Interior Modernization Project, Part 18. Templates for the Main Dash + Sending in the Door Panels

Ok so we are back after that short interlude of GT-R goodness. 

Picking up from where we left off, after Cesar had "practiced" by wrapping, in leather, various interior parts, he decided it was time to tackle the biggest part of all - the main dashboard panel itself.

As he described it, he began with some "good templates" which he had earlier created out of vinyl cut to size and taped over the dash itself. 

He then followed up by placing these templates over the leather hide. The problem, as he pointed out, was in trying to avoid areas with imperfections in the leather given the large surface area of these pieces.

It was about this time that I started to think about carbon parts again, and for a short time was tempted to have the air vents converted to carbon - BUT, I realized it was probably overkill and not OEM looking so I decided to hold off.

Meanwhile, however, Cesar was asking me what to do with the leftover Alcantara - my suggestion was to use it to line the side door pockets. Speaking of which, this was (late September 2016) when I realized I was going to have to send in the doors panels from my own car, which as we all know I did.

Additionally however, I realized that, if I was going to send in the door panels myself, I would be able to see if my idea of door courtesy lamps would work. I could order some and see which ones would look the best against the door.

I found these on Yahoo Auctions

Thanks to EJ and his ER34 blog 

For Toyotas, but heck why not? Having both colors would be cool!

I made sure to point out this problem on my car - heavy elbows = worn out support!

Just to show Cesar the size and shape, and to get him thinking about where we could use the leftover Alcantara

Explaining that this pressboard back board is the only thing between the door pocket/panel and the door itself!

Finally, since there was some extra space in the boxes containing the door panels, and as Cesar was kind enough to offer to duplicate the gear shift boot in matching leather, I decided to send in the current boot.

IF you recall, this aftermarket R34 GT-R shift boot made by Redline had to be modified to fit the R33 GT-R shift surround.

Which is what these red circles in both photos show - the holes that are NOT used

So now everything was sent out, so all I had to I had to sit back, relax, and think about the final details...

Interior Modernization Project, Part 6. More Parts!

So after coming to the conclusion that there was no way to "save" the "Bentley" leather that Hydes had sent, we went ahead with Plan B, which was for me to pay Cesar for the replacement cost of the Wildman & Bugby "Cardinal" automotive grade leather he already had in his workshop.

And even though this was a quick and easy decision for me, at no time did Cesar push me to make this decision, instead he kept sending me comparison photos like this one to make sure I really was comfortable with my decision.

But by now, I wasn't willing to give Hydes a second chance, and frankly at this point, if Cesar said it was good stuff, then I believed and trusted him. So, minimal down time, not all is lost as we decided to go ahead with the W&B leather.

It was actually during this time (while I was arguing with Hydes for a refund, unsuccessfully) that Cesar went ahead and fixed the glove box door and the airbag cover, as shown in his other videos I posted previously. However, I had also decided to send in the pieces from the interior that were missing. So I got busy and started removing parts from my interior.

My finger is pointing to a hole I drilled out. This was so I could run the electric cables for my ETC card reader as well as the Blitz Boost Controller that both usually reside in the glovebox.

Also, Cesar mentioned he needed the lock cylinder

The other pieces are the plastic under the dashboard above the driver's left leg, as well as the ignition key surround.

The arrow points to a wear point on the left rear passenger side panel
 - I'm hoping that the leather will make it look much better!

I can't even remember what caused this. Maybe when I removed the seat once and it rubbed up against this?

The hidden side isn't much better, with broken tabs and the staples holding the vinyl on loosening. So, the re-upholster with the leather came just in time?

Packed up, ready to go...

And about a week later...

So now, all interior parts (except front door inserts) had been sent to Cesar. I was hoping I would not have to send the front door inserts, so at this time I was still search Yahoo Auctions for a Series 3 interior.

Meanwhile, as I describe in my next post, Cesar and I began discussing details...like carbon fiber and alcantara...

Interior Modernization Project, Part 5.5. More Photos of the Sub-Par Leather

Sorry everyone, I was planning to write about some parts that were sent to Cesar while this whole leather fiasco was happening, but I stumbled upon some more photos that Cesar had send to me when he first received the leather hides and unwrapped them in his workshop - I think they show just how bad the leather from Hydes really was!

Cesar also wrote a comparison between this leather and the "Cardinal" automotive grade leather he had obtained from Wildman & Bugby.

He first concluded that both appear to be chrome tanned "full grain automotive leather"  - he noted that:

"1. Both have a natural surface... it means, the bovine hair was removed and the tanners left the 'natural imperfections' on top... more on (the one from Hyde's).

2. Both are 'aniline through dyed'... it means, while tumbling procedure the 'aniline tint' penetrated through into the crust.

3. Both are pigmented on top, probably two or three coats of pigment... (the W&B one) shows a uniform coat while (the Hydes one) shows different shades.

4. Both were slightly embossed with a very thin grain pattern on top... (W&B)'s leather has a uniform embossing all over and (the Hydes) looks similar, but it seems to have another slight embossing pattern over it.

5. Both have the 'automotive finish'...it means both have a special sealer on top...(W&B)'s looks a little more flexible and (Hydes)' looks brittle. This 'sealer' is a coat of lacquer (probably three coats for automotive daily traffic purpose) to add firmness and protect the material from water, UV rays from the sun, and other agents that could cause damage to the surface. (Hydes)'s leather looks more plasticized than (W&B)'s...my teacher Paul Ford, a leather restorer from New Zealand, taught me that a good lacquer should have also pores to let the material breath, otherwise, imagine, the leather sealed as a plastic...leather is an organic material and needs to be feeded, moisturized once in a while as if it were a human skin.

Now, I am going to describe the smaller leather material between...it is a 'top finished leather' or 'corrected leather'...it means before full grain embossing, it was ironed with a big roll or press to erase all of the natural imperfections, scars, mosquito bites, etc. in order to get an almost uniform surface, so the embossing pattern would look uniform as the sample I show in the video...this 'corrected leather' is less valuable than a 'full grain leather'.

So, an 'automotive full grain leather' which was ligthly embossed with a smooth pattern is always going to show the imperfections a natural leather has. I wanted to comment you this, because you have to be conscious that some very minute imperfections would appear on top...it means, it is natural leather and not a full embossed leather as a vinyl...but of course!, not too much imperfections, as the supposed bentley's...that is why, good leathers are sorted out in a tannery."

I'll let you readers draw your own conclusions...

Infuriating, isn't it? I guess if Hydes had apologized and refunded even part of what I had paid, I wouldn't be so upset...in any case, I'll post about the parts as I originally planned, tomorrow!