DIY Network

1962 Fort T-Bird Restoration: Interior Vinyl and Carpet From "Classic Car Restoration" episode DCR-308

	Figure A
	The 1962 Thunderbird's interior vinyl and carpet are restored using a variety of cleaners, conditioners and dye. We used an adhesive-remover for hard-to-remove residues on the trim, such as around this Thunderbird emblem.

The 1962 Thunderbird sports roadster is well on its way to becoming a restored street-ready collectible. In this episode we restore the interior and convertible top. Thus far in the restoration, we've taken the car out of long-term storage, worked on the chassis, suspension and brakes, and then upgraded some of the engine parts to add some horsepower to its 390 cubic inch V8. Now it's time to work on the soft trim -- the car's interior and the convertible top. In this segment, we begin with cleaning and some light restoration to the interior.

So far, nothing had been done to improve the interior and it's essentially in the same condition it was when we purchased the car -- very dirty (figure A). Fortunately we didn't find any rips in the upholstery or terribly worn parts, so our objective is to finesse what we have and make it presentable. Here are the steps.

Materials:

Shop vacuum
Automotive leather/vinyl cleaner
Automotive leather/vinyl conditioner
Automotive carpet dye
Rags
Soft-bristle brush
Small brushes or old toothbrushes

Note: This is a summary of steps included in the automotive restoration procedures shown in this episode of Classic Car Restoration. These are general guidelines for restoration procedures on this particular make and model of vehicle, and for the level of restoration selected for this project. There may be variations in procedures depending on model, condition of vehicle, level of restoration undertaken and the types of replacement parts or upgrade kits selected. Always follow proper safety precautions, and read and follow manufacturer's guidelines, diagrams and safety notices that come with any replacement parts or kit that you select.

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Interior Cleaning and Restoration: Vinyl

• Begin with a thorough cleaning and vacuuming (figure B). Vacuum the interior thoroughly to remove dirt and grit that might otherwise get rubbed into the material. Be sure to clean well in the cracks and crevices of the seats.

• Use cleaning wipes to remove the grease and dirt (figure C). Be sure to use a product designed for interior surfaces that won't dry the leather or vinyl materials out.

  Figure B

  Figure C

  
  

  Figure D

• Apply a good leather conditioner (figure D) to keep the material soft and supple. Be sure to work the product into the seams and stitches. Following the manufacturer's instructions, this particular conditioner is applied, left on for 15 minutes and then buffed out using a clean rag.

• Important: Be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's safety precautions and directions when applying cleaning or conditioning products.

• We used a general-purpose adhesive remover to clean some hard-to-remove gummy substance on the trim. It may take a few applications of the remover to clean stubborn areas. Be sure to stop the application if you begin removing any of the finish color. Once the surfaces have been cleaned, apply a vinyl conditioner to restore the sheen.
  
• To clean the metallic center-console, use a soft brush to clean away surface dirt from the metal surface, then use warm soapy water to clean the area (figure E). A small brush works great for cleaning the T-bird's corrugated metal trim. Once the surface is clean, dry it thoroughly with a clean, soft cloth (figure F).

  Figure E

  Figure F

  
  

  	Figure G
  	Figure H

The carpeting in our Thunderbird was in fairly good condition and exhibited no wear-through. However there was some discoloration, probably due to staining and sunlight-fading. For the purposes of our demonstration, we used the driver's-side carpet mat to demonstrate techniques for restoring carpet. In this case the restoration involves thorough cleaning followed by dying of the vinyl heel-pad and fabric.

• First, clean the carpet thoroughly, vacuuming and/or shampooing as necessary, to remove debris from the carpet itself.

• The driver's side mat has a vinyl heel-pad stitched into the carpet. We clean this using a general purpose cleaner to remove the surface dirt and oils. This also helps prep the surface for the vinyl dye used to refinish the dried out vinyl. Once the surface is dry, apply the vinyl dye. (Vinyl dye is available at automotive and paint stores, and can be color-matched to your interior.) Apply the spray-on dye in light, even strokes (figure G). Let the vinyl dry, then mask off the area with paper and masking tape to prevent any over-spray when dying the carpet.

• With the vinyl area masked off, spray on carpet dye using even strokes (figure H). As with the vinyl dye, carpet dye is available at auto centers in a wide variety of colors, and can also be custom-mixed by paint shops. With this kind of paint, you don't have to worry so much about creating runs or drips, because of the highly irregular surface of the carpet. Apply a good, even coat to ensure good saturation. The spray-on dye is effective at covering the worn and faded areas. Be sure to get uniform coverage, and make sure to spray the edges as well.

• Allow the dye to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. In some cases you may need to allow the first coat to dry then repeat the process for a second application.
  

  	Figure I
  	Figure J
  	Figure K
  	Figure L

Other vinyl surfaces in the car that might need attention include the dash pad and the arm rests. If necessary, those can also be cleaned then painted. Most of ours were in pretty good shape.

If you need to paint any of your interior vinyl, again clean the vinyl surface thoroughly using a general-purpose cleaner to remove dirt and surface oils and prep the surface for the dye.

Spray the dye on using light, even coats (figure I). You can also use a vinyl dye system over dark vinyl -- going from dark to light. In that case, you'll need to apply a primer coat first.

Our center-console arm-rest was ripped and severely worn, so we purchased a replacement (figure J) from a Thunderbird club. The replacement arrived with a slight surface blemish that we were essentially able to make disappear by applying some vinyl dressing.

Our '62 Thunderbird was one of the first American cars to be offered with optional seat belts. The original owner did purchase the seat optional belts and they're still on the car. These original accessories are very special since they bear the Ford Rotunda emblem (figure K) indicating that they are the original vintage parts. (After-market parts purchased through Ford at that time all had this Rotunda emblem.)

The seatbelts themselves were in good condition although they were stained and dirty. Clean seatbelts using warm soapy water and a soft brush (figure L). Avoid using petroleum-based cleaning products that might break down the fibers of the aged belts. We used caution when cleaning to preserve the Rotunda emblem. We simply used a soft, damp rag to gently remove surface dirt, then blotted the area dry.
In the segment that follows, work begins on restoration of the convertible top with removal of the tattered and torn canvas covering from the retractable frame.

RESOURCES :

Classic Car Restoration Guide: The Complete Illustrated Step-By-Step Manual
Model: 1850108900
Author: Lindsay Porter
Order this book from Amazon.com
Haynes Publishing

Classic Car Restorer's Handbook: Restoration Tips and Techniques for Owners and Restorers of Classic and Collectible Automobiles
1557881944
Jim Richardson
(November 1994)
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
H.P. Books

Thunderbird Restoration Guide, 1958-1966 (Motorbooks International Authentic Restoration Guides)
by William Wonder
Published by Motorbooks International, June 1997
ASIN: 0760303908
To order this book from Amazon.com, click here.

Illustrated Thunderbird Buyer's Guide (Motorbooks International Illustrated Buyer's Guide)
by Paul G. McLaughlin
Publisher: Motorbooks International (July 2000)
ASIN: 0879388706
To order this book from Amazon.com, click here.