vinyl trim on cockpit surround

[jvandyke]

I want to vinylize my cockpit surround. Looks like on the doors it simply stops a bit for the side curtain screws? I was going to leave them until I realize they were probably originally in vinyl, no?
The rest around the rear of cockpit is currently raw aluminum and, although I kind of like the look, they show too much raw casting to polish up pretty anyway.

 

[Kiwi63mk1midge]

I too have a 63 10CG, and have recently replaced the vinyl cockpit surrounds, although they were already covered in vinyl. Under the vinyl was foam rubber about 5 mm thick I guess. I glued the foam rubber and the vinyl on with Ados F2 contact glue, the ends of each section were tricky, hard not to get folds showing - but possible all the same. The door sections were continuous, and then I cut holes for the curtain screws, attached the stainless plates and then put in the screws, that worked OK. The front cockpit trim had a harder shaped foam piece, I guess a bit more padding if you bang it with your head. Some of the little screw thingys that hold the trim on were a right problem to get to, but it all turned out OK. Good luck.

 

[jvandyke]

Thanks for the feedback. I did not realize there was any padding anywhere but the top/bottom dash pad portions. My car came to me with the rear surround raw aluminum and the top of the doors raw (stainless?). I don't remember stainless plates by the screws on mine. Maybe I'm missing some hardware? (See picture) I don't have an original top crash pad either, mine was made of wood by some PO (hey, it looks ok really..for now). Rather than try to hunt down one to redo (if anyone has a re-doable out one I'd be interested though). I considered simply putting vinyl over the wood, maybe with some foam in the mix. I'm reworking an original dashboard too, slowly working it back to "correct" more because I enjoy it than because I think it "needs" to be. I actually don't mind the wood look but I have a dash already and winter is project time so I launched into this. It is a little goofy. Bryan says it's a Chris Craft Midget.
BTW you should post more, a member ~10 months and only 4 posts? Share your knowledge! I'm appreciating it!!

 

[HAN8L1965]

I recovered my vinyl trim on my 65, fairly easy job. I did have the old vinyl to use as a pattern. I picked the vinyl up at a fabric store and re-glued with rubber contact cement. Stretched over metal real nice and looks good. Be sure and coat both surfaces well then let your contact cement dry good before re-attaching.

Mark

 

[George Zeck]

I recovered mine 2 years ago. It had the foam rubber underneath. You probably could get buy w/o. Try a test piece and see if you like the look. Regardless -- leave the last / rear cockpit surround for last. It's a bear (one piece and 2 90 degree bends -- all to do w/o any crinkles).

George


PS -- I'll try to post pic's later. It's a time consuming job - but I think it looks great.

 

[scoutll]

Jeff, the sprite and early GAN 1 came with the unfinished surround. The GAN 2 had the padding all the way around.

A couple of pics from when I was doing the carpet last year. They show the cockpit surround.

Bryan