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So I've got a Pace Car with the cloth interior and, of course, those door panels are not reproduced. The upper portion is cloth (leather interiors have this as a leather insert) while the lower part is carpet. I cleaned up the cloth pretty well but it appears the car was left in the sun and the driver's side is much more faded than the passenger side.
I'm curious how well carpet dye works because the bottom of the door panel will be seen and not used per se. Seems I recall that the dye has the tendency to stiffen the carpet fibers. Your insights appreciated.
Redyed the passenger footwell area on a 78 dark blue due to a heater leak.
Thoroughly flushed out the carpet with the hose and hung it over the fence to dry.
Applied the dye several coats, making sure to get it deep into the nap. Brushed the carpet with a nylon brush when dry between coats.
The brushing softened it up pretty good but made it a bit fuzzy looking.
Ended up using wife's dog grooming clippers to lightly go over the carpet. Turned out pretty good.
Just went through this with my 78 PC. My take on it- don't have high hopes it will look good. I bought quart size cans of SEM silver dye and sprayed with a gun. Works great for hard surface parts. Not so much with carpet. Guessing same with fabric. Redid the entire dash, seat shells, inner windshield garnish, etc. Even used it on the steering column. Very pleased with the results. Tried a test with carpet on the kick panels. Takes several coats to see a difference. Saw the same with my 67 El Camino loop weave carpet. Car was kept in my parents garage and over a period of several years could see the sun coming through window had faded the black carpet on passenger side tunnel. 1st coat of black dye did nothing. Think I did 4 or 5 passes to get it looking right. Brushed the carpet between coats with a bristle brush. Fibers are stiff where I sprayed.
RickM
SEM...I have used it with great results...Not just for dying faded carpet, but also for hard plastics like console, kick panels, etc..
A must for color changing interior parts...
On carpet, spray just like paint with several light coats, at several different angles...It makes the carpet a bit crunchy when it dries, so brush and even vacuum your carpet between dried coats...
For full disclosure, my experience with SEM has been dying black over black (sun faded to green) and saddle tan over black. (hard plastics for a color change)
I cannot speak for any other colors...But SEM has quite a selection...
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
DUPLI - COLOR I can vouch for this stuff, it's fantastic many other dyes / & paints will leave your nice soft carpet hard & crusty. The black worked amazing / can't confirm any other colors. Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed. Only $13 a can...............
DUPLI - COLOR I can vouch for this stuff, it's fantastic many other dyes / & paints will leave your nice soft carpet hard & crusty. The black worked amazing / can't confirm any other colors. Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed. Only $13 a can...............
That's what I used, it's junk! Only held up 20 years!!!!! Lol. Seriously tho good stuff, my carpet is still black and not crunchy or stiff, all the hard trim looks great, it's just the seats really, after 20 years they're fading but only on the butt and back section the rest of the seat still looks good
I hate to say it, but I see it this way, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE?? It’s not that much work to get it done and the supplies are not that expensive. So I would try it.
I’ve refreshed both my black carpeting in my 72 and the bright blue carpeting in the 69 and they have come out really well. How much endurance they have that I can’t say but certainly look great at least initially. Good luck, Ike.
I agree that dark colors that are faded lighter, seem to work pretty well. Its definitely worth a shot though. If it doesn't turn out that well, then you can go the new carpet directions (if you can find your color/type).
[QUOTE=general ike;1607074738]I hate to say it, but I see it this way, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE?? It’s not that much work to get it done and the supplies are not that expensive. So I would try it.
May come down to this. Options are few if better door panels can't be found. I did spray my seat belts & luggage tiedown strap with silver SEM. The seat belts were nasty. My wife soaked and scrubbed in laundry detergent solution to get clean. Think I gave them 2 light passes of dye to dress them up a bit and not feel stiff. Once they get put in the car will decide if good to use or get new ones/send out for rebuilding.
Nobody will be touching the lower carpeting on door panel. Arm can touch the upper fabric. Maybe 1 or 2 passes to see if acceptable? These were filthy dirty. Luggage strap got 3 passes of dye.
Last edited by RickM Z06; Sep 24, 2023 at 01:55 PM.
I hate to say it, but I see it this way, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE?? It’s not that much work to get it done and the supplies are not that expensive. So I would try it.
May come down to this. Options are few if better door panels can't be found. I did spray my seat belts & luggage tiedown strap with silver SEM. The seat belts were nasty. My wife soaked and scrubbed in laundry detergent solution to get clean. Think I gave them 2 passes of dye to dress them up a bit and not feel stiff. Once they get put in the car will decide if good to use or get new ones/send out for rebuilding.
Nobody will be touching the lower carpeting on door panel. Arm can touch the upper fabric. Maybe 1 or 2 passes to see if acceptable?
They look pretty darn good! A for the wife! LOL
I used Charlie for seat belt cleaning and sewing on the tags. They came out rather awesome. Later, I took the t-top strap to him...he cleaned them up for only the cost of postage to return.
I may take it back to the auto custom upholstery local shop to see if they'll replace that lower carpet. Otherwise, as you note, I'll clean and live with it. I know the challenge of a shop is the 45-year old material, peeling it back from the fiberboard door panel. Who wants to risk that?
Belts look really good!
On carpet, SEM is just crunchy when it dries. Several light coats with a fluff between dry coats works best.
It is no big deal to brush the carpet to unstick the carpet fibers from each other to make the carpet soft again...
Just like rolling your belts will make them more pliable.
I am not sure about other products, never tried them.
Been using SEM since 1981. And was recommended to me by Jim Sermersheim.
That's what I used, it's junk! Only held up 20 years!!!!! Lol. Seriously tho good stuff, my carpet is still black and not crunchy or stiff, all the hard trim looks great, it's just the seats really, after 20 years they're fading but only on the butt and back section the rest of the seat still looks good
I've also used Duplicolor in the past with good results. The only thing I noticed was that it does 'stiffen' the carpet a bit. Some folks may not like the abrasive feel of freshly dyed/painted carpet.
Last edited by Corvette-ZL1; Sep 26, 2023 at 06:03 PM.
I've also used Duplicolor in the past with good results. The only thing I noticed was that it does 'stiffen' the carpet a bit. Some folks may not like the feel of freshly dyed/painted carpet.
I think dupli color has really good products..I'll definitely be using them on my interior again. I even used there engine enamel with great results!
SEM ColorCoat is NOT a fabric dye. It is for recoloring hard (or flexible) plastic parts. Fabric dye (like the DupliColor product shown above) is a MUCH better choice.
Carpet Dye: Your Experience?
for the wife! LOL