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CanberraBJ8
Jedi Trainee
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I'm working on the carpet now. This time I stitched the sections together by hand but with two needles - like stitching leather. It was slow, but I was able to proceed in a controlled way. I actually quite enjoyed it/am enjoying it. I had my old sewing machine serviced in the meantime to do the edging - I know the BJ8s didn't have edged carpet, but it seems unfinished to me, and this isn't a standard trimming 
Some shots of the carpet so far:
Also currently I'm working on the soft top. I'd love to fit a hard top - top of the 'want' list, but a way down on the 'need' list :-( I refitted it once, but decided it could be better. So Its off again.
As the inside of the soft top on my car is tan, it looked kind of strange with the pale blue/grey frame colour. I dont know if the gray used on the car was the correct one, but it certainly doesnt match the fabric. Also I think it looks bad where the wood trims are wrapped in the tan vinyl - it stands out like dog's ba@@s against the dark blue top fabric.
So I've decided on this; the Bristleflex (I'm going with this) the vinyl and the frame are all going to be navy blue. I tried painting the frame (after removing all the paint with paint stripper - not much fun, but cheap) with can sprey enamel. Once again cheap, and I figured it it didnt do the job I could always get it powder coated.... I dropping it off this afternoon to be sandblasted prior to powder coating... Turns out it will only cost $100 to powder coat, and $80 to sandblast it. A further $25 gets it zinc coated after the blasting to make sure theres no rust (its cold and humid this time of year) before the powder coating.
Also I've been working on a bunch of LED lighting for the car - after looking at AUSMHLY's photos of his BJ8 - same colour as mine. As of tonight its all working, though a couple of bits need fastening. I have fitted:
Engine bay lights
Boot light
Interior (courtesy) lights (in blue as per AUSMHLY's)
And a 'map light' of white LED under the lip of the glovebox. I dont know if this will work out ideally, but if it doesn't, the wiring will be there for when I can get a real map light.. Also on the same switch is some LEDs in the glovebox.
And finally a back-up light which I've yet to fix to the rear of the car.
I'll post some better photos of all of them when the car is more together.
They are all controlled by a switch panel that I fixed to the bottom of the dash. It isnt really period. I agonised about how I'd do this for a while. Either all new toggle switched in a single bank (which would have meant making a new centre panel for the dash - not so hard). Using the original switches and just adding more of the same switch that the overdrive or panel lights use, or in the end using contemporary switches (cheap) and just minimising the visual impact by half hiding them. I also chose switches that are lit from within when on so that I'd be warned they were on; think of forgetting the backup light an driving off with it blazing away, or parking, unloading the car and leaving the boot light on... I'm not planning of refitting the centre bracket that goes between the dash and the tunnel. It makes the car feel a little claustrophobic and lessens air flow to the footwell in hot weather... And I'm not sure I like how it looks anyway. I can always refit it if I change my mind.
Oh, and there is a 12 volt outlet too on a separate fuse and it has a switch too - in the blank hole, now filled.
Some shots of the carpet so far:
Also currently I'm working on the soft top. I'd love to fit a hard top - top of the 'want' list, but a way down on the 'need' list :-( I refitted it once, but decided it could be better. So Its off again.
As the inside of the soft top on my car is tan, it looked kind of strange with the pale blue/grey frame colour. I dont know if the gray used on the car was the correct one, but it certainly doesnt match the fabric. Also I think it looks bad where the wood trims are wrapped in the tan vinyl - it stands out like dog's ba@@s against the dark blue top fabric.
So I've decided on this; the Bristleflex (I'm going with this) the vinyl and the frame are all going to be navy blue. I tried painting the frame (after removing all the paint with paint stripper - not much fun, but cheap) with can sprey enamel. Once again cheap, and I figured it it didnt do the job I could always get it powder coated.... I dropping it off this afternoon to be sandblasted prior to powder coating... Turns out it will only cost $100 to powder coat, and $80 to sandblast it. A further $25 gets it zinc coated after the blasting to make sure theres no rust (its cold and humid this time of year) before the powder coating.
Also I've been working on a bunch of LED lighting for the car - after looking at AUSMHLY's photos of his BJ8 - same colour as mine. As of tonight its all working, though a couple of bits need fastening. I have fitted:
Engine bay lights
Boot light
Interior (courtesy) lights (in blue as per AUSMHLY's)
And a 'map light' of white LED under the lip of the glovebox. I dont know if this will work out ideally, but if it doesn't, the wiring will be there for when I can get a real map light.. Also on the same switch is some LEDs in the glovebox.
And finally a back-up light which I've yet to fix to the rear of the car.
I'll post some better photos of all of them when the car is more together.
They are all controlled by a switch panel that I fixed to the bottom of the dash. It isnt really period. I agonised about how I'd do this for a while. Either all new toggle switched in a single bank (which would have meant making a new centre panel for the dash - not so hard). Using the original switches and just adding more of the same switch that the overdrive or panel lights use, or in the end using contemporary switches (cheap) and just minimising the visual impact by half hiding them. I also chose switches that are lit from within when on so that I'd be warned they were on; think of forgetting the backup light an driving off with it blazing away, or parking, unloading the car and leaving the boot light on... I'm not planning of refitting the centre bracket that goes between the dash and the tunnel. It makes the car feel a little claustrophobic and lessens air flow to the footwell in hot weather... And I'm not sure I like how it looks anyway. I can always refit it if I change my mind.
Oh, and there is a 12 volt outlet too on a separate fuse and it has a switch too - in the blank hole, now filled.