1966 Conv.-need tops and?

["Melnik, Daniel T (Dan)" <dmelnik@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks Arran,
I really appreciate the info. I will check with the 'car guys' at the local
'crusing night' shows/gettogethers here locally and see where that leads me.
Regards,
Dan Melnik

> ----------
> From:         A. Foster[SMTP:monkeypuzzle1@xxxxxxx]
> Reply To:     mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent:         Thursday, April 04, 2002 7:30 PM
> To:   mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject:      Re: IML: 1966 Conv.-need tops and?
> 
> Dan;
>  I would suggest finding a good upholsterer to do you car interiors. The
> way
> that you do that is to get some referrals from the local old car guys as
> to
> who does the best job for the most reasonable price. It wouldn't be a good
> idea  to only farm out the sewing since the covers really need to be
> fitted
> to the frames, with new padding, to have the proper look and feel. The
> best
> way to save money is to take the seats and door panels to the upholterer
> and
> reinstall them yourself after the work is done.
>  Your wife may be good with a household sewing machine but a house machine
> uses too fine thread for upholstery and wouldn't have enough power to go
> through leather and vinyl. Even if you were too find an upholstery machine
> to do the job it would take your wife quite a while to get the hang of
> using
> it. Another way to put it is that switching from a house to an industrial
> sewing machine is like getting behind the wheel of a Charger with a 426
> Hemi
> when you are used to driving a Morris Minor. The industrial machines are
> literally that much faster and more powerful then the house ones, in fact
> they will sew through plywood! The other factor is having access to all of
> the special tools and supplies to get the job done.
> Best Regards
> Arran Foster
> 1954 Imperial Newport
> Needing A left Side Taillight Bezel and other trim parts.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Melnik, Daniel T (Dan)" <dmelnik@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 11:50 AM
> Subject: IML: 1966 Conv.-need tops and?
> 
> 
> > Hi All,
> > My 2 1966 convertibles, 'Brandy' and 'Cinderella' need some TLC ( and
> lots
> > of work!).
> > I am hoping to put new tops on them this summer but wondered if anyone
> out
> > there has had experience as to the best (considering price & quality)
> place
> > to buy the tops from and also if this is something I should try myself.
> I
> > have one of the books previously mentioned by one of our members
> (Restoring
> > your Classis Car) and it seems that I can do the top replacement by just
> > taking my time ...also, having a second convertible here will probably
> help
> > me tremendously!
> > Any suggestions for new tops (I am in New Jersey) would be appreciated.
> I
> > also may need parts (hydralic, etc) for the tops once I get into the
> project
> > (Murphy's Law just loves these types of projects!) so any suggestions
> for
> > best places to get them would, again, be appreciated especially from
> anyone
> > who has gone thru this.
> >
> > I also wanted to ask if any of you IML members that have replaced your
> > convertible's interiors have a reliable, reasonablly priced source here
> in
> > the New Jearsey or NorthEast area. I have seen several in Hemmings (Bill
> > Hirsch I believe was one of them) but wonder what suggestions I might
> get
> > from those of you who have already gone through the
> > 'replacing-the-leather-interior' trials!!.....is this something I can do
> > myself (my wife is really great with the sewing machine, but its NOT a
> heavy
> > duty one!) or am I better off having a shop sew up the new covers?
> >
> > Some time back there was a thread regarding changing from drum to disc
> > brakes (this is still for my '66 convertibles) and wanted to be sure I
> had
> > the correct info as I lost the email. Was it ANY full size chrysler
> after
> > 1970 or 71 or only certain years? also, is it taking a chance getting
> the
> > parts from the junk yard (my favorite place to hang out in) or better in
> the
> > long run to try and get everything new from some supplier (I realize
> this
> > may be cost prohibitive but thought I would ask any way!).
> >
> > By the way, I have not yet given up on the idea of making some kind of
> > 'book' with all the IML photos in it and have actually downloaded quite
> a
> > few of the pictures as well as the 'repair' info to my computer. The big
> > problem is that the amount of photos is staggering....and keeps on
> > increasing!! (a good thing)......and the source for my inexpensive
> printing
> > of all these photos has 'gone away'. Rest assured that if there is a way
> to
> > get something done I will give it a try, even if it is initially just a
> > booklette with the repair, restoration or maintenace sections in it. It
> may
> > take a while but I have not yet thrown in the towel ....yet.
> > Thanks all,
> > Dan Melnik / dmelnik@xxxxxxxxxx
> >
> >
> >