1974 Interior change help?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Columbus OH
1974 Interior change help?
I have a 74 with maroon interior. I am looking to change it all out. I am talking carpet, seats, panels dash and interior walls (the best way i can describe it). Its not terrible but parts of it isnt good. also i want to change it from maroon to bright red. any suggestions on how big of a job this is and links to where i can buy ONE KIT for it all? i know you can buy the carpet kits and so on but i want one kit for it all if possible. Also any suggestions on price for this if i do it my self lol. thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 807
Likes: 2
From: VIRGINIA BEACH VIRGINIA
you should be able to get new seat covers, new door panels, new arm rests and carpet for it for about 1500 hundred dollars from corvetta america, ricks, zip or any place like that. pretty close estimate. this is what is for a 79 so it should be close to that for your 74
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Columbus OH
i have an extra set of door panels and seats but i dont like the maroon i may see if there is a good way of just dying them to look like the rest i want to be bright red. what about the plastic trim pieces through out the whole interior? can you buy them in a kit or just off parting out vettes
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 59
Likes: 1
From: Milton Florida
I'm planning on doing my '75 soon and have checked Midamerica, Ecklers and Corvette Central with the same approximate amount. I've seen similar posts and it seems more guys are going with Wilcox Corvette and have had good results. I'm leaning toward them for mine! 
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Do not replace good-condition interior panels just because of color. You can recolor any 'plastic' parts using SEM "Color Coat" vinyl dye and they will look like new if they are not damaged...or have been properly repaired. New stuff costs a small fortune and many times new panels don't fit properly; old stuff costs almost nothing to repair and clean, and requires just 'pocket change' to change the color. Save your money...reuse whatever you can.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Columbus OH
would i need to prim first or just buy the color i wanted? and are there color codes or anything like that to match colors if i purchase some of the parts that are needing replaced and buy them already painted and new like from Wilcox Corvette
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 807
Likes: 2
From: VIRGINIA BEACH VIRGINIA
with the very few colors that are avail for vettes, they go more by year and color than color code numbers. I have dyed my door panels, and all interior trim with the same color and them came out real good. I would be interested in seeing what someone did with dye and changing the color. A full carpet set will run you about 340 but then when you add in the door panels and seats the price almost triples. I would really like to go from oyster to black but i am not sure if the black will cover/look good on the door panels and the carpet on the door panels. any pictures out there.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,657
Likes: 3,117
From: Shamong, NJ
If you want a nice bright red, I would suggest buying 1972 red seat covers, carpet & door panels (they're all direct replacements for your 74 pieces) and dye the rest. The dash, headliners, window moldings, interior quarter trim panels, console, etc. can all be dyed with great success. There is primer available for use with interior dye, and it would be helpful when putting a lighter color (like bright red) over a darker maroon base. Interior dye comes in either 12oz. aerosol cans or quart cans to use with a spray gun. At $15-16 for a 12oz. can, it can become expensive to do a whole interior. If you have access to a spray gun or air brush, it's cheaper ($33-35) and quicker to buy dye by the quart and spray it.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Although they make primer for vinyl dye, you don't really need it. But, you have to get the surfaces 'squeaky' clean [completly free of the old ArmorAll 
] and you must use dye...not paint. There are a lot of aftermarket places selling what they call "dye"; but from descriptions of the results, it is mostly paint.
Dye bonds to plastic/vinyl/rubber/ leather surfaces..paint puts a coating on them. Dye does not chip or peel...paint does. Dye does not fill in surface graining on the parts...paint will fill it in with only a couple of re-paints. You can dye any color to any other color, as many times as you like and the part still looks the same (but a different color).
Get SEM "Color Coat" and you know it is dye and that it will work as expected. If you don't have spray equipment, buy a PreVal bottle sprayer and 2-3 replacement gas cannisters (less than $30 for a pint of dye and all the PreVal stuff). It is great for spraying the thin dye fluid.
] and you must use dye...not paint. There are a lot of aftermarket places selling what they call "dye"; but from descriptions of the results, it is mostly paint.Dye bonds to plastic/vinyl/rubber/ leather surfaces..paint puts a coating on them. Dye does not chip or peel...paint does. Dye does not fill in surface graining on the parts...paint will fill it in with only a couple of re-paints. You can dye any color to any other color, as many times as you like and the part still looks the same (but a different color).
Get SEM "Color Coat" and you know it is dye and that it will work as expected. If you don't have spray equipment, buy a PreVal bottle sprayer and 2-3 replacement gas cannisters (less than $30 for a pint of dye and all the PreVal stuff). It is great for spraying the thin dye fluid.
