I'd like to start by thanking Okfoz for his seat diagrams. They helped me see exactly what I wanted...and what I didn't want.

I'll start with the old...move to construction...and finally show the new beauty.

old:

 

Old 2:

 

No seats or carpet...old insulation sucks.

 

With old carpet...

 

New 1aauto carpet installed...but still the red belts. These will have to go.

 

I'll now begin the finished stage. I had a 4th gen console installed a while back and decided I wanted it black. A little cleaning and a couple coats of paint later, it is black. I've got the window switches in the ashtray and the mirror switch in the front. The mirror switch has been rewired so that it is correct for its position (except the up and down are reversed...who cares...it's airplane style!) Also seen is the new stereo. I love this deck. Very nice. Even reminds me to take the faceplate off. The radio pod is now black as well.

 

I picked up these 4th gen seats from hawks for 800 bucks. The car had 13k on it when it was wrecked. nice seats.

I also installed 4th gen black belts (they're actually called graphite). The thirdgen belts are no longer available in black - just grey.

 

Here's a closer view of the doorpanels. They were stock red GTA doorpanels that I had dyed and recovered with a red leather. This was custom done by John's trim shop in Baytown, Texas. I very much like the look it adds to the interior.

 

I'll also had a black headliner installed by Barret's upholstory in Liberty, Texas. Along with that, Hawk's supplied a complete set of black interior panels.

If any of you have a chance to deal with Hawk's...do so. The guy's very helpful and wants your business. I've never seen a business with as good customer service as he has.

I'll leave you with a picture of the exterior. The car needs paint...but it's still a beauty.

Questions? Comments? I've got more pics but am on a modem connection. If you feel sorry for the 56kers...feel sorry for me. I've got less than 30k.

 

Alright guys...I know this thread is huge. I hereby apologise to all modem users (not including myself). but really...not a single comment???

Oh well. The seats are awful comfy! :lala:

 

Dude that is just plain sweet! Awesome job!:hail:

 

Yeah man great job!
I have to give you credit, is this your first time with this stuff?
do you know how to do car stuff? or did u just give it a shot?
thats what I usally do, just give everything a shot.
Its really time consuming and everything that deals with cars takes forever. But really nice man, have u thought about the door panels? I was thinking mabye u should put grey or white, and put a neon for the night time, it will all shine. will look mint.

 

But really nice man, have u thought about the door panels? I was thinking mabye u should put grey or white, and put a neon for the night time

I'm not quite understanding what you're saying. I did change the doorpanels. Maybe you could explain a little better. The neon thing on the outside is a no-no. I have thought about getting some 6 inch red neons and hiding them up under the dash for just an ambient glow.

I have to give you credit, is this your first time with this stuff?

I've taken interior panels out before (installing subs and such) but never of this scope. The whole project stretched from late May to current: July 13. I'm quite proud of the work. Thankyou for the complements.

 

hey man...looks great! good job! :hail:

 

Looks great. It was so thrilling doing all of it by yourself too eh? I've almost finished up my Interior project, just need to pay for my 4th gen black and grey seats, then get new arm rests and I will be finished.

 

It started out thrilling. That's for sure. I had a few problems with the seats that kept me from driving it...specifically Hawk's not including the vacuum and electic lines that go between the seats. As soon as I figured out I needed them, they shipped them straight to me...then the fun started. I'll tell ya what, it's not fun driving your car around the yard into the driveway on a milk crate

And to all those that may wonder in the future...the seats are from a 4th gen and they bolt right in. And they ARE more comfortable than my old Ultima Seats.

If there's anybody in the Houston area that would like a set of heavily used Ultima seats...let me know. I'm willing to almost give them away.

 

Hey 85SportCoupeto89RS! I'm moving to Arkansas in August. How's the thirdgen community up there? If you'd like to meet sometime I'll be attending the University in Fayettevile.

 

Nice job Do those 4th gen seats have power lumbar? Why do you say they are more comfortable the the GTA seats. I always heard the other way around Would you consider shipping them to AZ?

 

Well it all depends which seat you sit in. The passenger seat fits like a glove (ultima seats) but the drivers seat is worn pretty good. The motor either does not work to pump the bladders up or I just needed a new fuse...I didn't know there was a fuse until I took them out. So I was sitting on flat Ultima worn seat.

I've never shipped anything...let alone seat size. It'd probably be better if you were closer....but that's probably not going to happen.

Anybody know how to ship seats???

 

First off great interior! I am in the middle of mine to and have kinda left things tore apart and have been driving it lol. I replaced the big plastic dash part and it was a major PITA and I ended up cracking the one I was putting in so I got pissed off...

How much did it cost to have Hawks ship you them seats. I love those and would like to buy a pair myself... I currently have 4th gen camaro seats....

I am also interested in how hard it was to used 4th gen belts?? Did you used both front and rear?? DId you keep the 3rd gen belt receivers or did you have to get 4th gen?

thanks!

 

Very (VERY) nice work!
I'd also like to know about the 4th gen seatbelts. I've been thinking about getting a set, but wasn't sure if they'd fit. Tell us more!
Thanks,
Rob

 

3.1EyeCandy, the 3rd gen enthuisats are small numbers near I live "which is Mena AR" thats about a 1 1/2 hour drive from Fayettevile. I know theres a whole lot more 3rd genners there, I have a couple of friends that go to the university, so Id probally be going out there from time to time.

 

How much to have Hawks ship me the seats?
I paid 800 for the seats, 200 for the interior panels, and I think 60 for some door panel parts. It all shipped for close to 1300.

