I'm not trying to be a dick, and I really liked the way your interior is turning out, but why make such a fuss over a seam no one will ever notice, if you are going to use a non factory rear view mirror that people will notice???

Martin

It was just one of those things that comes down to price. The fabric was $700 and the upholsterer even with the discount was $800. For $1500 bucks I wanted factory a perfect restore and I knew it could be done after seeing Tecks and my guy just couldn't do it. I was furthermore upset that I wasn't given my options (or explained his limitations) as he progressed through the job.

My truck isn't a 100% factory restore as I have upgraded things I felt that technology could improve. I think there are a lot better seat options out there (rjf's benz seats are a prime example, ryoken's is another) for less money.

Don't get me wrong the seats look great. I am just being candid for anyone else that would want to reupholster their factory seats as a cost to benefit ratio. At the end of the day you still have 1989 seat quality comfort.