1973 RS/LT/Z28 4spd - Gold/Parchment Restoration

[firstgenaddict]

Originally Posted by BCreekDave

For me the straightening was the easy part. I used a hot air gun, a 4 foot level on the undersides and a series woodworking bar clamps to slowly flatten it. My problem was the shrinkage of the original cover. This can be seen in your second photo down in post 71. The leading edge where it curls around is uneven. I heated and stretched and heated and stretched and finally got mine to wrap around somewhat to satisfaction. Not perfect, but close. Did you get yours better than the photo in 71?

I was afraid I was going to rip the cover after it started to split at the sharp angle to go over the edge after working it so much.
I used a halogen lamp and a few pairs of sheetmetal pliers with the WIDE clamping area and pulled it over.
Part of it was really good... the part I did after fixing the backing.


I first tried to stretch the drivers side about 2 months ago, prior to straightening - then straightened it and then pulled it over on the pass side. It cover was a good inch short from

I am going to get another screwed up pad and try a few things...
If I had an oven large enough I would have heated the entire thing up to about 200 or so...

I was thinking that in a black bag in the southern sun for a few hours would make the entire thing pliable.
If I were going to do a couple I would weld up a jig to hold them in the correct position so they could be straightened and stretched.