Spent a bunch of time sewing the gearshift and handbrake gators to the interior carpeting, as well as trying to sew some of the velcro fastening strips onto the carpet. I had planned to do crimson contrast stitching around the base of the gators, to match the contrast piping on the carpet itself, but then re-discovered that my sewing doesn’t look nearly good enough for that and gave up. Used black instead. The carpet is fastened down using velcro on the underside, and the velcro has been reported not to stay stuck to the carpet very well. After spending the better part of 45 minutes sewing in two of the ~20 strips of velcro needed just for the tunnel section of the carpeting (it comes in several pieces), I figured I would risk it and maybe have to do more sewing later.
Once the carpeting was installed, I reinstalled the seats and replaced the harness lap belts with the new ones I bought. The new harnesses have pull-up adjusters on the lap belt, as opposed to the pull-down adjusters on the original harnesses. This is necessary because their is very little room in the cockpit, and pull-down adjusters just can’t be tightened. I also installed eye bolts in the floor, with backing plates underneath the car, for the submarine straps on the harnesses (6-point mounting).
Now I only need to install headlights/turn signals, the wire mesh on the openings in the bonnet, and cut the boot box for the Roll bar rear stays. After that, it’s registration time. On that note, I got an appointment for my VIN Inspection on August 10th with the State Patrol. That’s the first step towards registration. I’m hoping to get it registered on the same day. Wish me luck.
