1954 dodge royal 500 convertible Pacecar restoraton part 1

[dodge59]

 

Love that dash! I would suggest you get a different key bob. I think they make Mopar ones! LOL. Anxious to see the entire car.

haha... yeah , working on the key bob. need something to drop all the other keys down farther so they don't scratch the dash. those key rings are pretty close to the dash right now. I'll find something.

[pflaming]

Hide a toggle switch and then you don't need a key. Nice anti theft protection too. I have it that way on my truck. Ford's in the forties had that switch on the post, the key locked the steering wheel.

Will be looking to see what you do. LOL

[Young Ed]

 

haha... yeah , working on the key bob. need something to drop all the other keys down farther so they don't scratch the dash. those key rings are pretty close to the dash right now. I'll find something.

For my Dads convert he found one that's a little triangle of leather that folds over the keys and closes with a snap. You unsnap flip out the key you need and then resnap.

[dodge59]

update on 54 dodge indy pacecar :

she is at the "custom top shop" having the top installed

first time out for its first journey in 40 years.. It road and drove beautifully !

john

[dodge59]

whooooooooooo hooooooooooooo

 

the top is on ......

 

Looks sweeet !

 

[greg g]

beauty!

[Merle Coggins]

Looks nice. Just in time to park it for the winter. Won't be long now until we get our streets all salted down.

 

Merle

[fstfish66]

dash   looks great ,,so does the entire car,,,you did a great  job  in a short amount of time,,,ive never seen one  of those in a vert,,

[dodge59]

Looks nice. Just in time to park it for the winter. Won't be long now until we get our streets all salted down.

 

Merle

Thanks merle

yeah........ just got it home from the top shop  and off the streets before the snow flies tonight.

[dodge59]

dash   looks great ,,so does the entire car,,,you did a great  job  in a short amount of time,,,ive never seen one  of those in a vert,,

Thanks fstfish

yeah  I just got the top done in time  ... it is suppose to snow 2" tonight.

she is all tucked away until spring.  but yes I got  lot of work done in  6 months. and I'm  very pleased how  the 500 is coming along.

but I do have a big project ahead of me with restoring the door panels

I may  have a few questions  about the door panels for you upohlstery guys out there as time goes on.

I'll keep you all posted on  the door panel project.

ps:  I just want to say>

  the top shop was approx 4 miles from my house and ....... my first road trip with  the 500  drove and road excellent.  can't wait till spring 2015.

[dodge59]

update on the indy 500

I been plugging along on the door panels . have one done.

check it out.

Now I can see why the upholstry shop wanted $500 to do  all the panels.

but with a lot of concentration ........I can do it .

never done  this before............. first time.

 

Sweet!

[dodge59]

update on interior  door panels.

pass side rear  panel  is reupholstered  .  both  rear sides are finished now  . onto the next panel.

[RodFru2u]

You are doing a GREAT JOB. Some of the shops want way too much for some simple sewing.Just gotta give it a shot. Can always pay to have it done, This way YOU have a great story to tell and the photo's to put in the album once this project is on the road and @ shows.

[dodge59]

update..

I working on the interior door panels 

Got both rear side panels done  and wondering which way the rear seat area courtesy lights  lenses  go . in the up  or down position .

What is the correct position  for the rear courtesy light  LENSE  in  the back seat area of a  50's mopar convertible ?

is the lense larger slanted area point up or down.   I'm thinking the taller edge/point  of the lense is pointed downward. towards the seat .

what do you think ?

seen them pointed either way on  the websites .

Thanks !

john

[dodge59]

panels update :

finished reupholstering the other bowed/rounded rear side panel .

So all the rear panels are reupholstered.

onto the front door panels and kicks now.

this is the first time I ever did any type of upholstery work . seems to be coming along nicely.

..

the thing is............

you have to measure at least 4 times and check it and then cut only once. haha.

no major screw ups yet.

john

Edited December 3, 2014 by dodge59

[Mopar]

I like the blue upholster on your back seat!!! ok enough humor. Your upholstery is coming along great. I just found a company that my have the original upholstery fabric for my seats but need to send them a sample. If they have the material they said it would run about $85. a running yard. Sometimes I think it is not work trying to put things back to original. As far as the rear seat lenses. I could not find and thing in my manual on them but I would guess the large end would be on top

[dodge59]

mike

what color is your seat and door panel materials?

[dodge59]

finished up on a couple side panels installing the assessories.

[Mopar]

The fabric is red and white for the seat bottom an d back and the bottom of the door panels. The rest is an off white vinyl. The seats had worn out seat covers on them and I'm not sure if they are the original seats since it was a parts car. The door panels had also been replaced and were backed with cardboard from a furniture company. Because of all that I'm not sure what the original seats were or what color they were. I really don't want a lot of vinyl since it is so hot in the summer. The price of $85/ yard is making me think I may just do the seats and door panels in a newer fabric with vinyl for the door panels and back side of the front seats. Any suggestions.

[dodge59]

Here is a 54 dodge convertible in red and white .

.

http://classiccars.com/listings/view/499917/1954-dodge-royal-for-sale-in-sarasota-florida-34243#

place called miamicorp.com has interior fabrics. way cheaper than $85 / yd. check it out.

Edited December 5, 2014 by dodge59

[Mopar]

Thanks John for the info. This convertible has some weird colors. The exterior is yellow but the steering column, dash, & window trim are red with red and white seats. Not the color combo I would paint a new car. I looked at the  upholstery site and the prices are much better. I may go with some yellow and black they have and use some white vinyl for the tops of the seats.

[dodge59]

mopar

appears your convert was red and white dodge . like the attachment I send you of one for sale . someone must have squirted it yellow at one time .

Edited December 6, 2014 by dodge59

[Mopar]

I wondered about that at one time but I have done a lot of body work and it definitely was yellow. The other thought I has was that the seats, doors, dash, interior & interior trim were all swapped out with the car that they used this for a part car on. That was so much work I cant believe they would do that.

[dodge59]

been working on the sun visors off and on . finally got them done .. they look Great !

[fstfish66]

I wondered about that at one time but I have done a lot of body work and it definitely was yellow. The other thought I has was that the seats, doors, dash, interior & interior trim were all swapped out with the car that they used this for a part car on. That was so much work I cant believe they would do th

 

I like the blue upholster on your back seat!!! ok enough humor. Your upholstery is coming along great. I just found a company that my have the original upholstery fabric for my seats but need to send them a sample. If they have the material they said it would run about $85. a running yard. Sometimes I think it is not work trying to put things back to original. As far as the rear seat lenses. I could not find and thing in my manual on them but I would guess the large end would be on top

a lace to try for  original upholstery would  be  SMS  auto upholstery  up in the  north  west,,,,washington  state  if  i remember correctly,,,they have a lot  of that  type of stuff