Interior Modifications
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Griffith Indiana
Interior Modifications
Has ayone ever attempted to install new vinyl or leather fabric over the existing original door panel fabric on our C3 cars? I am changing from tan to black on the interior and plan to refabric the dash pad, but was wondering if I could possibly do the same thing with the door panels?
Use 3M adhesive, buy fabric from fabric store, get heat gun and model new fabric over the top of existing...will it work? Has anyone done it?
Pictures of process or completed projects would be helpful.
Thanks,
TTERZ
Use 3M adhesive, buy fabric from fabric store, get heat gun and model new fabric over the top of existing...will it work? Has anyone done it?
Pictures of process or completed projects would be helpful.
Thanks,
TTERZ
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 2
From: Frederick Md
I've seen plenty of C3's which the owners have used vinyl dye to change the colors on the seats, dash and doors....never seen any that were done with fabric or new leather...
I'd have to think about doing that...
Bob G.
I'd have to think about doing that...
Bob G.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,732
Likes: 708
From: Shelton, Connecticut
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I used vinyl door skins
20 years ago I did a body off on a 72 LT1. I found out the door panels were date coded and I didn't want to lose the originals. At that time there was a door panel 'skin' available. I filled in the tears and cracks with foam and recovered the door panels. (Burnt up the wife's hair dryer). I took my time and it worked out well. But, that was because the skin was form fitting. I suspect there are too many multiple angles in the door panel to try to form vinyl or cloth w/o a cut here and there.
I don't know if they still make the skins, but, if there are no big cracks/rips, you should consider the dye mentioned earlier.
I have a C6 now. Much too old for a C3
I don't know if they still make the skins, but, if there are no big cracks/rips, you should consider the dye mentioned earlier.
I have a C6 now. Much too old for a C3
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
If you have minor damage/cracking, you can repair it using a polyester body putty (Bondo or other brands), then use SEM "ColorCoat" vinyl dye [purchased from a reputable auto body paint supplier...not at auto part store or internet supplier] to recolor the panel. I have re-skinned my original door panels, rather than replace them...but it was a lot more work and grief than it was worth. And, if you choose to do that re-skin work, use a pre-formed skin, not just vinyl material. That would never work.
Do not use 'spray paint' for recoloring vinyl/plastic panels; use only vinyl dye or "elastomeric recoloring agent" to do that job. Many reasons why that is true. Google "vinyl dye" and research it if you want to know more. Save all the original panels you can as replacements don't really fit that well. And dye will allow you to change colors at will with no problem (white to black; black to white; etc. is not a problem).
Do not use 'spray paint' for recoloring vinyl/plastic panels; use only vinyl dye or "elastomeric recoloring agent" to do that job. Many reasons why that is true. Google "vinyl dye" and research it if you want to know more. Save all the original panels you can as replacements don't really fit that well. And dye will allow you to change colors at will with no problem (white to black; black to white; etc. is not a problem).
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Griffith Indiana
7T1vette
I will indeed be using dye for sure and probably the SEM vendor product. How well does the dy hold up to areas where there is a lot of friction and traffic? For example, armrest handles (pulling and closing doors repeatedly), steering wheel and seats. If I chose to dye the seat covers from tan to black. Does the dye hold up pretty well or will I be re-dying the items all the time?
Thanks,
TTERZ
I will indeed be using dye for sure and probably the SEM vendor product. How well does the dy hold up to areas where there is a lot of friction and traffic? For example, armrest handles (pulling and closing doors repeatedly), steering wheel and seats. If I chose to dye the seat covers from tan to black. Does the dye hold up pretty well or will I be re-dying the items all the time?
Thanks,
TTERZ
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Dye actually bonds with any 'plastic' surface...as long as it has been cleaned really well. I dyed a new 14" leather-wrapped steering wheel a couple of years ago...no wear so far. The rest of my interior has been dyed for over 5 years [not seats, though] and not a hint of color loss. I think you can put those worries to rest.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 318
Likes: 9
From: Inkom, Idaho
I recently saw a video on You Tube where the guy covered the dash, doors, and everything in leather and hand stitched the seems like baseball stitching. It came out very beautiful except that I didn't care for the color of the stitching he used.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4jgi105FMA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4jgi105FMA
Last edited by Racer C3; Feb 24, 2011 at 08:30 PM. Reason: Added Video
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
You can shoot dye over paint...but it will not bond to the paint or to anything else. It will chip/peel just like paint, thereafter. And, I don't know of any way to strip paint from plastic panels without damaging the panels. If you have painted panels, I would suggest that you dye them; they will look as good as un-painted panels...but they won't hold up to wear/abuse like dye/plastic.
