new interior project (56K is a no-go)

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[3100MPFI]

I finally had some good weather so I could start my fiberglassing, and decided to show some of my progress.

First of all, I stripped the dash out of my 1995 Cutlass Supreme so that I could repair a MASSIVE crack in it.  While I had the dash out, I decided to install some options. as well as a HUD.  

I finally got the bulk of my wiring finished today.  I only have 3 wires left to solder.  2 are for the SECOND GEAR START switch (I had it finished, then decided to move it, so the STOCK SGS switch will work as an E/M for the HUD, and I am moving the SGS to the button on the shifter knob).  The other wire is to connect the radio to the HUD.

The options that I am adding are HUD (from a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP), Second Gear Start, and DRL's (modified to turn on the FOG LIGHTS instead of the LOW BEAMS).  I am also installing a 2000 Grand Prix CENTER CONSOLE, and 2000 Buick Regal shifter knob.  

The wiring is at the stage where I am just wrapping it up, and hopefully tomorrow, I can start putting the interior back together.

This is a pic with most of the wiring taped back up, and finishing up the interior wiring:



This is the CRACK in the dash that I am repairing:





As you can see, it is pretty bad.  Here I was test fitting the 2000 HUD into the dash:



And here if after the first coat of fiberglass.  I am using a fiberglass FILLER for the crack, and getting the dash smooth.  Once it is done (I still need to do one more layer), I will do the fiberglass cloth to finish it up.







And here is a pic with the second coat applied, but before I started sanding:



And here is the pics of the second coat sanded down.








As you can see, it is going pretty good.  Hopefully tomorrow will be like today was, and I can get the glassing TOTALLY done.  I still have to make a custom cover for the HUD, but that should be pretty easy.

Then I can install and start working on the ENGINE

[5speedz34]

Awesome work! I think your projects are the shit man!

When you are done is the dash going to look stock or is it going to be smooth as glass across the top?

[3100MPFI]

Thanks.  I have a secret that I try to apply to EVERYTHING that I do.  I try to do things in such a way to set me in a class by myself.  I want to do things that have never been done, or not often done, or have been done, but make them better.  

The first time I realized this was when I wanted to use the 1992-1997 Cutlass Supreme body kit on my 1988 Cutlass Supreme, but I wanted to keep the stock hood, grills, and lights.  I had seen 1 really bad, hard to see pic of this, and I decided to do it better.  Since then, I have not seen another one like it.  I did see one CLOSE, but instead of the newer Front bumper, he was just using the 1988-1991 Cutlass Supreme SL bumper, but the rest of the car was the newer.

The second time I realized this was when I wanted to install my 2000 GTP HUD into my 1996 Grand Prix.  EVERYBODY on ClubGP said it could NOT be done, so I started thinking, I will MAKE a way.  After I found out it drops right in, and you only have to move some wires around (and add 1 wire to the radio), they ALL started doing it.  But I know that I did it first (at least, I was the first to post anything about it to the best of my knowledge).

Ever since then, I have tried to do my own thing.  That is why when I am on other site, I will post that I don't want to hear the reasons NOT to do something, and I get pissed off when people tell me not to anyways.  An example of this is I want to use a newer Aurora BOSE radio, and the older Z34 BOSE speakers in my 1995 Cutlass Supreme, and I told people I want wiring, and not reasons not to do it.  People are telling me I can get just as good results with an aftermarket radio, and speakers, but I want a STOCK head unit.  Some people just don't get that.

Enough of this rant.

I got some of the WOVEN fiberglass mat, so I am thinking about only putting the resin on the dash, then applying it so that the dash will have an almost carbon fiber look.  

I do NOT like carbon fiber, but you know what I mean.  That woven look.  I am then going to paint it all graphite.

Another thing I am considering is a TEXTURED PAINT.  If I can find one that looks close enough like the stock setup tomorrow, then I will just do it smooth, and paint it with the textured paint.  I have some options, but I will not make up my mind until I go to do it.

[TurboSedan]

cool

[99RegalGS]

Can't wait to see the finished product!!!

[3100MPFI]

Anyways, here are some pics of the BOSE crap that I am going to install in my 1995 Cutlass Supreme.  There are 2 door speakers with enclosures, 2 rear speakers, the amp, and I got the COMPLETE wiring.  

Of the pic of my car with the words START and FINISH, that is showing how LONG the wiring harness is for the BOSE amp.

Anyways, here are the pics:

[Euro]

nice! your projects always amaze me

[3100MPFI]

Thanks, but I kinda ran into a snag.  I was sanding down the dash again, and the vinyl flexes enough so that I can't sand it down enough to keep flat.  I am going to have to cut about a 1/4 inch off of each end of the cracked parts of the vinyl, and then re-fiberglass it all.  I know I am being anal at this point, and I REALLY should not care (seeing that I am getting a new dash in the summer), but I want it to look good.  I think I might have even found a solution to the textures not matching up (still a secret...  I want to test it out first and see if it will do what I want).

I also might have a MAJOR snag in all of this.  I was told erroneously by the DMV that I could not transfer the TITLE of my 1995 Cutlass Supreme over until the car passed a state inspection.  The car is titled in LOUISIANA, and I live in TEXAS.  I went through this with my 1990 Grand Prix STE, and I was getting ready to go through it all over again.

