Elegance Is Only A Stitch Away - Custom Interior

1302Tr 01 Elegance Is Only A Stich Away Custom Interior Custom Front Seats

As you saw on the cover of Issue 12, 2012, our in-house '09 Ram (dubbed Project Lead Sled) has the wild paint and slammed stance that draws curious onlookers everywhere we go. What our Ram was missing was an interior that matched the over-the-top visual appeal. It was high time to change that, so we called Allen Hayes and the crew of 714 Motorsports in Westminster, California. With a long list of magazine-featured interiors and custom audio systems, 714 Motorsports was just who we needed to share our vision with. After meeting with Allen and Chris Caris and discussing the picture we had rattling around in our heads, he added his professional spin to it and off we went. It was a match made in heaven, as the interior met all of our expectations and then some. Project Lead Sled was looking tight, tucked, and quite fashionable. All of the seating surfaces received a two-tone diamond-stitched makeover along with additional diamond stitching in the door inserts. The multi-colored interior was toned down with plenty of black suede to eliminate the factory tan headliner and A-, B-, and C-pillars.

While 714 had everything torn apart, we had them install plenty of Scosche Accumat to the roof, cab floor, back wall, and doors to fend off as much road noise and ambient heat transfer as possible. We wanted our driving experience to go from quiet as a church mouse to loud as a rock concert at our whim. To achieve concert-like status, all new audio gear from Pioneer, along with plenty of wiring products from Scosche, was squeezed into the Ram’s cab. Controlling our new audio is Pioneer’s flagship AVIC-Z140BH that features a 7-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation with more than 12 million POIs, Bluetooth, HD radio tuner, Pandora radio, iPod control, and an included traffic tuner for up-to-date traffic conditions. The front and rear doors received 6¾ -inch component speakers, with the lows filled in from under the rear seats thanks to a pair of Pioneer Premier 12-inch shallow-mount subwoofers in a custom enclosure. Pioneer’s new PRS-D800 amplifiers (four total) provide clean, high-power output in a compact design. Their diminutive nature made mounting all four of them under the front bucket seats a snap. For the rear seat passengers a Vizualogic VZ1100 11.6-inch flip-down screen can be called on to provide DVD movie playback, and it includes two wireless headphones and a gaming console for the included 300 video games. From the battery, to the steering, to every other component, Scosche wiring products were snaked throughout Lead Sled to keep our in-car-entertainment system functioning properly.

After serving us so well for the last couple years, the seats were finally going to receive the coverings they deserved.
After serving us so well for the last couple years, the seats were finally going to receiv
It was hard to watch Project Lead Sled come apart for the umpteenth time, but we crossed our fingers that 714’s expertise could make this the final chapter in the Ram’s life.
It was hard to watch Project Lead Sled come apart for the umpteenth time, but we crossed o
It may seem like we couldn’t do much with just red and black leather, but with some proper stitching and perforations, this pile of material was turned into magic.
It may seem like we couldn’t do much with just red and black leather, but with some proper

Utilizing the old seat covers, the new design was sketched out in full size to visualize what shapes were going to be necessary to cut, as well which stitch style would go where.
Utilizing the old seat covers, the new design was sketched out in full size to visualize w
The new leather was laid out and drawn on with chalk to achieve the basic shapes for each section of the new leather seat covers.
The new leather was laid out and drawn on with chalk to achieve the basic shapes for each
After cutting all the shapes out, they were laid on backer foam to trace and cut as necessary.
After cutting all the shapes out, they were laid on backer foam to trace and cut as necess

Industrial spray glue was used to mate the two materials together and provide long-term comfort and shape holding ability. Once glued, all the edges were given a single line stitch to permanently hold the custom shape.
Industrial spray glue was used to mate the two materials together and provide long-term co
As each section was completed, it was set aside and gathered for the final puzzle. The pictured panel is the back of one seat and features a pocket similar to what came on the seat from the factory.
As each section was completed, it was set aside and gathered for the final puzzle. The pic
Watching the seat become a work of art was mesmerizing. The entire thing was completed inside out requiring a keen eye for detail.
Watching the seat become a work of art was mesmerizing. The entire thing was completed ins

Before the new leather could be slipped over the seats, the foam side bolsters were addressed. Sliding in and out of the seats had knocked the outer bolsters down a bit, so 714 rebuilt them with added material and shape to mimic a sport seat. Both of the naked front seats had their headrests filled in as well. Our prior interior had dual headrest monitors and we chose to remove them in trade for the larger flip-down unit.
Before the new leather could be slipped over the seats, the foam side bolsters were addres
It took some serious effort to get the new leather covers over the foam. As you may expect, the fit was very tight.
It took some serious effort to get the new leather covers over the foam. As you may expect
With the custom covers on, plenty of effort went into getting the material moved over those last couple centimeters to conform perfectly to the foam underneath.
With the custom covers on, plenty of effort went into getting the material moved over thos

A zipper was used to seal the upper seat portion, and for the bottom seat cushion, a plastic-backed carpet cover hid the seat springs from view.
A zipper was used to seal the upper seat portion, and for the bottom seat cushion, a plast
Now this is what we call a total transformation!
The rear seat turned out just as awesome. 714 removed the rear headrests for a more integrated style and for better rearview mirror visibility.
The rear seat turned out just as awesome. 714 removed the rear headrests for a more integr

