Three questions

[Mark Hedberg]

I've got three questions after spending the afternoon poking around:

1. Any tips on installing new rivits that hold the spare tire carrier to the v-support (using repo lid, v-support and rivits)?

2. What kind of thread was used in the seams of '64 seat covers (dark blue)?

3. I've cleaned the vinyl interior but it doesn't shine very much. I do NOT want to start zaino wars or anything like that, but am interested what people are using to treat/preserve/shine up their vinyl interiors.

Thanks.

Mark

[Bill Baird]

Re: Three questions

I can only give an answer to your third question.

On the vinyl in my interior, I typically use a little Simple Green to clean the vinyl, followed by light application of Lemon Pledge. I prefer to spray the Lemon Pledge onto a towel, wipe it on, and then wipe it off.

I have also used a variety of "Armor-All" types of products, and I have found them quite satisfactory as long as they are used sparingly - I hate that nasty "oiled" look in cars where the owner let the silicon get a little out of hand. One very important point that I would like to emphasize is that my car gets out a lot, and does not spend a lot of time lurking around in the dark. If your car spends a great deal of time in storage, I would strongly discourage the use of the various silicon protectants, as they seem to encourage the growth of mold. What was a beautiful interior in the fall could very well resemble a large lump of bad cheese come spring.

Bill Baird

[Bill Baird]

Re: Three questions

I can only give an answer to your third question.

On the vinyl in my interior, I typically use a little Simple Green to clean the vinyl, followed by light application of Lemon Pledge. I prefer to spray the Lemon Pledge onto a towel, wipe it on, and then wipe it off.

I have also used a variety of "Armor-All" types of products, and I have found them quite satisfactory as long as they are used sparingly - I hate that nasty "oiled" look in cars where the owner let the silicon get a little out of hand. One very important point that I would like to emphasize is that my car gets out a lot, and does not spend a lot of time lurking around in the dark. If your car spends a great deal of time in storage, I would strongly discourage the use of the various silicon protectants, as they seem to encourage the growth of mold. What was a beautiful interior in the fall could very well resemble a large lump of bad cheese come spring.

Bill Baird

[Kieran A.]

Re: Three questions

i have had good results with a new product available from lexol called vinylex. used as directed it does not seem to leave a slippery suface but does leave a nice gloss. i think it will replace my use of lemon pledge because i have heard reports of the lemon component drying out the vinyl .

[Kieran A.]

Re: Three questions

i have had good results with a new product available from lexol called vinylex. used as directed it does not seem to leave a slippery suface but does leave a nice gloss. i think it will replace my use of lemon pledge because i have heard reports of the lemon component drying out the vinyl .

[Bill Baird]

Re: Three questions

Hmmm. I haven't heard that about the Lemon Pledge, I'll have to check into that. I know that I've heard a couple of different things about silicon protectants. One thing was that they can dry out your vinyl because they contain alcohol which draws the moisture out of the vinyl. The second thing was that the silicon retains moisture, and can lead to the growth of mold.

I've never noticed any drying out effects, either from the silicon products or the Lemon Pledge. I did, however, have a silicon "treated" interior piece stored in a box of parts for a year or so, and when I finally opened that box again, the piece was covered in mold. Everything else in the box was fine.

I'll have to try that Vinylex. Thanks.

Bill Baird

[Bill Baird]

Re: Three questions

Hmmm. I haven't heard that about the Lemon Pledge, I'll have to check into that. I know that I've heard a couple of different things about silicon protectants. One thing was that they can dry out your vinyl because they contain alcohol which draws the moisture out of the vinyl. The second thing was that the silicon retains moisture, and can lead to the growth of mold.

I've never noticed any drying out effects, either from the silicon products or the Lemon Pledge. I did, however, have a silicon "treated" interior piece stored in a box of parts for a year or so, and when I finally opened that box again, the piece was covered in mold. Everything else in the box was fine.

I'll have to try that Vinylex. Thanks.

Bill Baird

[Carl R.]

Infamous spare tire rivets

Hi Mr. Hedberg!

Replacing the sparer tire cover lid rivets...is a job.

The original cover was bare fiberglass, rails were dipped "semi-gloss black" and rivets were unpainted. Large head of aluminum rivet was on the inside (fiberglass side).

I drilled out my originals, stripped the cover, and painted the rails. To reinstall LI Corvette (amonst others) sells a set of "rivet-setting tools" that may help in producing the desired shape to the crushed rivet head. Have not personally used so cannot comment. I held the assembly over a vise while my father tapped on the rivets with a hammer & punch. Results were acceptable but for show I would replace.

Make sure you purchase a surplus of rivets before starting on this job.

Carl

[Carl R.]

Infamous spare tire rivets

Hi Mr. Hedberg!

Replacing the sparer tire cover lid rivets...is a job.

The original cover was bare fiberglass, rails were dipped "semi-gloss black" and rivets were unpainted. Large head of aluminum rivet was on the inside (fiberglass side).

I drilled out my originals, stripped the cover, and painted the rails. To reinstall LI Corvette (amonst others) sells a set of "rivet-setting tools" that may help in producing the desired shape to the crushed rivet head. Have not personally used so cannot comment. I held the assembly over a vise while my father tapped on the rivets with a hammer & punch. Results were acceptable but for show I would replace.

Make sure you purchase a surplus of rivets before starting on this job.

Carl