Interior trimming for mini tubs
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,829
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From: Central Indiana Honors: 4th grade spelling bee contestant
Interior trimming for mini tubs I searched and searched every combination imaginable, and looked through countless threads....I know there was a thread showing several different cars that had mini tubs and trimmed out interior panels. For some reason, I can't find the thread that I remembered looking at earlier this year.
Sorry if it was right under my nose, and I didn't see it. Does anyone else remember that thread, or can you show me a pic or two? I know that each and every install will be different, but I'd like to have a ballpark idea in my head before I start cutting the plastic!
Scott
Sorry if it was right under my nose, and I didn't see it. Does anyone else remember that thread, or can you show me a pic or two? I know that each and every install will be different, but I'd like to have a ballpark idea in my head before I start cutting the plastic!
Scott
I have 40" tubs in mine mounted up high. Best advise I can give is be prepared to take a lot of time trimming over and over and over.
I used a pair of tin snips to cut it, then when I had it really close I used a new blade on a box cutter so the edge was nice and smooth.
Just put on the panel as best as possible and you can tell where the tub hits the plastic, then pull it off trim it a little, repeat this over and over. That's how I did mine I left about a 1/8" gap around because I am going to cover my tubs later.
You also might start by coating the tubs edge with something so it transfers to the plastic when you put it on to have a rough idea of where the cut line needs to be, then trim about 1" less than that, leave extra, then start trimming it down.
I used a pair of tin snips to cut it, then when I had it really close I used a new blade on a box cutter so the edge was nice and smooth.
Just put on the panel as best as possible and you can tell where the tub hits the plastic, then pull it off trim it a little, repeat this over and over. That's how I did mine I left about a 1/8" gap around because I am going to cover my tubs later.
You also might start by coating the tubs edge with something so it transfers to the plastic when you put it on to have a rough idea of where the cut line needs to be, then trim about 1" less than that, leave extra, then start trimming it down.
I have 40" tubs in mine mounted up high. Best advise I can give is be prepared to take a lot of time trimming over and over and over.
I used a pair of tin snips to cut it, then when I had it really close I used a new blade on a box cutter so the edge was nice and smooth.
Just put on the panel as best as possible and you can tell where the tub hits the plastic, then pull it off trim it a little, repeat this over and over. That's how I did mine I left about a 1/8" gap around because I am going to cover my tubs later.
You also might start by coating the tubs edge with something so it transfers to the plastic when you put it on to have a rough idea of where the cut line needs to be, then trim about 1" less than that, leave extra, then start trimming it down.
I used a pair of tin snips to cut it, then when I had it really close I used a new blade on a box cutter so the edge was nice and smooth.
Just put on the panel as best as possible and you can tell where the tub hits the plastic, then pull it off trim it a little, repeat this over and over. That's how I did mine I left about a 1/8" gap around because I am going to cover my tubs later.
You also might start by coating the tubs edge with something so it transfers to the plastic when you put it on to have a rough idea of where the cut line needs to be, then trim about 1" less than that, leave extra, then start trimming it down.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,829
Likes: 30
From: Central Indiana Honors: 4th grade spelling bee contestant
Thanks fellas! I'm thinking I won't have to cut much...maybe just a little "slot" out of the middle of the panel for the tub to poke through.
Cutting them like the car on the Burkhart site would probably allow me to install the cage without the panels in the car.
Cutting them like the car on the Burkhart site would probably allow me to install the cage without the panels in the car.
It takes a little more than you think to fit them like this, took 8 hrs per side to do it this way. Cut, fit repeat.
EDIT I found some of my old pics
In this thread
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...024&highlight=
David
Last edited by FASTFATBOY; Jan 14, 2008 at 06:59 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,829
Likes: 30
From: Central Indiana Honors: 4th grade spelling bee contestant
It takes a little more than you think to fit them like this, took 8 hrs per side to do it this way. Cut, fit repeat.
In this thread
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...024&highlight=
David
I knew I remembered seeing a thread with pics in it. I was the #4 poster
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8 hours per side FASTFATBOY? LOL damn what did you trim that little hole with a pair of toe nail clippers 
Yes you can get your back seat in, for you guys with mini tubs it is really easy. My tubs actually sit in 1" more than your guys, but I had to move the shock in some and do some extra fabricating.
I took the fabric off mine and trimmed off the metal braces underneath then I just put the cover back on and stuck it in there, mine fits pretty snug, but later I may add some wide strips of Velcro behind the seat to make sure it stays put.
Here are some photos of mine and my tubs are 40" and 17" from the fender to the frame when measured.
Yes you can get your back seat in, for you guys with mini tubs it is really easy. My tubs actually sit in 1" more than your guys, but I had to move the shock in some and do some extra fabricating.
I took the fabric off mine and trimmed off the metal braces underneath then I just put the cover back on and stuck it in there, mine fits pretty snug, but later I may add some wide strips of Velcro behind the seat to make sure it stays put.
Here are some photos of mine and my tubs are 40" and 17" from the fender to the frame when measured.
I couldn't do mine like that, they go inside the car too much and sit up too high.
I just trimmed a big 1/2 circle out of it.
How come you don't have your back seat in? Weight reduction?
Trimming the metal off the sides of the seat bracket removes like 5 pounds if you didn't already know.
You can always hole saw the seat backing also, since it is covered with the seat cover and foam anyways, sure it would pull a lot more off the seat weight.
I just trimmed a big 1/2 circle out of it.
How come you don't have your back seat in? Weight reduction?
Trimming the metal off the sides of the seat bracket removes like 5 pounds if you didn't already know.
You can always hole saw the seat backing also, since it is covered with the seat cover and foam anyways, sure it would pull a lot more off the seat weight.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,829
Likes: 30
From: Central Indiana Honors: 4th grade spelling bee contestant
The velcro on my car is a little messed up, so I'm going to screw the panels on when the time comes.
Smoothed & sanded:
Thank you for posting the photos!
Looks good, he he I didnt have anything to start from and I was scared of messing my panels up.
Looks like it needs to be a little bigger(the hole) You can see at the base of mine where I had to mold it with a heat gun to get it to lay down right. Your gap at the rear is too wide(near the hatch shock) open the hole up a bit more.
David
Looks like it needs to be a little bigger(the hole) You can see at the base of mine where I had to mold it with a heat gun to get it to lay down right. Your gap at the rear is too wide(near the hatch shock) open the hole up a bit more.
David
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,829
Likes: 30
From: Central Indiana Honors: 4th grade spelling bee contestant
Looks good, he he I didnt have anything to start from and I was scared of messing my panels up.
Looks like it needs to be a little bigger(the hole) You can see at the base of mine where I had to mold it with a heat gun to get it to lay down right. Your gap at the rear is too wide(near the hatch shock) open the hole up a bit more.
David
Looks like it needs to be a little bigger(the hole) You can see at the base of mine where I had to mold it with a heat gun to get it to lay down right. Your gap at the rear is too wide(near the hatch shock) open the hole up a bit more.
David