i need headliner and seat upolstry for 66 polara

rd92west

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good morning. I hauled in a 66 polara 880 last week and have started the process. I was wonder if anyone can tell me if any interior stuff is available. it has bucket seats which need a rebuild. I have a luke warm 440/727 to install. the car has no engine/trans but was a 383 car. there is lots to do before the interior but just wanting to get a handle on the situation. thanks
Kevin
I did a search with the search thing and got zero. I have a hunch this topic has been discussed before. I am new here and unskilled

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Hello from a fellow 66 Polara owner!

The seats will have to be redone by a shop, they don't make them for the 66 Polara. Just find a good upholstery guy/gal and they can make whatever pattern you need.

I don't know about the headliner, I got lucky with mine.
 
Seems like the seat form for the buckets might be available from Legendary or YearONE, as they generally go with similar buckets in other Chrysler vehicles, back then? Possibly more listings for Plymouths than Dodges from the pre-sewn aftermarket people, by observation. BUT a good upholstery shop (that will do the French seams well) can do just as well, sometimes.

As the top is similar (configuration and size) to Chrysler and Plymouths of that era, it's not just "a Dodge item" per se.

CBODY67
 
We offer a 4 bow perforated headliner and the headliner insulation for those cars. Headliners are specific to models and year model due to the bow placement.
 
Sorry, www.restorationpartsandmaterials.com. They are not on the website as it only list less than 5% of the product that we either manufacture or sell. It is best just to email or private message me what your looking for.
Seems like the seat form for the buckets might be available from Legendary or YearONE, as they generally go with similar buckets in other Chrysler vehicles, back then? Possibly more listings for Plymouths than Dodges from the pre-sewn aftermarket people, by observation. BUT a good upholstery shop (that will do the French seams well) can do just as well, sometimes.

As the top is similar (configuration and size) to Chrysler and Plymouths of that era, it's not just "a Dodge item" per se.

CBODY67
They're not available from Legendary/Year One, they have covers for '65's but not '66. And they're expensive, $900 for a set of buckets.
 
Correct on the seat covers, the C-body foam is unique to itself while the A and B-Body share similar pieces. A good shop can basically duplicate the originals for a third less than Legendary. The same shop can possibly source a material that is very similar to the original. It will take some digging to find this shop, but attending local shows and cruise ins and asking questions will start you in the correct direction.

I would try to reuse the door seals and roofrail seals if possible. They fit so much better than the reproductions. Window felts will probably need to be replaced and are available. Although a limited amount is reproduced for those cars, there is still some parts available.
 
I know that sometimes, a minor difference can lead to a different part number and the "won't fit" issue. Not concerned with A or B-body cars, just C-body cars. So, just curious, what's unique to the '65 vs '66-'68 C-body bucket seat foam? Other than the rh side with the recliner and headrest?

One advantage of using Legendary is that if it doesn't fit, you send it back. Not quite the same with an upholstery shop if it doesn't fit as it should.

Key thing on the referrals from cruise events and such . . . look to make sure what you're seeing is what you really need to happen. That's why I mentioned the "French Seam" way of doing the seams, as Chrysler did back then, which is different than what Ford or GM did. The vast majority of the trim shops will have common fabric/vinyl sources. If they have an old "Lion", "deLeo", or "Detroit" trim book (with the sample swatches and such for the OEM fabrics, with "industry numbers" for them), then you can possibly match the orig Chrysler items with their unique trim codes and pearl/metallic finishes (which vanished with the '74 model year vehicles). So, with somewhat shared sources for the upholstery, "quality of workmanship" will be what you're buying. If there's something you don't like, bring it up to them earlier-on. Good work is not inexpensive, but quality work can also be "value priced". You might also inquire at the local car dealers to see where they get their warranty upholstery work done as those shops will have to be capable of "OEM Level Qualty" work if they might replace a worn panel in a complete seat cover.

How different were the Canadian upholstery items from the USA models? Just curious.

CBODY67
 
thanks guys, very usefull information. i am not sure if i should start another thread but i will ask the question here. my car has factory AC. i don't find anything in the service manual. i expect it would be a supplement maybe. can anyone shed some light on the issues of getting a 50 yr old system running again. mine is complete without the pump. i wouldn't mind grafting a sanden pump in.
 
thanks guys, very usefull information. i am not sure if i should start another thread but i will ask the question here. my car has factory AC. i don't find anything in the service manual. i expect it would be a supplement maybe. can anyone shed some light on the issues of getting a 50 yr old system running again. mine is complete without the pump. i wouldn't mind grafting a sanden pump in.
Section 24 in the Factory Service Manual.

IMG_20180429_185539.jpg


Last section of the book, 37 pages.
 
There are threads in here on installing the Sanden compressor to replace the Chry RV-2 compressor. Many pictures!

Other than the compressor and lines, you'll probably need to convert it to a cycling compressor system (which the '80 Chrysler systems were). Might need a "mass flow" condenser rather than the factory serpentine one, a new receiver/drier to go with it, and maybe a new evap coil inside the car. And, of course, appropriate R-134a oil and lines.

CBODY67
 
Hello from a fellow 66 Polara owner!

The seats will have to be redone by a shop, they don't make them for the 66 Polara. Just find a good upholstery guy/gal and they can make whatever pattern you need.

I don't know about the headliner, I got lucky with mine.

Like he says. The upholstery person will have a supplier for headliner material. When I finished painting my car it was time for a headliner and vinyl roof. My guy, Forrest, pulled out his material books and we went over the different grains to match the roof and the different grains and colors to do the inside. The color was the hard part for the headliner since the current one was aged and the samples were small. Luckily we got it damn near perfect.
 
thanks guys, very usefull information. i am not sure if i should start another thread but i will ask the question here. my car has factory AC. i don't find anything in the service manual. i expect it would be a supplement maybe. can anyone shed some light on the issues of getting a 50 yr old system running again. mine is complete without the pump. i wouldn't mind grafting a sanden pump in.

For your A/C you need this book. I got it last week and am soon going to attack two R-12 systems in early 90's cars. They will be staying R-12. After that I have the Park Lane, Polara and Mustang to try out.

https://bangshift.com/general-news/...harge-the-hack-mechanics-guide-to-vintage-ac/
 
thanks Locumob, I feel quite a bit stupid. the last week has been busy here. I have a factory service manual and have been sifting thru it. I didn't look closely at the index. I will try harder in the future.
Cbody 67, I havnt ran my serial number to see were it was built. I will check it out. I wont be surprised if it is a USA car that came up north. AC would be a very rare option for this area in 66. I have a 66 polara 880, 4 door sedan. it has the same speedometer/ gauge cluster as a 67 Plymouth fury. I am pretty sure the 4 door is a Canada built car. the side body chrome trim is different than what is on this 2 door 880. and the 2 door has a speedo/ gauge that a USA polara would have. I have been told that dodge and Plymouth did some very strange things up here.
 
Don't feel stupid, I was told several times it was there, I made one members blood pressure go up at least 10-20 points.

US dash? Cool. I remember trying to figure out what was wrong with a Polara down here in Minnesota, the dash was funky. It was a Canadian car and I hadn't yet learned about the Plodges up over the border.
 
when I can get to it I will take a few pictures of the seat upolstry in the 4 door sedan.. then you can tell me the how it compares to USA polara 880's. its been close to 40 years since I drove it but I remember the seats were very comfortable.
 
I thought they stopped making the 890's in the US in 64, but I could be wrong. @Ross Wooldridge could answer some questions about the differences.
 
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