Changing interior color difficult?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,346
Likes: 305
From: Feeding Hills, MA
Changing interior color difficult?
I just bought a '77, silver with smoke gray interior. Since the interior is drab and needs some attention,I thought I would do a complete makeover and change the color. I'm wondering and sure someone has done this, how well do the interior trim pieces that can be painted hold up to regular use? I plan on buying new seats, cushions and door panels. The other pieces are all in good condition so I thought I could paint them and save some money.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
You should not use "paint" to recolor interior components. While vinyl dye is in the 'paint' family, it is formulated differently and bonds with plastic differently than paint.
And, to answer your question, "No", it is not difficult to recolor the interior. Actually, it is quite the opposite...relatively easy, once the parts are removed and properly cleaned. You need to use good vinyl "dye"...liquid SEM 'ColorCoat' mixed to the GM interior color code you choose & purchased from a professional auto body paint supply store...and spray it on with your equipment or an inexpensive Pre-Val bottle sprayer that you buy from the same paint supply place.
It is most important to get the interior surfaces cleaned of all oil, dirt and Armor-All
before you shoot on the "dye". You can use the SEM spray cans, if you want. They work well, but don't result in the same sheen as factory-new interiors have, IMO. They will also be more expensive than buying pre-mixed dye in a can and using the Pre-Val sprayer.
And, to answer your question, "No", it is not difficult to recolor the interior. Actually, it is quite the opposite...relatively easy, once the parts are removed and properly cleaned. You need to use good vinyl "dye"...liquid SEM 'ColorCoat' mixed to the GM interior color code you choose & purchased from a professional auto body paint supply store...and spray it on with your equipment or an inexpensive Pre-Val bottle sprayer that you buy from the same paint supply place.
It is most important to get the interior surfaces cleaned of all oil, dirt and Armor-All
before you shoot on the "dye". You can use the SEM spray cans, if you want. They work well, but don't result in the same sheen as factory-new interiors have, IMO. They will also be more expensive than buying pre-mixed dye in a can and using the Pre-Val sprayer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,346
Likes: 305
From: Feeding Hills, MA
Color combo. does look good but after months of searching for a good red 1977 with buckskin interior I just started looking for a solid '77. I found one with 32K miles but it needs to be restored. The paint is gone and the interior is good but looks tired. I first thought about silver and go with the red interior but then decided since it had to be repainted and interior replaced go ahead and make it like my first 77 that I sold 30years ago. Red with buckskin!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
