UK Polara update

["Robert (UK)" <r.lane@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Havent posted much recently as I've been waiting to have some news to 
post.
Getting somewhere, at last, with renewing some of the interior and the 
exhaust system.

First we fitted 3 sets of Julianos lap belts in the rear & replaced the 
front ones that we were told were 64 vintage when we bought the car. 
They're not an exact match for the ones we've replaced but they look 
pretty good and weren't too expensive. May get the originals refurbished 
by SsnakeOyl and see if they can supply the same for the rear, but that 
can wait.

Got the Legendary seat covers fitted, despite not being convinced that 
the stitching is the right color. They said the white stitching in our 
original covers would have been red when new, and has faded over the 
years from exposure to sunlight. But once the old covers had been 
removed, we saw that all the stiching on the inside was the same color 
as that on the outside. But we werent about to send them back for a 
refund and look for another manufacturer with better research, so we 
went ahead and got them fitted.
Once fitted, the upholsterer told us the fronts were pretty tight, and 
found there was 2" less material in the seat back cover than on the 
orignals. They're on though, just hope the stitching holds out.
And once we'd put the rear seats back in the car, we saw that they were 
actually quite loose and could have done with more padding or less 
material. We've passed them back to the upholsterer who said he'd try 
more foam, or if that doesnt work, will remove some material and 
restitch. Bit like a tummy-tuck I suppose :)

Once we'd got some more windlace trim from Kramers to supplement what 
Laysons originally (short) supplied, we got onto the door panels we had 
refurbed by SMS. The rears went on fine, but with the front (door) 
panels fitted, there was no way the doors would shut.
We knew to expect them to be a bit tight with new weatherstrip/windlace 
etc, but after a quick measure-up, we found the new panels to be about 
1/4" longer than the old :(
Only option really was to peel back the vinyl, trim the door card back 
and reglue the vinyl, which we've already done to one panel.

And while the back seats are out (so we can attach new brackets etc), 
we've made a start fitting the TTI system we bought last summer. The old 
system was a bit of a home-made job, looked ok at first glance, but 
welded from from to rear and welded to the hangers - bit of a pig to 
remove. Still got to grind/chisel/remove the hangers that have been 
welded to the rear frame rails next to the petrol, sorry, gas tank, then 
attach the new bracket up above the axle. That's the plan for tomorrow 
(Sunday).

And finally.... (still awake out there?!), I collected the instrument 
cluster today from our post office depot, that AutoInstruments have 
redone for us, after I returned their 1st attempt that had the wrong 
combination of paint & chrome. This one looks spot on. I'll get some 
pics tomorrow in the daylight.

For now though, here's some of the interior.....

http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h233/rob426uk/Polara%20interior/

I'd be interested to hear if anyone else had trouble with SMS panels 
fitting? Seems like some vendors of parts for these older Mopars have 
trouble with getting reliable info/samples to use to make sure their 
products are right for every application.... unless some of the 
originals varied in size/spec?

Robert
63 Polara 500
England


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