I've read quite a few threads on this topic but I need a little more detailed help please.

I'm in the final stages of buying a 74 stingray that's black with a silver interrior. The interrior is flawless in every way. It has the deluxe doors with the carpeted pieces on the bottom. Everything is in excellent shape.

The thing is, I want to change the interior to black save for the seats which I want to be deep red.

1. What parts can and can't be dyed? I've never dyed anything and not sure what can be dyed.

2. I've heard of a canister type dying device so I don't have to invest in a full paint shop! What's the name of it and where do I aquire it?

3. Is there a thread here that details the dying process and drying times?

4. I plan to just replace the seats so they look perfect.


Any help is much appreciated. Ill post more here when my project begins.

 

I changed my interior color from Oyster White to Red. I used the dye kit from Corvette America. There are others out there, but my local Corvette Shop recommended this product; I used it and I'm very pleased with the results. It's in spray cans and includes, primer, adhesive, dye and clear coat sealer. Follow the directions on the cans. The most important thing that you have to do is ensure that the parts you are dying are grease/oil free. I glass beaded the old white dye off of my parts then cleaned everything throughly with brake cleaner.

 

I'm partial to 3M products. I did an interiror dye and like the results... So here's a couple tips. After you read the input in this thread, so a search on interior restorations or redye's and there will be hundreds of useful detailed threads... But first,

1. Clean the hell out the parts with a non amonia, non armor all cleaner.... And when you think you've removed all dirt, oils, greases, etc... clean it again.

2. Use an adhesive promoter (3M's worked great)

3. Follow instructions on how much time between promoter coats and dye (I think its 10 minutes)

4. Spray several thin, light coats of your chosen vinyl or plastic dye, again pay attention to the directed time between coats. Many thin coats worked best for me. (Again 3M or VHT from Summitt Racing work better than Duplicolor, though I have no experience with the VHT)

5. Allow to dry in a hot dry place for as long as you can let it go, while working on whatever else. Minimum of a few days I'd say.

6. Area's I wouldn't dye again... Seats (they show some wear, as other parts do not show any after 1 year) and the arm rests of the doors. If you do the doors, perhaps a clear coat over the dye would help though I haven't tried this yet.

Good luck... (Personally I think I'd leave it the same color, even redye the same color over it.)


Good choice on the seats, by the way. That's one of my next purchases.

 

Devil's advocate - if the interior is flawless why not leave it alone? That silver interior is nice to see and not all that common. Might never be the same (in terms of overall condition) once you start to change it.

One other thing to consider...changing the interior, if the car is otherwise original and in good overall shape, is very likely to lower the market value of your car in a sale later on.

 

I have done a fair amount of this recently on my '74.....

SEM Landau Black is what I (and almost everyone else) used....

It's in a regular old spray can "rattle can".

Buy the SEM "Prep" stuff to. Clean it REAL good then use the "Prep", then spray on the color... Light coats. Dry at least 30 minutes between coats. The stuff is magic!

These were tan.....what do you think ?

 

Thanks for all the current info folks. Ill definitely be absorbing everything written here.

 

Stroh. I like your "2-tone" interrior. I might just replace certain pieces and leave the rest silver. Your interrior is pretty hot.

 

Is it difficult to change a seat cover? I'm mechanically inclined but never attempted anything like that.

 

I redid my Fiero seats for my Vette - never done it before. It's gotta be similar to the original seats as far as procedure.... I used Mr Mike's leather. A lot of tugging and pilling and hog-ring clips...not difficult - but my hands were sore the next day !

Original seats.....trashed...had to go.



Fiero seats in conditioned I bought them





Re-Covered





In Car





You can do it !

 

Thanks

 

 

Buy SEM Colorcoat dye from a pro auto body paint supply store in your area. Have it mixed to the GM interior color code or to match a piece you want to use. The bottle/gas canister sprayer is the PreVal unit which you can get at that same store or at other paint supply places (ie, Sherwin-Williams stores, etc.)...very inexpensive and it works great with the thin vinyl dye.

You can dye any interior part you want. Colorcoat is good for all plastics, leather and it even works on metal...although it is not as durable on metal as other paints that are made for it.

Clean the parts really well with detergent; years of using Armor-All or other 'protectants' puts a heavy scum of that stuff on the parts. Then rinse all detergent from the surface and allow to completely dry. Some folks say that a primer needs to be used. Well, that may be true with the cr@p the aftermarket places sell as "Vinyl Dye" , but it's not necessary with the 'good stuff' [SEM Colorcoat liquid dye]. There are spray cans of SEM, but IMO they don't have the same sheen as the liquid stuff and don't look like factory-new vinyl. I know how SEM Colorcoat liquid dye looks and lasts on used parts--and THAT is what you want.

You can replace the seatcovers "so that they look perfect" if you want. If yours are damaged or worn, that is probably the best idea. But, "new" aftermarket covers may not look exactly like stock covers. The ComfortWeave cloth in early C3 vinyl seat were formed differently than the replicated stuff from the aftermarket folks. So, make sure of what you want to do before you do it.

 

You've got a flawless silver interior and you want to change its colour?! **clutches pearls** **faints**

 

How about posting some pictures of that gorgeous interior so we can admire it before you change it?