Upholstering Interior

[cjvmee]

Hello people!
Im trying to reupholster the interior panels of my 81 Westfalia,including
headlining.Ive bought some 'leatherette' material with a thin cotton backing.Ive tried sticking it on to one of the panels with silicon...It stuck well but was quite lumpy.
Does anyone have experience of doing this job succesfully,whats the best method.Do i stick or staple,if sticking is the best method what is the best and most economical adhesive? as i am covering every panel on the van!!
I would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.
Many thanks Chris.

[hembo666]

we did all our internal panels with leatherette last month, i just pulled it tight over the panel and stapled it from behind. not attempted the headlining though.

you can see the results in this thread

http://archive.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic ... highlight=

[cjvmee]

Thanks for the info...And what a lovely job!
Regards Chris.

[wee bugger]

I stuck mine with spray carpet adhesive on the front and stuck the edges to the back with evostick.

http://www.vwscotclub.co.uk/forum/forum ... p?TID=3082

[cjvmee]

Thanks Wee Bugger,the pics are really helpful.
Regards Chris

[madmyk]

Hi chap,
Just sorting a panel out on mine at the mo, I am putting felt between the board and the vinyl (thin foam would be good, perhaps some plastic stuff from supermarket wrapping or a white goods shop?), using spray adhesive, and evostick to attach the vinyl to the board. I suggest market stalls for the bits, lot cheaper. Best of luck!

Myk.

[cjvmee]

Hi Myk.
Thanks for your ideas...i'll probably keep it Germanic though,
No padding in my van!!
Regards Chris

[lhd]

Heavy duty spray adhesive, it sticks like you know what to a blanket.
just done my trim with a leatherett vinyl from cheshire caravans and jp wood.
two suppliers because i ran out half way. luckily they both had the same stuff.
The spray adhesive is so easy to use, you just flatten it out with a dry cloth to push out the air bubbles.
look on ebay you can get three cans for around a tenner.
Rob.

[cjvmee]

Thanks Rob,
Will order some off Ebay...much cheaper than Gnomebase
Regards Chris

[lhd]

Westy you say, right cjvmee this is going to save you a lot of time and grief. where the rubber edging and also where it slips under the rail at the top of slide door ect. (Take a look and you will know what I mean).
Trim about 5mm off these edges otherwise the fit is so tight it will push back the edge of the vinyl and then you get a crinkly affect around the edges which makes it near on impossible to get the top edge to look good.
I took out the complete interior to do mine and would advise you to do the same for a top looking job.
If you dont have a bently manual to show where all the bolts are to remove it pm me and I'll send you some info.
also you have to have a cut edge you cant fold it over and staple or glue due to that tight fit.
Rob.............

[cjvmee]

Hi Rob,thanks for the invaluable info.
Ive taken out all the panels except the one behind the 'kitchenblock'
looks a bit complicated!
On the panels that do not slide into channel and have no rubber
edging ie the upright panels nearest the tailgate or even the tailgate
panel,[held in by plastic grommets]Did you cut these to exact size and stick them,or use another method ?
Regards Chris.

[lhd]

To be completely honest the only things I have not recovered is the tailgate, sliding door,the bottom of the bit with the two tiny speakers in and the rear of the back seat.
This is because I ran out of the vinyl so thought leave the easy bits till last.
I now have the vinyl and have to just get round to doing it, but as the un covered panels are all very accessable it wont take me long.
The Kitchen area is a bit of a pain but once I removed the wardrobe it just seemed lazy not to do the rest ( shame on you ).
Its not too bad actually, I now it seems like a big job. but basically the wadrobre unit secures the kitchen unit in place.
You will have to remove the fridge (easy) but then its only about six more bolts ant it pulls out.
I didn't totall remove it from the van but slid it down behind the units.
I'll take some pics to show you.
The problem is if you dont do behind the kitchen when you open the cupbords it looks half done.
I went for a light coffie colour which really sets off the cream edges in my opinon.
Rob.......

[lhd]

Here goes.
undone.......


and the panels I have finished.



[/IMG]








Hope this is of some help.
remember when removing and fitting the wardrobe you need to remove the engine hatch then pull it back whilst twisting it, otherwise its near on impossible to remove without damaging it...
Sorry about the big pic Mocki, I couldn't resize that one for some reason.
Rob................

[lhd]

On the panels that do not slide into channel and have no rubber
edging ie the upright panels nearest the tailgate or even the tailgate
panel,[held in by plastic grommets]Did you cut these to exact size and stick them,or use another method ?

The panels with the clips are the ones I havn't done yet. I was looking to do the same as original but am finding it very hard to locate the cream coloured clips.
The way i done it was to roughly cut the vinyl to the shape glue with spray adhesive, wait untill dry then turn upside down and trim with a blade on a big plastic chopping board.
Rob.

[cjvmee]

Hi Rob...Thanks for taking the time to answer my queries, its going to make my job a lot easier.
Regards Chris.