83 K5 Interior Rebuild

[ssgoodman]

yeah i was talking about the kick panels that have the speaker pods in them, not the ones on the door the ones on the floor. 

[78 Chevyrado]

Those panels look great!  I don't think you'll have any problem with the console

[GoatBeard]

Yeah, you can get those pods from the store on here -- http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=7&Product_Code=RD-3069&Category_Code=7387INT  $89 plus shipping.  They worked great!  Just scribe a circle and use a jigsaw to cut it out.  To attach them I had to use longer self tapping screws, but once I got the screw to catch some metal, they tighten up good.  The pass pod needed a tiny bit of trimming but the driver pod fit perfect  They make the speakers sound great!

About the panel -- I think if I had it to do again I'd use a different glue.  I read somewhere that the best glue to use on this type of speaker carpet was rubber cement, but I opted for the strongest 3M spray glue.  I used about 350 stainless staples on the back of it, so if the glue doesn't hold up, maybe the staples will keep the carpet tight!  The problem is that I've got around $80 just in the glue!  UGH!  I've been nickled and dimed to death on this project and if I have to spend anymore I'm gonna cry!  My budget has gone from like $500 up to $1500!          LOL

[GoatBeard]

Hat tip 78 Chevyrado! http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=9540.0 

If you have a liner for your console you can use it as a template.  I didn't have one, so I just made mine out of pieces of cardboard cut to fit.

Plain ole dirty console.



I happened to have a box that was the perfect size.



So I cut the box to the right length.



Then made sure the height and angles were correct.



I took each individual piece and fit them in separately.



One at a time.



Until they all fit perfectly.



Then I made sure to mark them before (and after) I removed them so I'd remember where everything went.



Then I glued my speaker/trunk carpet to each piece of cardboard.  I put some staples at the bottom and top (out of sight) for good measure.  Then reinstalled them one at a time into the console.



When I had them all installed, I had a carpeted console!

[ccz145a]

That looks great!

[79diesel]

looks awesome! any reason you used black carpet instead of red for the sides?

[GoatBeard]

I couldn't have used a thick carpet like ACC-type because it had to fold over to be glued.  I was afraid if I would have used the ACC-type stuff it would have stuck out too far and the tailgate wouldn't have closed.  You've only got maybe 1/2" of thickness to work with. 

The other reason was that since I wasn't using the same carpet as the floor, I would have ended up with a "generic" red that wouldn't have matched the carpet worth a dern.

The more I look at it the more I'm thinking that I might take off the door panels, repaint them totally black and go with a black dash.  At least that'a way the black will continue through the front of the truck and it'll look "right".  I was hoping that I could get away with just painting the door handles (and maybe the pull strap/bag) black, but I'm not sure that works -- what do you all think?  I think if nothing else, the dash being black will help.

[dunedigger]

That looks great man, nice truck, very nice.

[bigkountry]

Very nice

[GoatBeard]

I got the door panel finished with new paint, carpet, buttons and a pull strap.

Here's the before picture.



Here's the after picture.



Then I got the console reinstalled.

[GoatBeard]

I got the new door sill plates installed.



And put the passenger's seat back in.



It was finally coming back together!

I'll take some finished pictures when it warms up outside.

[GoatBeard]

I'll post this again just as some information in case anyone is thinking about doing their interior anytime in the future.  This might be overly descriptive, but a lot of the little stuff is what added up to cost the most!  It's stuff that you've got to have and should be a consideration when getting into this particular project.  There's a few things I still need, but am close to done.

GoatBeard’s Interior Rebuild Parts Index

Electronics
Stereo & Speakers:  ($150)
Stereo Installation Kit:  ($26)
Antenna Extension:  ($15)

Carpeting
Full K5 carpet kit by ACC: ($190)
Jute Padding & speaker carpet:  ($60)
Carpeted door kickpanels:  ($50)

K5 Parts
(Includes door straps, electric window/door lock buttons, overhead courtesy lamp cover, speaker pods, gas/brake/emergency brake pedals, front still plates, etc…)     ($300)

Misc
6 4oz cans POR 15  ($57)
Duplicolor vinyl paint & adhesion promoter  ($40)
Weatherstrip Adhesive ($3)
Soldering Iron/Solder ($10)
Jigsaw blades ($9)
Chip Brushes ($2)
Stainless Steel # 10 Finishing Washers & Stainless Steel #10 self-tapping screws ($17)
550 piece box of sheet metal screws ($6.00)
170 piece U-Clip & screw assortment box ($6.00)
200 piece “self-drilling” screw assortment box ($6.00)
Locktite Red threadlocker ($8.00)

Home Depot
4 cans 3M spray glue ($90)
1000 count pack ¼” stainless steel staples ($12)
3 rolls aluminum/tar “Quick Roof” ($60)
1 roll aluminum tape ($4)
4x8 Eukaboard ($14)
3 cans primer & 3 cans red/black paint ($20)
Roll Painter’s Tape ($6)
1/8” steel ($12)

Other
MIG welder & welding helmet – ($170)

[78 Chevyrado]

That's an amazing difference dude!  Great job!

[BlueCollarRon]

Thanks for the detailed list, I will be doing a frame off restor this spring before the mud drags and a major thing I need to do is waterproof my cab.  It would be pointless to restore my cab ,put a nice sound system in it and then fill the cab full of water and mud.  Let me know how well your method works out!  Beautiful truck btw, my interior is almost the same except I have a bench seat and a single cab 

[1983stepside]

your blazer is bad and i loved the post about your interior, im gonna use some of your methods and ideas in my 83 stepside, if thats of with you,