Custom Interior Ourselves!

Greetings...When I bought my first MGB, a 72 RD. in September. The projects for this winter were to change the interior (seats and panels) and detail the engine compartment. As a newbie myself, this site is so encouraging and such a valuable tool for those just getting into this hobby. My posting (safely on floor stands) had such a huge response.. you answered my concerns with such valuable information, Thank you!

Interior... we have decided to do this ourselves. My wife is a seamstress, and we just bought an older style Ind. machine capable of sewing all vinyl's and leathers. I do hope someone who has made their own seat covers and panels will offer their advice thru. experience.. I do not know what hard board mat'l to use for the panels. I do know that some mat'ls available in the U.S. are not necessarily available here, so I hope some of my Canadian friends will offer their advice as well.

Engine compartment... I have seen postings with pictures of engine compartments detailed. Does anyone have pictures of a 72 engine compartment detailed?
Thanks again,
Ron

Ron, Mick and Susan of this forum did a beautiful job on their interior. Mick will probably be along soon, but you might PM him. Here's the link to his profile.

http://www.mgexperience.net/member/mick-susan%20mgb74.5

Just had a big discussion of this a couple of weeks ago. It's dated Nov 4th. Titled "Homemade Door Panels". Sorry, I tried to link to it but couldn't figure out how to. Maybe someone could enlighten me!!

Ron, since nobody else has said this i will. It is MANDATORY for all newbies to post pics of their car. we'll be waiting

oh and here is the link Lynn mentioned

http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?1,1272280,1272280#msg-1272280

Ken

Doing your own interior is about the most satisfying thing you can do. And you don't need experience, just patience. My wife is also a seamstress, and did an incredible job recreating the seat patterns for our '69 Sprite.

Anyway, I highly recommend 'Automotive Upholstery Handbook', by Don Taylor (Fisher Books). Everything you need to know is in there. Have fun.

Here is my '72 before working on the engine bay. The after picture follows since I couldn't figure out how to attach 2 photos.

Tim

Here is the after picture of the '72 bay. I used red tape because I didn't like the blue with the black. I'm changing the entire car from Mallard Greed to Black. It is pretty dusty right now. Looks better cleaned up.

Tim

Edit: Mallard Greed? Maybe I was just thinking of the money I've spent on parts!

I've done the interior on our 74.5. I used a hardboard 1/8" for the backing on the panels and contact cement around the edges with staples. I put a 1/8" foam rubber between the vinyl/Naugahyde and the backer board to give it a richer appearance. I've had many comments about it as it has a smooth look that people seem to like. I made all the panels the same way using the old ones as a template. I'm getting ready to do the same in my 69 Cee GT. I've also made seat covers using the older covers as a template. The seat covers aren't as easy but are doable, some of the stitching is hard to line up from the bottom of the seat to the back section, but I've seen worse jobs with the pre-made covers so I guess they have a hard time with this also. You don't really need a industrial machine to sew them on, just the know how.

OK!.... Ken the newbie car is posted here!

Oh, nice car. I love that blue.

The stock Autumn Leaf interior is kinda nice for cars that originally had the dark Navy seats as it is not so hot in the summer. Try to find the brown rubber mats for the sills and under the seats for that time machine feel. Carpet is too plush for a sports car.

A copy of "Original MGB" has lots of shots of mostly UK spec car engines. However, it is probably the best source as far as getting the colors and details right. Lots of us delete the smog-pump and air rail, so the UK spec cars are the ideal model.

If stock is not mandated, I urge you to consider cloth. 10 on the comfort level, and the right color combo can be stunning!

Upholstery board should be available at an auto trim shop. It comes in 4x8 sheets so its would be expensive to buy one piece. Its not a hard DIY project and I have always felt sewn is better than plastic weld and you also can opt to a host of cloth to give a real personal look and perhaps added comfort to leather or vinyl. If you opt to leather I suggest buying an entire hide. Otherwise it is sold by the square inch or foot and really boosts the $ factor to cost.

Very nice looking B Ron!

I used a hard board which I put a coat of varnish on to try and stop moisture from getting in. Picked up some vinyl and glued it on with 3M 90 glue.

Ron, that is a great looking B. From the photo the interior looks ok or is it more worn than it looks?

Ken

Hi Ken... The drivers seat has a 4" lg. tear in the seat cushion. On the door panels, there are a few spots where they have bulged out (not real bad) An upholsterer said he could repair the seat by replacing the material on the bottom cushion and colour match... for 150.00. I'm not sure if I could straighten the panels, I've never had them off. Otherwise, the int. is OK, with a fairly new black carpet set.
Thanks guy's for the comments.
Cheers,

Ron, I am in the process of recovering & installing my interior. As stated by others my wife took apart the original seats and used the pieces for the pattern. She did not add all the detail but they came out very good for our first time doing an interior. We bought new foam & webbing from The Roadster Factory. I sandblasted & repainted all the metal parts & reused the back of seat board.

The interior panels I made by using 1/8 plywood sealed with polyurethane for the doors & rear deck verticle panel. I used 1/4 plywood for the kick panel and the side wall panel behind the seats. I used 1/4 because it was what I had & I did not have enough 1/8". After using the old panels as templates and sealing the new ones I covered the door & aft sidewalls with 1/8" black headliner material cut to the size of the panel then glued on using Weldwood Gel contact cement. I bought this at Lowes hardware in quart cans. I also installed new carpeting & I should have bought the gallon, it would have been cheaper. I ended up using 3 quarts. I then covered the foam covered panels with UV manoughahyde glued only on the back side of the panels that are covered in foam & on the back & front of the ones without. I purchased about 4 yds of the vinyle and 1 1/3 yds of the foam. This was enough to do all the interior including the seats. I don't remember the cost of the seat foam & webbing, but the vinyle & foam & glue cost me about $100. Less than the guy wants just to repair your seat, & much more satisfying when you do it yourself.

Just a little money saving hint I have used over the years. I have bought a membership into The Roadster Factory for $100/year. You can save that much & more if you are doing a lot to your car. Check it out.

attached are some pics of my interior, keep in mind that it is not yet completed.

And another pic of the seats

Nice job Dan

Hi Daniel,
Great job on the seats, how did the carpet turn out? Was that also DIY cut and fit.When you have pictures of panels etc. please send. I will check out the roadster factory, Thanks!!

Dan great job. I really have to do something with my seats and that is buy new, repair existing or something else I have heard of and would be curious if anybody has done this.

I hear seats from a Pontiac Fiero, Miata and possibly an RX7 will fit into my MGB is anyone using any of these seats?

Jeff

I bought the carpet from Ben's Auto Parts on EBAY. Current listing : Item number: 390108750769 . This is a desent carpet for the money. It fit where it should. Decent fit on tunnel, not as good as a fitted tunnel. But in my research you pay a lot more for a carpet set with fitted tunnel. When I ordered this from Ben It was shipped & delivered in 2 days. I also bought the snap kit & studs and then ordered another set & he gave me a discount from the listed prices if purchased seperatly. If 7 when i do my 77B I will buy from him again. As you can see the rear deck carpet is not snapped in place. It does fit well though.
Thanks for all the great feedback.:)

I just did the interior for less than $40 with Home Depot Auto carpet for my 77 that is going on sale in the spring, (once I remove its OD) and swap it out for my 4-speed from my 79. straight car - original one-owner car - white. Everything's original, except the Weber and intake, exhaust manifold.

I used the 79 for templates and doing it yourself is the best I think...