I own a 1977 coupe that needs some interior restoration. Usual stuff dash pads, carpet some trims to dress it up. Where or how is the best way to save money redoing this and not breaking the bank. The color is the dark blue, which don't really like, but I assume keeping the matching the trim tags colors will help it keep any value. Much of the interior can be cleaned, I will need dash pad, seat covers, and carpet for sure and would like to upgrade the new basic door panels I have to a more deluxe style panel.

Knoxville TN, area

 

You do not like the color but feel you are stuck having to settle to keep the color matching some trim tag?

Is the car otherwise low miles pristine all numbers matching ncrs award winner?
Is that what you desire from the car?

If you want to change the colors do it, it's your car do not worry about it at sale time.

I am a real cheapo I look for the best price and while you will get a lot of cats telling you what top end vendor will charge you top end prices for the parts, root around beat the bushes, look online and places like JC Whitney, will it be purist correct? nope, but the way it is isnt to your liking anyway.

One big money saver is dash caps over new dash pads.

 

If the rest of the dash (lower dash sections) are in good shape and the dash pad is the only thing bugging you, you might consider a dash cover to hide the imperfections. You have to completely remove the lower dash sections (Left, Right and Center) to get the dash pad off, as there's a single bolt, on the underside, slightly off center that holds the dash on, with a bracket (at least on the '74's, somebody chime in, if this is different).

I'd rather do the dash cover, than take apart the dash on these cars!

 

I don't like the color and I don't like the low 180 Horse power. I am gonna build a engine to put in it and keep the original 89K mile motor with matching numbers to sell with the car in the future, of course along with the performance engine installed. If I choose to sell it. The dark blue sucks with the Pearl metallic blue. A grey or tan would look better, but that of course will require changing the whole interior, which I am not totally opposed to if I can do it at a good cost. Someone recommended that I spray color the interior parts that don't get handle much, ie quarter panel roof pads etc and just replace the things that get abuse to save some cash?

 

I understand you desire your car to reflect what you want yet fear killing the resale value,
The simple fact is, the type modifications you desire and plan will likely make your 77 worth more at selling time,
A poll I ran a week or so back showed that most people here desire modifications not bone stock,
For a 77 to have some purists numbers matching appeal it needs to be all factory perfect and pristine, low miles helps the thread in my poll showed that while most people do not want the type mods I am doing, hoods, flares etc, they do want more hp seems that is the top mod desired then wheels, tires suspension etc,
So build your 77 your way, have some fun with it the way you desire it to be then IF you go to sell it some cat who also thought 180 hp in a vette was insulting will jump all over it.

You can get pretty good "dyes" for the interior I do not know which ones I would suggest, I would likely ask dub and willcox,
I do know if it were my car I would change the color with whatever dye or spray was reported to be the good one and save every old part I could only replacing what I had to and then I would use good used parts, I would run a wanted ad on this forum, I recall that one cat had a tan interior for sale....

 

I successfully dyed a couple interiors ( SEM dye ) including tan to black and black to gray - take it from a fellow '77'er, make it to make you happy first, in the end the value is your happiness not a few bucks here or there.

Happy Motoring -

Frank

 

I just posted a reply and its gone, anyhoo I was babbling that I didnt want my comments about the 77 and its value being any sort of dissing, I love the 77 model year, if I was to own a coupe it would be a 77

 

does the Sem dye hold up to sun and ware OK? I will be going from Dark Blue to Smoke grey or Light Saddle

 

I have used the SEM dyes on our '77 (went from Smoke Gray to Black). It's held up very well here in the AZ sun.

Prep is the key to doing this. The parts must be CLEAN - super clean. The years of armor all and similar products must be removed or it will not turn out well for you.

Have fun!
Adam

 

What did you use Adam to prep the surfaces properly? Did do any sanding to scuff up the surfaces. I want to make sure it looks right and particular advice on "technique" in applying the dye?
Thanks
Paul

 

Hi Paul,

I just followed the recommendations / instructions of SEM and used their products for the entire project. They make prep products which I had very good luck with, and their dye of course. They also have repair products, but I don't have any exposure to using those.

You can get their product for a paint gun or in the rattle cans. I went with the cans due to the interior being so small in our cars. I just didn't want to end up with a bunch of left-over product and have it go to waste.

Here is a link that might help you out.

http://www.semproducts.com/products

The one thing I can't vouch for in the long run is using their dye on a high wear item like seats. I have used their product on a leather seat to spot in where the side bolster was wearing (the color match was incredible), but I sold that car so I don't know how it held up over time. Maybe someone else here can give feedback on that area.

Best advice I can give is clean it, and clean it again. If you still question if it's really clean - do it again.

 

Spray dye in SEM cans is convenient, but not the best, IMO. The sheen from SEM spray cans is a little dull.

I much prefer to get SEM liquid dye mixed at a pro auto body paint store (not an auto parts store). They can mix it to any color you want...including GM interior color codes...or to match an item you bring in. If you don't have spray equipment, also purchase an inexpensive PreVal bottle sprayer from them, too. It will do a GREAT job spraying that thin dye. I've use that method for years and it always does a super job.

You can change ANY interior color to ANY OTHER interior color with no problem, if you use SEM liquid dye. Two light, covering coats will do it. And it will look factory-new.

P.S. If doing an entire interior, you will need a pint of dye and 4 or 5 extra gas canisters for the PreVal sprayer. And the cost of that stuff will be significantly LESS that purchasing several of the SEM spray cans (probably need 6-7 for the entire interior).

Finally, if you have minor damage to some interior panels (cuts, tears, cracks) you can fix them by trimming excess (protruding) surface skin from the edges, filling any gaps/openings with a hardening foam putty or polyester body filler, brushing a little primer paint over JUST the repair, then shooting new dye to recolor the part.

Good luck with your project.

***What a lot of folks forget is that the original interior parts were dyed, too!! So, as long as the surface of parts is squeaky clean and you use good quality vinyl dye (or elastomeric recoloring agent, if you don't like the term "dye"), ALL flexible interior parts will accept dye and have it last perfectly fine. I've used vinyl dye to recolor a black, leather wrapped steering wheel. You know, the wheel gets sun on it a lot, it gets your dirty/sweaty hands on it every time you drive, etc.... NO cracking, NO peeling, NO discoloration after 5 years of use. So, yes it will work fine for seat covers, too. Vinyl dye is intended to be FLEXIBLE.

 

On the spray cans did you like how it turned out?

 

Very happy with it. Actually, I was surprised at how well it turned out.

I can't find a photo showing the gray interior, but here are some that I took after gutting it (again lol) to detail things. These show the replacement door panels and dash pads mixed in with all the small trim parts that were dyed black. It all has a very consistent sheen to it.

 

That looks good! My dash pad has a few small cracks and I was considering putting a dash cap on it? Rather than replacing the pad. My door panel are new, just the wrong color. How do you think the dye would hold up on the door panels? My interior just needs cleaning and dyed, of course new carpet.

 

I would think the door panels would turn out great if they are prepped well. What you see on ours is a dash cap as well. New pad in the future, but funds are going to other places in the car for now.