Hello all from Savannah, GA.

Gunsmith · Post by **Gunsmith** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:23 am

Do you still have the read top cover? I have been looking for one..

radiopilot · Post by **radiopilot** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:24 am

Gunsmith wrote:Do you still have the read top cover? I have been looking for one..

I have completely redesign and re-upholetered everything in a white/biege color (nothing red) including the convertible boot, so yes the seats/boot top were in good condition (no tears/rips, etc.), my son did not like the red color.

The driver side of the seats was taken apart for the pattern for the new seats, and only half of the rear seat was taken apart for the pattern, but will resew the seats if anyone wants the seats.

The boot top hardware I will keep for the new boot top, but the red one can go.

Send me an email:

nicolas.rios@sikorsky.com

Danno · Post by **Danno** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:09 pm

so, what did you do with the center and radio consoles?

radiopilot · Post by **radiopilot** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:15 pm

The radio console and floor console are recovered in new vinyl leather, same as the seats.

Danno · Post by **Danno** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:31 pm

radiopilot wrote:The radio console and floor console are recovered in new vinyl leather, same as the seats.

definitely want pictures of that! I was going to attempt that with my roll of new vinyl, but it doesn't match quite as well as I'd like. Besides, I can't freehand a pattern that will work and was hoping (at one time) to find some pattern out there. I heard rumors that it exists, but never found one...

radiopilot · Post by **radiopilot** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:46 pm

Yes, I too tried the previous posts and elsewhere on the net but found no suitable patterns so I just reverse engineered my own patterns and they worked great, except the patterns are destroyed each time, in order to get the pattern again I'd have to dismantle the 'sewn' version, something I'm reluctant to do.

The dash was the easiest to do, and it look better than the original dash!

I am painting all the plastic pieces with SEM vinyl paint and it's a perfect match, I was surprised at how how well they came out for a first try, makes me want to paint every black plastic piece in the same color as the seats/dash but debating whether I should.

I did the pattern for the dash by cutting a suitable length of vinyl leather and laying it on the console and very carefully determine where the seam would be and added 1/2 inch to the length, then tacked it at various lengths and when the fit was as I wanted just sewed it together and it was a perfect fit, then I glued 1/4 inch foam to the console/radio/dash and then glued the vinyl to the foam with foam spray cement carefully pulling the vinyl over the foam and flattening and spraying, etc.

The results are well worth it as they wanted astronomical costs at Tony's Import to recover the seats/dash/consoles not to mention the shipping to and from LA, and also here in Savannah ($600.00 per seat!).

Danno · Post by **Danno** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 3:07 pm

That's what I tried to do with that center console. It's those angles and all the different changes that threw me off. My hat goes off to you for getting that worked out!

ga.spyder · Post by **ga.spyder** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:08 pm

Welcome from a fellow Georgian. I live in Blairsville ,Ga. ,up here in the mtns. My dad retired from Pratt and Whitney plant ,where you work now. If you take an 'adventure' drive up here ,contact me. There are some awesome roads in this area. Craig

radiopilot · Post by **radiopilot** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:18 am

Craig,

Great, although the spider is not mine but my son's, I plan on buying another spider for myself, I really like the Ferrari Dino Spider over the Fiat 124, but will settle for a Fiat spider as well.

It's funny that you should say your dad retired from Pratt & Whitney, it was my first job out of college and I worked for them for 10 years before going to Nasa and Boeing, right now I'm back at the Jupiter, Florida facility for Sikorsky helicoptors of all things on the new replacement Presidential helicoptor, our tax dollars at work!

I'll be nice to take the spiders out on those hilly turns, very scenic all through Tennessee, western South and North Carolinas.... soon!

I'm starting the Italian Car Club of Savannah soon after I get my Dino or Spider, then maybe you too can drive the spider to Tybee Island, Hilton Head, and other planned events.

Nick

Gunsmith · Post by **Gunsmith** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:41 am

Funny, I too spent a lot of time at Pratt & Whitney working on their communications infrastructure. Wow Fiats once again make the world even smaller. Can you bring that boot down with you to Jupiter?

ga.spyder · Post by **ga.spyder** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 6:08 pm

There are a lot of retired Pratt workers ,in this area.Also a lot of Pratt brats!Keep us informed re. club days in Savannah. Are you going to be a FLU chapter? If you want info on this I will send you John Montgomery's email. He is national FLU prez ,and a Atl. resident. The FLU put on an awesome Italian Car Day in October each year. Here is alink to the pix from this year ,if anyone is interested. The first pic(my favorite) is my car! There are 200 great pix of Italy's finest
http://the-shutter-group.smugmug.com/ga ... #208296236

radiopilot · Post by **radiopilot** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:31 pm

ga.spyder wrote:There are a lot of retired Pratt workers ,in this area.Also a lot of Pratt brats!Keep us informed re. club days in Savannah. Are you going to be a FLU chapter? If you want info on this I will send you John Montgomery's email. He is national FLU prez ,and a Atl. resident. The FLU put on an awesome Italian Car Day in October each year. Here is alink to the pix from this year ,if anyone is interested. The first pic(my favorite) is my car! There are 200 great pix of Italy's finest
http://the-shutter-group.smugmug.com/ga ... #208296236

Beautiful car and wheels I might add, lots of great pics....

Looks like you guys hit the road in proud style (Italian that is!), sure I would like his email (private message) and I'll contact him regardijng setting up a chapter here in the East coast.. this is great, and Dublin is doable for us on the next outing after I get my son's car back together again.

Thanks for all the info.

Nick