1953 sedan 62 work in progress

[gdtogo]

just purchased 1953 sedan 40K miles everything intact no rust on body rebuilt carb, radiator, new tires, brakes, wheel cylinders, check brake lines battery fluids, everything to make safe and drivable paint faded but hope to compound buff over the winter, some chrome has started to rust. now getting ready to do interior, seats have some rips and stains, rugs badly worn door panels moth eaten. what can I expect to pay to have this work done ( want to drive it not make a showroom car ) head liner is still intact should I leave as is?

Anything else I should be doing, all new to me any help welcome

Steve

[Jim Salmi #21340]

I am currently resuscitating a '52 sedan.  I haven't gotten to interior yet.  A very high end upholstery shop quoted me $15k for a complete interior redo in the correct fabrics, for what it's worth.  I expect to pay maybe half that amount, but we will see.

Before you get to the new interior, you should seriously consider replacing the Hydrolectric window and seat cylinders, including the rubber lines if they are the originals.  If one of those cylinders or hoses splits, you will have the fluid all over the inside of the door, or on the floor.  The system originally used brake fluid, which may or may not have been flushed out over the years.  If it is still brake fluid, it will take the paint off the rockers if it drips out of the door weep holes onto the rockers.  Fortunately, I flushed my system out a year ago and replaced it with ATF.  But, a few weeks ago one of the window cylinders split open and gushed fluid inside the door.  A real mess.  That is my current crisis.  I'm doing the work myself, together with a couple of knowledgeable friends from my region.  I expect to have about $1k in materials before it's done.

[CadillacRob]

Other standard maintenance items: fuel pump, coil, condenser, points, cap, rotor, plugs, wires.