Our LT1 Formula project was nearing its end; it had a healthy 383 with nitrous, tubular suspension, a lowered stance, and even custom paint. But the years had not been kind to the interior. The Florida heat quickly took its toll on the headliner, and the rest simply looked its age. We decided to give it a quick makeover from Classic Industries that would help the interior match its fierce exterior. Follow these steps to give your tired fourth-gen some love, and you won’t be disappointed.
Once upon a time the rear...
Once upon a time the rear window of this Firebird had a hideous purple tint and a Harley Davidson sticker on the inside of it. Those were the first two items to be removed from the car. However, the tint left this residue and the rear defroster made it impossible to scrape off. The solution was Brakleen and a rag initially. Later I took a trip to the hardware store and picked up some acetone. Good stuff! I highly recommend using it, but in a well-ventilated area.
It wasn’t until the car was...
It wasn’t until the car was finally moved down to Florida that the headliner began to sag (within the first few months), perhaps it was the heat and humidity or perhaps it was just coincidence and age.
In any case it cheapened the...
In any case it cheapened the car, and had to be replaced. Notice how the very front part behind the rearview mirror started to droop. No bueno!
When I got the headliner off...
When I got the headliner off it was easy to see why this happens.
The adhesive holding the fabric...
The adhesive holding the fabric to the foam wears out over time, and the foam breaks down.
The new Graphite colored piece...
The new Graphite colored piece from Classic Industries (PN AFH2833, $189.99) was built tough...
...And looked capable of handling...
...And looked capable of handling another 18 years of service or more. Notice the sturdy plastic structure on the backside.
The factory plastic tabs were...
The factory plastic tabs were reused and fit into the new headliner with some wiggling.
However, some trimming was...
However, some trimming was required around the seatbelt slot and the triangles for the sun visors.
I let Greg at Antivenom handle...
I let Greg at Antivenom handle these duties for fear of ruining a brand new part. But it is not as intimidating as it seems.
Here you can see a new set...
Here you can see a new set of sun visors (PN G4309 & G4310, $153.99)...
...Which replace the old ones...
...Which replace the old ones and screw right in using the factory fasteners.
Next I used Classic’s plastic...
Next I used Classic’s plastic repair kit (PN PX2006, $68.99)to patch up a few holes that had been made for a car phone once upon a time.
How ‘90s! It is a bit of a...
How ‘90s! It is a bit of a science experiment, mixing chemicals, and it takes a few applications with sanding in-between. I mixed the black and white paint to create the gray, and got it pretty close.
The finishing touch was some...
The finishing touch was some new floor mats. I was tempted to replace the carpet, but the mats covered them sufficiently and this car was destined for a roll bar eventually (so there would be an opportunity then).
Classic sells Lloyds Berber...
Classic sells Lloyds Berber mats for $149.99, which are extremely high quality and come with several different patterns. I elected for the Firebird logo. The finished product looked and felt like it was a brand new car.