1968 Plymouth GTX

[MarPar]

Actually, yes, the bag stays in there. You can't see it and without it being exposed to the sun, it probably would take just as long to deteriorate as the foam. Dude has been doing upholstery for 20 years and if it was a problem, I don't think he'd still be doing it.

Huh. No ****. I would have thought the bag would "rustle" under the foam and be annoying. Learned something new today! Thanks Pete

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Okay, a question for you guys who have installed seat foam.

On the bottom of the bench seat back, does the foam butt up to the frame or overlap it like the rest of the seat?

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Okay, a question for you guys who have installed seat foam.

On the bottom of the bench seat back, does the foam butt up to the frame or overlap it like the rest of the seat?
View attachment 2034051

My wife has some muslin fabric, so I glued it onto the foam and butted the foam to the metal using the muslin to hold it in place.
The understanding I got from some others is that being the bottom seat slides under the top one, wrapping the foam would cause clearance problems.

So here it is:

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

When I took the old seat back cover off, I measured the location of the emblem. However, I am not sure if whoever recovered those seats years and years ago, put it in the right place?

Here's what it look like installed. Not a great picture but the only one I could find:

Thoughts?

 

[Black_Sheep]

Here's the emblem on my 69, the seat is original. Take note of the orientation, yours was upside down in the pic that you posted.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Here's the emblem on my 69, the seat is original. Take note of the orientation, yours was upside down in the pic that you posted.

View attachment 2034559

Yes, I noticed that too. That's what made me wonder if the measurements were right.
Nervous about putting holes in my new upholstery and then finding out it's not where it's supposed to be.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Still need to add some more padding in spots.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Still waiting for the bucket seat upholstery to arrive so I started changing the dash light bulbs out.
I noticed that my turn signal lights come on with the dash lights. They are also controlled by the dash light dimmer switch. Is this normal?
They do flash when in use and when the 4-way flasher is on.

Another question I have is, what is used as anti-squeak material on the gas tank straps?

Oh, and another question is concerning the steering column. I'm not sure why but now it seems I can pull the steering wheel up an inch or so. It goes back down if I push it. Did something come loose?

 

[Black_Sheep]

Still waiting for the bucket seat upholstery to arrive so I started changing the dash light bulbs out.
I noticed that my turn signal lights come on with the dash lights. They are also controlled by the dash light dimmer switch. Is this normal?
They do flash when in use and when the 4-way flasher is on.

Another question I have is, what is used as anti-squeak material on the gas tank straps?

Oh, and another question is concerning the steering column. I'm not sure why but now it seems I can pull the steering wheel up an inch or so. It goes back down if I push it. Did something come loose?

The dash lights issue is most likely a bad ground.

No anti-squeak material on the fuel tank straps although there is a pad between the tank and trunk floor.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Thanks, I do have the pad for the top of the tank.

Would the bad ground be in the turn signal lights or is there a ground issue with the dash?

 

[Black_Sheep]

I would take the exterior bulbs out one at a time to see if it clears up. Might as well try the easy stuff first…

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

No go on that exterior lights fixing the problem.
Just went out in the dark and turned the parking lights on. The dash lights are very dim, yet the interior lights, headlights, tail lights, etc. are all nice and bright.

Problem has to be with the dash unit not being grounded well is all I can think. Can't remember if it just grounds via the retaining screws or if it has a separate ground wire???

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Okay, after a couple of hours of checking the fuse box and schematics, followed by checking the ground on the dash. I decided to check the plug at the back of the dash. Bingo! The plug was slightly loose, so I pressed it on more firmly and the turn signal indicator lights went off. Turned the key on and tried the turn signals and they blinked just fine.

Now to figure out why my steering wheel moves up and down about an inch?

 

[68gtxman]

Okay, after a couple of hours of checking the fuse box and schematics, followed by checking the ground on the dash. I decided to check the plug at the back of the dash. Bingo! The plug was slightly loose, so I pressed it on more firmly and the turn signal indicator lights went off. Turned the key on and tried the turn signals and they blinked just fine.

Now to figure out why my steering wheel moves up and down about an inch?

My 1965 Barracuda has the same issue, but I haven’t investigated it yet. I suspect either the rubber joint between the upper and lower shafts or a bearing on the upper shaft.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

I began installing the rear interior panels but noticed something.
The old panels I took out had chrome trim pieces above and below the armrests like on this door pane.:

The new panels don't have this chrome and I don't see any perforations in the board to all for them.
I know the car had been redone once before with no concern for originality.

So does anyone know or is there a way for me to find out if I should put the chrome on the new panels to keep it original?
Searching online seems to show them with and without the chrome.

 

[68BabyBlue]

I began installing the rear interior panels but noticed something.
The old panels I took out had chrome trim pieces above and below the armrests like on this door pane.:
View attachment 2053704

The new panels don't have this chrome and I don't see any perforations in the board to all for them.
I know the car had been redone once before with no concern for originality.

So does anyone know or is there a way for me to find out if I should put the chrome on the new panels to keep it original?
Searching online seems to show them with and without the chrome.

The originals had the chrome trim. I had the originals in Baby Blue, and my late buddy Dave had the originals in his car as well. A similar situation arises with '69 GTXs. The original panels had a tri color badge at the top center of the panels. The reproductions don't have them, and they are missing on the majority of restored cars. Mine has them, because the prior owner was in the business of reproducing them. The chrome for 68s comes up for sale on this site fairly often.

 

[Rich H.]

Agreed and as far as I know, on the 68 GTX application they had the chrome and there was no option to delete it.

The reproduction panels do not have the chrome and it is not super easy to add, but can be done.

I had a set of completely roached 68 door panels but with good chrome, that I used in my 69 for many years because they came with a set of seats around 1990 or so. I saved them because of the chrome situation and ended up getting good money for them here.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Thanks guys.
I have the chrome that was on the old panels, I will try buffing it to restore the shine.
It appears that they simply poked holes through the panels where the fold over tabs go through.

I'll post a couple of pictures of what the old panels look like.

 

[68gtxman]

Thanks guys.
I have the chrome that was on the old panels, I will try buffing it to restore the shine.
It appears that they simply poked holes through the panels where the fold over tabs go through.

I'll post a couple of pictures of what the old panels look like.

View attachment 2053802


View attachment 2053803

Yes, this is the way to do it!

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Well I got the right side installed with the chrome.

Still waiting for the new window crank handles to arrive.

Unfortunately, I had already installed the left side without the chrome, so I will need to pull that back off - again.