Highlander interior before and after

[jocko]

Been workin on this turd for quite a while. But it's time to move, so I needed to button it up for the trip. Still awaiting seat belt retractor parts, but that's about it. Still need to bolt in the seat also (a little off center in the pic).

The previously mentioned noticeable gap in the driver's (and passenger) side outer cushion area where the back and bottom met turned out to be nothing more than a new seat foam issue. Took it all apart and examined it compared to the original GM foam and it was just not quite right in the lower seat back areas on the outer edges. Ended up going back to my original 72 foam and it took care of the issue. No visible gaps between the back/bottom now. Glad that got resolved. Found it a bit of a challenge to get all the plaid to line up in straight lines, but I'll live with what it ended up as.

Because of the pending move, had to put off the door rehab project - so, will fill the speaker holes and paint the doors at some point in the future, just wanted to make them semi-presentable for now. Redid the dash, added a tach and vac , and finally resolved my temp gauge/sender issues. All the gauges work, which is kinda nice for a change. And added in a factory am/fm that sounds pretty darn good through a single factory speaker. Nice and tinny, just like I like it Added an AM/FM antenna and a splitter for that inevitable CB radio install thread... I wonder if there's even anyone to talk to on that thing anymore. have a few stuffed away in boxes that have never been used, and will be nice to stick it in without an extra CB antenna. But, that's for another day.

Now if I could just get my doors to shut after the new seal install... Ha. They're coming along. Hopeful they will loosen up a bit after sitting in the sun still.

Anyway, a special thanks to Tim at Truckseats - this was no easy task to get the highlander plaid with the scrollwork, appreciate your perseverance. Also thanks to Tom for the tach/vac tin and Brian Mac for his HUGE help on the temp sender issue I had. Also Wes over at Classic Heartbeat - thanks for several small parts and the dash bezel and lens and the perfect carpet - they are top quality, very pleased. LedZepp - Scott, was a pleasure to meet you, you probably wondered what ever became of the dash pad I bought from you when I picked up the green door... And Pete, thanks so much for reproducing the Main/Aux fuel tanks selector sticker - that made my day.

[70cst]

Very nice job.

[thelonerife]

I love it!

[9teen69]

Looks clean...love the plaid!

[FirstOwner69]

Beautiful!

[Ol Blue K20]

Looks great Jocko....did I miss something, where you moving to....

[jocko]

THAT'S a great question - don't know for sure yet! But my time workin for uncle sam is comin to a close. Gotta go find a job. Trying to find something near Phoenix/Mesa, but pretty wide open for now.

[YBNORML]

Looking great! I just can't get enough of these interiors, it really finishes the trucks off nicely.

[leftybass209]

That's a good look!

[leddzepp]

Mark- It was very nice meeting you as well. That interior is awesome! The seat just steals the show. Congrats on getting to move where you want and best of luck in finding a new job.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by jocko

THAT'S a great question - don't know for sure yet! But my time workin for uncle sam is comin to a close. Gotta go find a job. Trying to find something near Phoenix/Mesa, but pretty wide open for now.

Well I hope this "coming to a close" means a retirement and moving on to a more relaxed employment. ...Best of luck finding what ya want where ya want.

[jocko]

ha, no, just round 1 of retiring. which really just means a career change nowadays.

[Bluechevy68]

now that is show quality!

[DeadheadNM]

Awesome work Mark! Glad you put the decal to use. How did you get the door panels clean - plain old elbow grease?

[Lee H]

Very nice! Question for you, any special reason you went with parchment VS black belts? I wrestled with that when I redid mine.

[yfs200p]

That looks very nice. That scroll in the center really makes the difference. I wasn't up for jumping through the hoops to get that done on mine, and kind of wish i had. Quite the improvement!

[alsriv2]

Really like the clean lines and look of that interior. Great job on bringing back to life.

[KEL]

It really is amazing what a seat can do !

[Lanman1972]

Just installed mine this weekend, Loving me some 70's Plaid! Dog matches perfect!

[jocko]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Awesome work Mark! Glad you put the decal to use. How did you get the door panels clean - plain old elbow grease?

Nope, not much elbow grease involved in that - the originals were even worse than they appear in the picture - very stained, etc. I replaced em with a better set! I do plan to resto the originals when I get a chance, but they may be candidates for a redye or paint.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by Lee H

Very nice! Question for you, any special reason you went with parchment VS black belts? I wrestled with that when I redid mine.

Lee, I went with parchment because it had the original parchment belts still on it when I bought it from the original owner. I've occasionally seen parchment with black, but have always thought that parchment belts were the norm with a parchment highlander seat. Hope I didn't screw the pooch, but that is what was on it and they were very "original" (i.e. pretty trashed)

[Lee H]

Originally Posted by jocko

Lee, I went with parchment because it had the original parchment belts still on it when I bought it from the original owner. I've occasionally seen parchment with black, but have always thought that parchment belts were the norm with a parchment highlander seat. Hope I didn't screw the pooch, but that is what was on it and they were very "original" (i.e. pretty trashed)

Mark, I have always heard, and research indicates parchment or black belts are factory correct with parchment interior, I don't know about highlander. I went with black belts because the column, carpet and dash pad are black. I do have a very nice set of parchment belts, I'm going to put them on for awhile now that I've seen yours. Cheers, Lee

[jocko]

I think your belts look great in black Lee - parchment buckets with black houndstooth - a great look. I had to go double check my "highlander files" - here's what I found from original sales brochures for the highlander, but who knows what happened in the factory... Ha! Yours looks great with black, and white would probably look great also, especially since you have both black and white in your houndstooth inserts.

[Lee H]

After seeing the sales brochures it's clear parchment is the right choice! Black would not look right. Kudos.....

[leddzepp]

Truck could have come with either black or parchment seatbelts. Both look good, but black won't get dirty