4th gen belts?
They will fit! The thing about the 4th gen belts is that they have no bottom retractor. If it wasn't for that, it'd be a direct bolt in. As it stands, mine directly bolted in....but I'm going to live with a twist in my seat belt which does not affect safety. I opted to get NEW GM belts when I got belts. front belts were 300 bucks - this includes belts, retractors, and buckle assemblies. I'm fairly certain that you would have to use the 4th gen buckle assembly, though I did not test it out. There is a tech article up about this swap that I found helpful. Out of all the things the tech article mentions, you must use the 47 torx. I used a bit a slight bit smaller and it stripped it. I then had to use a 50 to get it out. Just put down the cash and get a QUALITY 47. And if you can, use an impact wrench on the bottom retractor torx. That thing is the tightest bolt I have ever seen. I actually twisted a "good" bit trying to get that out. I took the whole set back and got my 9 bucks back...I then laid down 6 bucks and got one t47 bit and it worked like a charm.

I am only using fron 4th gen belts. I have no back shoulder belts, so the conversion would be too much hassle.

 

Oh you already changed them?
wow man I must of been really tired when I was reading this.
I thought u wanted to change the red, haha my mistake,
About the neons, I was thinking when u replace the red (mistake), and if u made it white, and u had a neon in the car, the white would light up.. (but u already changed the panels) I like them red also!.. Great project

 

Your car looks great. Red and black is great isn't it? The door panels are awesome. I was thinking of the same change for my grey door panels. I have the same style panels as you minus the map pocket. Mine had manuel windows. You said had your red ones dyed black, eh? Do they look as if they came black form the factory? What did it cost?

I have wanted to try to dye mine, but I'm not convinced the dye would hold up, esp on the arm rest. Did they use dye or paint? I had some upolstry place make the vinyl seats on my SEA-DOO grey. They came yellow. They used some kind of paint and it held up for a few seasons, but they began to chip. I was afraid the same wouls happen on teh doors, so I have been stalling.

Another question, the graphite/ebony seats. How do tehy look with the black in the interior. I have been debating on tehm as well. I'm not sure how well tehy will match the black. Is noticible against the black panels that they are grey? Since I show my car I have to be careful. I may also get my seats recovered in Black w/ a red center. Maybe do the door panels as you did. Or get them all black with red piping and do the same to the doors. I just can't decide.

 

:hail:

 

I'm going to be putting some new door panels in next week. Can you give me some pointers on how to get the old ones off.

 

To Redraif

They said that they dyed the doorpanels...but I'm pretty sure it's a paint. It had chipped a small amount by the time I got them home and I touched them up with a little paint. No problem. The thing about the paint is that it holds up very well when applied to vinyl or leather...just not plastic. Our doorpanels are a hard vinyl and seem to somewhat take the paint. Is it noticible that they were once red? no.

The seats are ebony seats from a 2000 TransAm and match perfectly with the black interior panels. They appear a graphite color in most pics but are truly ebony black in person. To make them all the more black, just apply some leather care.

The doorpanels cost me 300 total.

It's funny you mention the seats being reupholstered with a red center....that's in the plans. I decided that I'd let the black leather wear out for a few years (while the car is still a daily driver) and then finish up the interior and put the car into storage and only show her. If you do end up putting the red stripe in the seats, I'll be one envious guy...but it will look incredible, trust me

jawzforlife

Start by taking off the arm rest. Then take off the plate that goes around the locks/handle. To remove the door panel, you must loosen it from the door because it is attached with those plastic rivets (you know - the ones that never stay where they're supposed to ). I used a wide pry bar. Once you have loosed the door panel - all you'll have left is the top black piece. Push this piece towards the window and lift up the door panel. That's what I did and it works.

omnipotentgoku
Thanks for the :hail: . You must be a huge DBZ fan to have such a screenname. :hail: DBZ! the king of all cartoons!

 

do i take the top black peice all the way off.

 

Awesome job. Love the console, how difficult is it to switch one into a third gen?

 

Very nice job on the interior! I like it. Shannon (Redraif...my girlfriend) is using my 97 SS seats right now (its down, doing some pretty extensive mechanical work, and its the show season, so I let her borrow them), they're graphite leather. Not nearly as comfortable as the bird seats. She's still debating, 4th gen seats vs leather covers for her originals from Mr Mike's. Her drivers seat does need some rebuilding, though, as something in it broke (metal part under the cushion, it will poke you sometimes). She's doing her door panels soon (already cut the black naugasoft for the insert), which shouldn't take long, but there are a couple other changes (new tinit and mirrors) we want to make at the same time. We have quite a bit to keep us busy til Dayton next month (TA nats)!

 

For you i'd be a direct bolt-in. You have to get a manual shifter plate no matter what cuase the auto plate won't line up with the stock thirdgen auto shifter. Some people have actually moved the shifter....

:hail: :hail: :hail: :hail: 3.1EyeCandy, Very nice car! I am very jealous!

 

Thats great it's a direct bolt on, but how hard is it going to be messing with the shifter plates and all? I regret to admitt that my technical skills are not as great as I'd like..... could i do it myself, should i get some of my other third-gen buddies over for the day, get a professional?? Also, how long will it take to do the switch? Is there a tech article somewhere?

 

Looks great! I'll becha like those seats too, even though your old ones look like the same thing just cloth. I have those same ones... they rock. Unless the black leather sits in the direct summer sun for a while... hot!!! Oh well, thats why I leave a towel over it, or make sure I park facing a certain direction. But It didn't look like you had T-tops so this is much less of an issue.

 

:hail: i love it. i'm redoing mine, but in a few smaller steps, though i wish i had the moolah to rip the whole thing out and replace everything! I just bought 10 yards of material for $1 a yard at wal mart yesterday, it's silver with a nice tasteful flame patter right in it. First comes the headliner, i'll post pics when i get them, might actually scan a scrap piece of the material to show y'all