Anyway, a friend told me I should still have them check the VIN to be sure that there is not going to be any problems to GET the title, and the car has a CLEAR title, but it is titled under the ORIGINAL owner (it was bought NEW), and I am TECHNICALLY, the fourth owner.  She sold it to an auction house, they auctioned it off, and the guy that bought it did not want it, and that is when I bought it.

Well, I went up there today WITH the title because I noticed that she had signed her MARRIED name on the back, but the FRONT had her MAIDEN name.  There was an affidavit to correct for this, but I wanted to be certain that it was good (seeing the affidavit when she sold the car is 2005).  WELL...

...

Long story short (too late), when she did the affidavit of one and the same, she FORGOT TO PUT HER MIDDLE INITIAL LIKE ON THE FRONT OF THE TITLE!!!!  meaning, the affidavit is VOID!!!!!

Before I can get the title, I have to track her down, and get a new one, or a copy of a death certificate if she is dead.

Fortunantly, because her MARRIED name was on the title, I THINK I have found her, but she has not answered my calls.  

Fortunantly, she moved here close by, so I can just DRIVE to where she lives, but I want to be sure I have the right person first.  That is part of the reason I have stopped working on my car.  If I can't get the title, then I might be wasting my time and money.  I would HATE to get the interior back into shape with my CUSTOM work, and get a new engine in it, and she shows up saying she never sold the car and since the title is in HER name, and the affidavit is VOID, then I would have to give the car back to her (and even as bad as the car is NOW, it is still in better shape than when I bought it).

Ugh.

[Jay]

Damn, that's a SNAFU...

[3100MPFI]

it turned out for the best.  I met her today, and it turns out that she never signed the affidavit.  If I had tried to title the car and turned in the one I had, it would have come back that I forged it.  She signed the new paper, and said that if I needed anything else, to just let her know, and she would go with me to the DOT to get it done CORRECTLY.  

Turns out that I am PHYSICALLY the 5th owner of this car (at least).  But TECHNICALLY, I will be the second owner.

She was REALLY suprised that it had never been changed.  I also got a little bit of the history behind the car.  She REALLY loved it, and did not want to sell it, but it blew the TRANNY, so she got rid of it.  Turns out that she only sold the car for $500

Anyways, I can get the title done PROPERLY now, so I am right back to working on it.

[19Cutlass94]

That looks like a whole lotta fun!

[3100MPFI]

well, I got on ebay and got something new to play with:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120087233805

[Euro]

thats nice!! speaking of which, i have a H/U im watching that ends today lol thanks for reminding me

[3100MPFI]

I also just won a set of 1997 Aurora service manuals, so wiring it up will not be that big of a problem.

I also went today and got the TITLE to the green car.  In about 14 days I should get the title in the mail.

[3100MPFI]

Okay.  A MUCH needed update.  I got sick of chasing the gremlin in my STE, so I took it to a shop today, and got back to work on the 1995.

First of all, I have FINISHED the fiberglassing.  I just need to do a little more clean up on it, and I am ready to get the texture on it, paint it, and get it installed (prolly tomorrow).

Here is some pics of the FINISHED glassing.  Keep in mind that any minor imperfections that are left will be covered by the texture.







After I got the 'glassin' done, I went back to installing the BOSE crap.  I knew both of the REAR SPEAKERS would drop right in, but I wanted to get the WIREING ran under the carpet, and get that TOTALLY squared away so that the only things I would have to do would be at the FRONT of the car, and not the REAR.  

I removed EVERYTHING from the interior, as well as the front drivers seat, then I took the rear seat out.  I pulled out the rear speaker deck, and started running the wires under the carpet.  I test-fitted the location of the amp to see what I would have to do to mount it in the STOCK location.  It turns out that there is a bolt hole REALLY close to the amps location, and I was able to BENT the bracket so that I would not have to drill a new hole.  The only thing it did to the mounting was it lowered the amp about a half an inch.  Here are some pics of the mounted speakers, and amp.

Here is the amp mounted in the STOCK location.  When I took this pic, I was on the INTERIOR of the car, laying on my back, looking up.  That is why the angle is so phunny.


This is the REAR SPEAKER mounted to the STOCK AMP.  It came with the pigtails, and I just plugged it right in.  


This is the BOSE AMP from the rear of the car, looking into the trunk.


This is the rear amp, but from taken further back.  It is hard to see, but if you are familiar with these cars, then you will notice it.


This is the bolt that holds the amp in place.  The SQUARE OPENING under the edge of the trunk lid, that is where the other end of the amp goes.  I just bent the bracket further back so that I would not have to drill a new hole.  The AMP coveres the CROSSBARS for the lift supports, but they do not interfere with them.


This is the BOSE SPEAKER in the stock Cutlass Supreme mount.  It just dropped right in place and is secured with the stock bolts.


This is another pic of the rear speakers.  The thing in the middle is just the cover for the high mounted stop light.  I forgot to get it out of the picture.  lol


These are just some pics of the Silhouette airbag that I am using, since so many people ask me about it:







And this is a pic of the BAD ASS engine stand that I am going to mount my twin cam too for the rebuild.  I have one of the legs off of it to show that they are removable for easier storage



In all pics, please excuse the mess.  I normally keep things a LOT neater, but I was excited about getting some real progress on this, so all the shit was flying.  LOL