As you can see, the old door panels had a lot of red to bring attention to them. Now that our seats looked fantastic, we needed a cleaner, higher-end look to match the new seats. After a bit of head scratching, 714 made a decision on a new direction.
As you can see, the old door panels had a lot of red to bring attention to them. Now that
The main visual Achilles heel was the speaker pods themselves. They were a necessity, but just stood out too much. After some measurements, fresh MDF was cut and turned on a table router.
The main visual Achilles heel was the speaker pods themselves. They were a necessity, but
All the dark materials chosen for this build matched the door panel grain perfectly, so the new speaker frames were going to be wrapped in black.
All the dark materials chosen for this build matched the door panel grain perfectly, so th

After being spray glued, the leather was slowly stretched and worked around the form to minimize wrinkles. To make the harder inside edge, the leather was sliced into a myriad of slits and stapled to the MDF.
After being spray glued, the leather was slowly stretched and worked around the form to mi
A rough tracing of the new speaker pod was drawn onto some perforated aluminum sheeting before being cut and sanded to perfection.
A rough tracing of the new speaker pod was drawn onto some perforated aluminum sheeting be
Black spray paint was applied to both sides of the aluminum before mounting it into the speaker form.
Black spray paint was applied to both sides of the aluminum before mounting it into the sp

Before installing the door panel, the inside of the door was covered in Scosche’s Accumat for a quieter cabin and better sounding speakers. Accumat also covered the headliner, floor, and back cab wall.
Before installing the door panel, the inside of the door was covered in Scosche’s Accumat
New Pioneer 6 1/2 -inch components.
The new black diamond-stitched inserts replacing the old red inserts, the new door panels would look right at home in a Range Rover.
The new black diamond-stitched inserts replacing the old red inserts, the new door panels

The new Vizualogic 11.6-inch drop-down screen looks great with the matching color scheme. The Vizualogic VZ1100 features three different trim panels to match whatever color interior your truck or SUV has.
The new Vizualogic 11.6-inch drop-down screen looks great with the matching color scheme.
One warmly welcomed addition was the dark expanse overhead. We never did like lighter colored headliners that were supposed to make the interior seem visually taller and roomier.
One warmly welcomed addition was the dark expanse overhead. We never did like lighter colo
Pioneer’s latest PRS-D800 Class FD two-channel bridgeable amplifiers pack a large 600-watt punch in a compact design.
Pioneer’s latest PRS-D800 Class FD two-channel bridgeable amplifiers pack a large 600-watt

We found plenty of room under the front seats to safely mount them.
For the longest time, we were unable to use the factory audio controls in the steering wheel. Thanks to Scosche, that problem was remedied with the installation of its S3-1 stereo replacement control unit.
For the longest time, we were unable to use the factory audio controls in the steering whe
The other longstanding problem was the lack of an antenna for radio reception, due to us shaving the antenna hole from the front fender. A windshield mount amplified antenna from Scosche solved that dilemma with ease.
The other longstanding problem was the lack of an antenna for radio reception, due to us s

As Pioneer’s best head unit, the AVIC-Z140BH features the latest in navigation, entertainment, and connectivity. That long list includes a 7-inch advance touchscreen, direct iPod control with voice control, Bluetooth calling and audio control, HD Radio tuner, and NAVTEQ navigation with more than 12 million points of interest.
As Pioneer’s best head unit, the AVIC-Z140BH features the latest in navigation, entertainm
Being able to seamlessly connect to Pandora Radio and Aha Radio meant we could listen to streaming music, hear the latest Facebook updates, and listen to the most recent Twitter Tweets from our friends. Social media has been made easy thanks to Pioneer.
Being able to seamlessly connect to Pandora Radio and Aha Radio meant we could listen to s
Turn-by-turn directions on the WVGA screen were both easy to follow and vibrant. Our favorite feature was the included traffic tuner that provides up-to-date traffic information.
Turn-by-turn directions on the WVGA screen were both easy to follow and vibrant. Our favor

Providing the bass frequencies are a pair of Pioneer Premier 12-inch shallow-mount subs in an enclosure that stealthily mounts under the rear seat.
Providing the bass frequencies are a pair of Pioneer Premier 12-inch shallow-mount subs in
Two fullsize (24x27-inch) Accumat 750 Absorber panels fit under the hood quite nicely and will dampen some of the engine noise and vibrations emanating form the thin sheetmetal. It was as easy as peeling the backing of the mat and sticking it to the underside of the hood.
Two fullsize (24x27-inch) Accumat 750 Absorber panels fit under the hood quite nicely and
We capped off the audio system with Scosche power cables and battery terminals with a built-in LED readout, allowing us to monitor actual battery voltage at a glance.
We capped off the audio system with Scosche power cables and battery terminals with a buil

SOURCE
Pioneer Electronics 2265 E 220th St Long Beach CA 90810 310-952-2000 www.pioneerelectronics.com	Scosche scosche.com
714 Motorsports 7100 Hazard Ave Westminster CA 92683 714-901-0714 www.714motorsports.net	VizuaLogic 1493 Bentley Dr. Corona CA 92879 800-624-7960 www.vizualogic.com