sewlow
Bitchin' Stitchin'
When I do these, I show no mercy to the ones being removed. Time = $$$. Many times they end up getting damaged somehow or other, even when I show some restraint. You're right. That glue's a b*tch.@sewlow I would not have thought to use PL400 for this application. Is there any way to remove that if I ever want/need to change it in the future?
So, I'll make a pattern from the originals & build new inserts from there. The base panels for all that can be 1/8" mahogany (Household interior door skin) or a double layer of a type of plastic called Kydex.
UHMW will work too, but it's a bit expensive for the job & because it's so slick, glue doesn't want to stick too well to it. That means staples in addition to the glue.
The inserts are only held by the glue to the door panel. Door panels have to be solidly built with the multiple times a door gets closed, causing stress, along with pretty extreme hot & cold cycles over 4 seasons. The glue has to be able to stand up to that.
Leather & vinyls can be matched to GM original.@sewlow
Separate question: is there any source for GM's late model GMT400 interior fabrics? I would like to use it for some accent pieces if it can be sourced.
GM has used some of the same vinyls from the '50's up to today. Grains called 'Sierra' & 'Madrid' have been basic standard GM vinyls since vinyl was first used as an alternative to leather. Colors are consistent.
Leather can be dyed to match any color required. But as it's a natural product (not man-made) there is always little inconsistencies & flaws that give leather it's character.
It's the fabrics that are unobtanium. As most GM fabrics always have been.
GM does sell their fabrics, but because there are so many fingers in that supply-chain pie, (all slapping on their 30%) a material that should retail in the $30-$40/yard range costs $125+ per yard through GM.
...and they only hold stock for so long. It takes up a lot of warehouse space, so after a certain period, rather than sell off any remaining stock at discount prices, they destroy it. Yea.
Mills do make materials that perform the same or better than originals. But, because GM holds the rights to the original, the aftermarket fabrics are never the same in waft, weave &/or texture.
While many sample fabrics can look close in color in the book, (GM can't hold rights to colors.) once they are installed in a vehicle up against the original, the difference is immediately apparent. The aftermarket stuff will stick out like a sore thumb.
There is a way to get original fabrics, although only small-ish pieces. Cut out & removed from other 400 seats.
Passenger sides of vehicle interiors go through a lot less stress & strain than the driver side. Many times that passenger side material can be modified to fit driver sides. But due to left/right design differences, with any such modification, the final product will not be exactly as original.
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