1993 Mark VIII convertible progress

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BlackIceLSC

New member
two-toning using factory parts is one of my favorite looks. You might not recall this, but I did the same to my old 2006 HHR...replaced seat covers , arm rests, and carpet suing factory ebony upholstery while retaining the factory graphite bits

http://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-tutorial-library-21/seat-removal-carpet-install-13261/



...gray and black, when using factory OEM materials looks AWEOMSE!
Plus, it's a one-off look that cannot be questioned.


Looks great Bill
 
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billcu

Head Moderator
Thanks Craig, I've done this with my green 94 also, black seats, carpet, and other parts in the grey interior.

I started working on the stereo, someone before me replaced the stock JBL system with aftermarket. I removed the aftermarket head unit and adapters.

It didn't work when I got it, I think maybe one speaker was barely working . The amp is mounted on a piece of wood in the trunk mounted to the seat back and the extra bracing welded to the car.

The first photo shows the wood from the trunk, where I removed the amp.

The second photo shows that I pushed the wiring to the back seat area to troubleshoot and connect a spare amp. You can see the extra bracing for the convertible.

Luckily they didn't mess up the wiring, and the spare amp worked great with my original head unit from my 94.

The third and fourth photos show how the aftermarket speakers were mounted. They are actually bolted to the plastic piece that the grille is mounted on. They had to do this as the original mounting areas are the rear power windows now.

I'm going to try to remount some original JBL speakers back in.
 

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billcu

Head Moderator
SCTBIRD1173 said:
Awesome work Bill!

Always love following along on threads like this; makes me want to go work on my car. :D
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Thanks Bryan, it's always a good time working on these cars.:thumbsup:

I took the painted 20 spoke wheels off today, I'm going to put the chrome 20 spoke wheels on it.

Being from Michigan, I've never seen the half shaft threads this clean before.:)

Also, this car still has the original Gen 1 steel front air spring/shocks. They never leaked down all winter.:err-what?:
 

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billcu

Head Moderator
I installed the console, passenger door panel, rear side panels and the black seat belts yesterday.

The belts were more trouble than I thought, I had to cut off the stock "rings" that guide the belts. The photo shows the cut rings and other parts not used in the convertible.

The front seat belt ring is normally on the B pillar, but since the convertible doesn't have the pillar, a custom fabricated ring is installed on the upper rear side panel.

The rear seatbelt rings and belt retractors are normally on the roof inner sail panel. For the convertible, they put the belt retractor in the trunk, on the seat back panel, above the still installed, 93-94 only, shock actuators.:) Then the belt comes out over the rear seatback through a slot behind the seat.
 

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billcu

Head Moderator
Thanks Jeff, yes the fronts do have more slack.

I believe that's because the retractors only retract so much, and with the ring about a foot lower than the stock location, there is extra belt slack.
 
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billcu

Head Moderator
It might be easier to find a shorter belt already made, that would work. I think the rear belt is a little shorter? I'll check.
 
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billcu

Head Moderator
I put most of the interior in today. I'm missing a few trim pieces here and there, but they're next.

My black shifter has a problem, so I had to use the mocha shifter for now.

I wanted to drive the car today (for the first time with the top down) because it's supposed to rain all week.:)
 

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billcu

Head Moderator
On the lighter side...:)

I have to change some light bulbs for the CHMSL on the convertible trunk.

They're a funny looking bulb. I had to search the part number from the 'Custom' light housing. Turns out it's from a 86-90 Corvette .:D

Rock Auto has 'em.
 

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billcu

Head Moderator
I need to mount the speakers better. It looks like they removed the JBL rear tweeter from the tube enclosure in the stock car. The mid range speaker has been changed to an aftermarket one.

This might take me a while, the plastic is pretty weak, I might have to come up with a stronger grill part.

I put some empty black grilles on the car for now, while I drive the car, I'm still finishing up the rear trim too.

With the top down, the front speakers alone sound surprisingly good.:)
 

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tixer

tixer

Lincoln Evangelist
Were the Gen1 rear speakers always secured to the "cover?" or is that the hack-job that I think it is?

Did any of the convertible modifications interfere with the stock speaker mounting locations? I think the factory setup in my '97 always sounded pretty good. particularly once I dropped in a modern head unit.
 
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billcu

Head Moderator
All of the years original hardtop speakers are mounted correctly, to the inner steel rear quarters. Then, the plastic rear trim piece and grille is put over it.

The convertible has power rear window parts installed where that inner steel used to be. They had to rig (hack:D) the speakers to the plastic frame that was designed to hold just that thin metal grill.

I'm hoping I can get the original JBL speakers in there, and mounted better, the conversion being what it is. :)

I've been wanting to add a sub-woofer to a Mark VIII for years, that should bring back some of the 'fidelity' of the original JBL lost with the conversion.:)

I'll get some photos of the rear power window the next time I'm there.
 
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