Post-paint assembly order?

[Thom Fitzpatrick]

Ok, so what's the order of operations for assembling a painted car? I bought another T34 last weekend - an Emerald '63. The car was painted 10 years ago, and then the owner lost interest.

The engine is a basket case, so I'll have to assemble one from scratch and scrounge a lot of parts. In the mean time I'll assemble the engine from my '62 and use that, assuming I don't magically get the engine for the '63 assembled first.

Here is what I think the order should be; some of this is based on my experience with my lowlight ghia.

• doors & hardware
  
• headliner
  
• windshields
  
• dash
  
• carpet
  
• Seats
  
• door panels
  
• engine
  

I think the headliner is a biggie, because window trims go over the top of it. From there I think I can wing it.

Any other ideas? Suggestions?

[Lee Hedges]

I'd get all the wiring connected and tested prior to doing the headliner, in case you need to rewire the dome light. Other than that you can basically take things as you'd like. I don't think you can really go wrong.

[bobnotch]

I agree, make sure the dome light wires are good to go before doing the headliner. After that, you're on the right track, in that the headliner has to go in first, then the glass can go in. On my own car, after the headliner went in, I installed the upper door opening trim and seals (to help hold the headliner in place), then we did the front and rear glass (again to help support the headliner). After that, it was work on whatever I felt like doing.