interior "to paint or not to paint".
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
interior "to paint or not to paint".
I have a 70 vette I am restoring and it has black interior. 50% of plastic interior trims/seat backs/etc are in pretty good condition and 50% need to be replaced. Since I have to replace 1/2 anyway, I am changing interior color to red. Personal preference.
My question is, were the original interior plastic trims/back/etc just PAINTED the color of the interior or was the color mixed into the plastic mold/trims? IE Can I paint the good black pieces with red or would that be CHEESY and start fading/peeling? My vette is a 454 (hot) and convertible (weathered) and I want the job to look good, last, and be "near original".
And if they painted them anyway (like all parts were stock black and they painted them red/blue/tan/etc, which is best spray/paint to match the original red interior? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
My question is, were the original interior plastic trims/back/etc just PAINTED the color of the interior or was the color mixed into the plastic mold/trims? IE Can I paint the good black pieces with red or would that be CHEESY and start fading/peeling? My vette is a 454 (hot) and convertible (weathered) and I want the job to look good, last, and be "near original".
And if they painted them anyway (like all parts were stock black and they painted them red/blue/tan/etc, which is best spray/paint to match the original red interior? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,160
Likes: 4,236
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi s,
In brief, I'd say to try to re-use what EVER interior parts you can.
The reproduction parts are notorious for not fitting well, or at all, without modification.
7T1 has lots of good information on how to change interior color successfully. Perhaps he'll see your thread and pipe up.
Regards,
Alan
In brief, I'd say to try to re-use what EVER interior parts you can.
The reproduction parts are notorious for not fitting well, or at all, without modification.
7T1 has lots of good information on how to change interior color successfully. Perhaps he'll see your thread and pipe up.
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Do a "SEARCH" on vinyl dye. There are lots of reasons to use vinyl dye (or, elastomeric recoloring agents) to recolor plastic/vinyl parts. There are also lots of reasons NOT to 'paint' them with standard spray can stuff. Read the threads and do what you want.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 1,192
From: Canberra Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Hi
I would certainly recommend using any existing panels that are in reasonable shape.
Repainting them in Vinyl paint (or Dye if you prefer that term) gives a great result
My T-Top trim panels were fairly damaged but with a bit of time, body filler etc they came up great.
I have documented heaps of it in my local thread starting on this page here
http://www.australiancorvettes.com/p...=asc&start=270
I would certainly recommend using any existing panels that are in reasonable shape.
Repainting them in Vinyl paint (or Dye if you prefer that term) gives a great result
My T-Top trim panels were fairly damaged but with a bit of time, body filler etc they came up great.
I have documented heaps of it in my local thread starting on this page here
http://www.australiancorvettes.com/p...=asc&start=270
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 255
Likes: 3
I agree with the vinyl dye. I bought from CA and it sprayed very easily. just use the prep then spray. I just bought a bunch of parts for my 72 interior and the seat backs, console and all were sprayed, the dash was formed in color. And yes the aftermarket parts dont fit very well!
Rodney
Rodney
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 82
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Looks better in real real situe Craig
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 769
Likes: 36
From: Goose Creek SC
I've had great success with the SEM product line. I did the dash on an El Camino I used to have. I replaced the one in my car that had been cut up quite a bit with a cream/tan one from a junk yard. Just cleaned it good and used SEM black. Before and after pics....
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
I would highly recommend using SEM vinyl dye (ColorCoat) in liquid form and spraying...either with your own equipment or with a $5 PreVal bottle/gas sprayer you can buy at the same store as the vinyl dye [professional auto body paint supply store is the best choice as they can mix to the GM interior code or match a piece that you bring in].
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 91
Once the stock of any color piece would be depleted, the process would be the same for coloring. Then for service pieces they were all made in any color you wanted.... as long as it was black. Obviously much more economical to make one color and" paint to match". (which is the phrase that came along with the part).
The dupont held up very well on the hard plastic/metals. Since all the soft vinyl was molded in the color, there wasn't a need to color it even though it could be used for it, being a elastomeric.
Dupont is very difficult or impossible to find, being the colorant is no longer made. I always felt the color match was the best, and more importantly, the sheen level for the different pieces was dead on.
Nowadays SEM appears to be the product of choice as stated. Good luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 1,192
From: Canberra Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
This is what I was able to find in Australia and I was very happy with its coverage, color match and sheen levels.
A Pillars and header are new parts.
B Pillars and center T Top center panel are new.
It took 2 attempts with the paint supply shop to get it 100% in my mind on the color match. Gave them a few panels and they kept mixing and spraying till we were both happy.
Then I had the fun to refinish all my panels.
A Pillars and header are new parts.
B Pillars and center T Top center panel are new.
It took 2 attempts with the paint supply shop to get it 100% in my mind on the color match. Gave them a few panels and they kept mixing and spraying till we were both happy.
Then I had the fun to refinish all my panels.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
I used SEM in my 68 and my 80. SEM is good stuff.