Interior Resto in the '89 Firebird
 

I bought an 89 Firebird for a 2nd daily driver for nice sunny days a few months back and the seats and door panels were rough, not to mention the seats in it are the wrong year altogether. The interior has seen better days, so I've begun to spruce it up.

Here is the interior before:

https://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1811/89firebird5.jpg

Took the ugly red seat covers off and found these:

https://img825.imageshack.us/img825/...9firebird9.jpg

The door panels were rotted underneath badly and the fabric was coming loose at the top/sides on both panels. The passanger door pocket was sprung. The dash pad was cracked in a few places, but overall the interior wasn't completely shot and even the center console and pad is still in good shape.

I bought some very nice condition factory seats from Hawks and some nice door panels from a different seller which turned out to match the seats. I've never liked the gray colored look of the instrument panel, so I painted it black as well as the lower dash panels using vinyl/plastic prep and SEM Landau black. This car has a map pocket delete which had wrinkled vinyl on it and someone cut it short (probably because it was hanging out), so I couldn't reuse it. It's recovered with gray headliner material for now. I installed new GM power lock switches and power window switches. I put a perfect dash pad on it that I got from my friend for $40.00 (you can't beat that deal!)

Here is what the interior looks like so far:

https://img705.imageshack.us/img705/...erupgrade1.jpg

https://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1165/interupgrade2.jpg

https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/...erupgrade3.jpg

https://img267.imageshack.us/img267/...erupgrade4.jpg

https://img716.imageshack.us/img716/...erupgrade5.jpg

https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/...erupgrade6.jpg

https://img838.imageshack.us/img838/...erupgrade7.jpg

https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/...erupgrade8.jpg

It just needs some new carpet, headliner, speaker panels, and front seatbelt receivers and it will really look nice I think. What do you think of painting the instrument cluster bezel and lower dash panels black? I swear I've seen this done somewhere else, maybe a newer Firebird and I really liked it. I may end up painting the whole dash shell black, but I kind of like the contrast for now. I may put a real map pocket on the dash, but the map pocket delete is growing on me. I just need to find some correct vinyl to cover it with.

The seats were said to have been removed from an '89 Firebird, but I'm puzzled as to why there are no bolt holes for the rear shoulder belt brackets. Does anyone have a close up picture of exactly where those belt brackets bolt to on the back of the seat or a link to a good picture? I'd really like to get those in the right place.

Try not to focus too hard on the ugly white tribal flaming birds on the sail panels...I've already removed those hideous things and have new GM silver birds ready to go on when it gets warmer.

Re: Interior Resto in the '89 Firebird
 

The interior looks really good. It cleaned up well. Lloyds floormats would complement new carpet nicely.

Also, I hope you didn't get rid of those PMD seats. They are pretty rare and they look like they were in good condition. You could get good money for those.

Re: Interior Resto in the '89 Firebird
 

I was wondering the same about the PMD seats. Did you keep those or use them for the other car you have listed? They can bring top dollar in nice shape.

The sad part is, I had an 89 formula and I dont for the life of me remember where the seat belt guides were mounted.

-Chris

Re: Interior Resto in the '89 Firebird
 

Looking good.

Re: Interior Resto in the '89 Firebird
 

Hey Thanks! Oh yea, I kept the PMDs as I am aware of the value of them. Actually, I don't throw out any firebird/trans am parts unless they are completely junk and not fixable...like the door panels I took off this car that were literally falling apart so bad that shavings of cardboard where all over my car, yard, and me. I did toss those, but I kept the black "L" trims and door handle plates as well as the gray arm rests. I just put black arm rests on the new door panels because I like that look better. I also used the top plastic trim on the new panels since they didn't come with it. Someone on another board has already asked me about the PMD seat set and if they don't buy them, I'll list them here for someone doing an '82 resto or KR car. They'll be reasonably priced though.