I converted my bench seat 66 Strato Chief to a 4 speed. It currently has a one piece full front floor mat which I obviously have to change or cut. The mat is in pretty nice shape, the car has 43,000 miles. I really don't want to cut up a nice mat to make the shifter work with the one piece mat. Does anyone have a pair of front floor mats in blue, decent used condition for my car.
Here is what the one piece looks like. I'm looking for the same style and colour to keep it original looking. It was not an uncommon colour or style in those years. I'm not interested in other styles, thanks.
Would cut the floor but not the mat?.......this just in case JD misses it.
No, the idea is not so much keeping the car original. I don't want to cut a really nice bench seat mat in case someone can use it. If I can find decent twin mats I will let this one go to a good home.
But as far as cutting the floor goes, it would be easier to patch the floor and make it original again, pretty much an invisible repair, than it would be to repair a hole in this floor mat if I cut it!
And after driving the car this morning, I have ZERO regrets. It drives like it would have if it had been built with a 4 speed in 1966. I absolutely love it.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
The only thing left to do is install the carpet and change the steering column. The column is ready to go, I did it up in the winter, painted and all. I want do drive it with the carpet out for a bit just to make sure I have any bugs out of the system, but so far it's fine. I do know I will have to replace at least one u joint, maybe both. When I was putting the shaft back in on Thursday night I could feel one of the joints is a hair tight, like it's getting dry. Unrelated to the conversion though, that would have been needed regardless.
I just put the car away in the garage and covered it but I'll get pictures next time I have it out in the daylight. My phone takes awful pictures in the garage.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
