Hi
Before the work update, I should let you know that I have slightly changed my project goal for the 164. It helps me work to a theme, to guide me towards a cohesive finished product, and originally I said:
"The concept is to build something like Volvo might have done at the time, if they had decided to do a homologation or fast-road version of the 164."
I have now moved away from the 'homologation' theme, and instead I'm thinking:
"Motor-show Concept Car, to demonstrate the potential for a sporting, luxury 164; a 1970s Swedish competitor for AMG and Alpina road cars"
The change doesn't alter the mechanical specification, but it allows me to take the interior trim a little further up-market, improving on some of the cheapo parts fitted by Volvo. They wouldn't have bothered with this for homologation, of course, but an up-market concept car would have needed a higher standard of interior trim.
All along, I had ideas to enhance what Volvo offered originally in my car - e.g. fitting the early 140/164 polished aluminium door step trims instead of the black plastic. Now I can take this a little further, but it will be kept simple and functional - in line with the Swedish design ethos.
I won't be throwing on electrical gizmos for the sake of it. I'll only add accessories if I value them (e.g. central locking), no gadgets I don't like (so no electric seats or electric windows). I'll try for the up market feel by using better quality materials.
An inspiration for this was the Hermes 240. I don't like some details on that car (e.g. wood interior trim has no place in a Swedish car, in my opinion) but I do really like the idea of upping the quality and craftsmanship within the original design principles.
http://www.swedespeed.com/features/...-turbo-wagon-part-cars-fashion-display-paris/
So, onto the update:
The doors are reassembled (apart from one window winder I can't yet find - sure it will turn up). I'm pleased with how they look
To protect my door trims, I sealed the holes in the door casing, directing water inside the cavity where it will flow out of the drain holes, then made new waterproof membranes.
The first of my quality upgrades is on the B-pillar trims. The originals are thin, hard moulded plastic. In my case, there was some bad warping as well. Originally, there would have been one piece for each pillar, but they tend to break at the weakest point, next to the seatbelt slot. This doesn't matter, in fact it's an advantage because it makes them much easier to deal with.
I like the contrast of tan with black detailing inside the 164, so I am staying with that. I love the orangey tan, it's pretty intense and I think it would look sickly if everything was that colour. So, I bought some black alcantara (fake suede).
I prepared the pillars by using a layer of duct tape to replace the paper membrane Volvo fitted, then I glued on a small square of matching fabric where the pillar might be visible through the seatbelt slot.
First job on the pillar trims was to improve their poor condition and shape. I used a heat gun to soften the plastic, then straightened them with blocks of wood.
I am using the lower-half trims from a 240 because they fit the same but have a simpler shape than the 164 originals - easier to trim. (However, I found out that the top-half trims from a 240 don't fit.... I discovered after trimming a pair.... that the top seatbelt mount is an inch higher on a 240).
The lower-half trims needed a skim of filler to get to an acceptable shape.
Part of the damage to the upper half is caused by the design of the seatbelt mount deforming the trim. There is a thick strengthening washer which really needs to be next to the metal of the pillar, but inevitably gets refitted over the top of the trim because there's no access underneath it when it's fitted.
I bonded the washers to the back of my trims, to hold the washer in the right place during fitting. On the front face of the washer, I removed enough plastic from the trim so that the spacers tube can have the correct metal-to-metal contact.
To prepare the trims for the contact adhesive, I sanded and degreased them, and removed any jagged parts where they had snapped in two.
I applied the contact adhesive to the piece of fabric and to the front of the trim, then when dry pressed them together.
The lower trims required some careful trimming to make the material follow the compound curves
When the front looked good, I glued the edges around the lip.
They're hard to photograph inside the car because the material absorbs so much light, but they look and feel very much better than the originals.
To continue this theme, I will be trimming the A-pillars, rear quarter-window surrounds and parcel shelf in the same fabric.
All for now... more soon
John
