Removed my arm rest/door handle to see if I could repair the bulge and this is what I found. I assume this is a common problem but found nothing by search.
Fabric has to be pulled hard to get it where it is supposed to be and so far has overpowered my attempts at reattaching it. First with hot glue then with weather strip adhesive. I have removed those glues and back to where I started. Is there a fix or go find some good ones?

 

Its in the how too section

https://www.thirdgen.org/armrest/

 

Thank you, I have yet to look over the entire site for such.

 

No mention of it in that article, but is it necessary (or helpful) to rough up the plastic core, so that the epoxy has something to bit on to?

 

Nifty tutorial. I don't know how many of these I've done by pulling the overlapping vinyl down into position and zapping it with superglue. Probably not the best way to do it, but it's worked for me.

 

TORN posted link above the only long lasting way to repair these.
The only tough part is getting/borrowing the commercial 2 part
fuzer stuff to bond the vinal to the frame...............

I used the same method/fuzer to repair my console lid.

 

I fixed mine by stitching it like so.It worked very well, but mine wasnt as severe as yours.I made the threads just snug so as not to rip thru the vinyl.It worked for my console lid as well.

 

I didn't but it might help.

 

Most of the time, with this kind of thing, if you apply adhesive to the plastic core and stick down the foam surface... It'll hold until the vinyl pulls up and leaves the foam stuck down.

That's why I generally pull the edges down til they overlap the plastic core, and use super glue. That way your vinyl is stuck to the core and it's not going anywhere. BTDT with several sets of armrests, and as many Firebird consoles. FWIW.

 

I've done this deal with JB-Weld.

After several years, mine still holding strong.

Description begins at post #217
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...ml#post5633451

 

Have you found super glue to be a long lasting fix?

 

Commercial 2-part fuzer? Nothing like that mentioned in the linked story. What did you end up using instead of JB Weld?

Are you talking about Lord Fusor?

https://www.lord.com/products-and-so...pair-adhesives

 

NO............

My bud who is a body shop tech brought home some 2 part stuff he called
fuzer in a big gun from his shop. I didn't mention it in my post above.
I don't recall the brand name but it was some commercial shop stuff.

I did post a thread elsewhere here with pics.

 

Well, Because of my past good experiences with it I used Gorilla glue on mine. The stuff spreads out as it activates and I thought that would be good in this application. Made up a jig as in the sticky and let them sit overnight. They are SOLIDLY attached now, for how long? time will tell. I had to trim a bit so they would rest flat. If I ever do another set I will also clamp them down on a flat surface and that will fix that issue.

 

Should work. Pretty sure Gorilla is a documented solution to Firebird console delam.

 

Pics of my console lid fuser repair:








That commercial body shop stuff sure is tough!
Lid is like new!
(This repair was done last year.)

 

That's what I used on the radio pod. It's held up thus far. I need to do the console next.

 

I started on the radio pod for the green bird, but it's so far gone I back burner'd it until I'm ready to put it back in. Kind of hoping I find a better one between now and then. Of course I've got another on the shelf that's in better cosmetic shape, but some nitwit busted the radio mounts out of it.

I'm missing the days of buying a new pod from the dealership for $40 and being done with it.