CA spray dye.....
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Corvette America dye is really good stuff. Dries real fast. Flattens out on contact. Does not drip. Consistent color. I have used SEM dye on many BMW cars I have owned. I prefer the Corvette America dye. Mixing SEM dye? Not going to save much money. Corvette America dye costs about $15 a can. You need a Pre-Val cartridge (at $6.00 each) to match one can. After adding cost of the SEM Dye, it may cost more. A pint of SEM dye is about $35.
Also the Corvette America spray nozzle is better than Pre-Val. It sprays a flat fan shape.
Also Corvette America is a better color match (unless you are using black when it does not matter). SEM does not properly match the red and various saddle colors. Those SEM color codes never seem to match real well. I have never had luck trying match a part, especially a 40-year old part that has faded. Is your interior black? Have you ever used Corvette America dye?
Also the Corvette America spray nozzle is better than Pre-Val. It sprays a flat fan shape.
Also Corvette America is a better color match (unless you are using black when it does not matter). SEM does not properly match the red and various saddle colors. Those SEM color codes never seem to match real well. I have never had luck trying match a part, especially a 40-year old part that has faded. Is your interior black? Have you ever used Corvette America dye?
I bought three cans of CA "black" dye which is actually SEMS "landau black"
You have to call SEM to get the proper formula to mix, whether bomb or can. The bombs most jobbers carry on the display rack are just generic colors. Toll free call for the dealer anyway.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
The old Corvette formulas aren't in the jobbers catalogs, that's why most have to call in unless they've done that color before and saved it. The formulas are correct anyway.
Most will put an actual drop on the lid for you to compare.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Buy a Pre-Val bottle/gas canister sprayer for about $10 (at the same pro auto paint supply store where you get SEM ColorCoat vinyl dye). It is inexpensive, easy to use, and works great shooting the [thin] vinyl dye. You don't need fancy spray equipment to do this work.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 10
From: Somerdale NJ
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17-‘18
I just dyed the seat backs in the '76 with SEM Firethorn Red and the color is an exact match. I'm sure CA is probably the same. I agee that the prep is the most important part.
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 50
From: Prosper TX
Good luck! Take many breaks, drink tons of
and have fun!
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 275
Likes: 1
From: Lafayette/marquez La/tx
I just dyed my interior to black. Been driving about a month now. It took about 3 quarts to do entire interior. Every thing is holding up well except the drivers seat. It has wrinkles from age I reckon and the dye is not covering the wrinkes anymore. I am going to redo the drivers seat.
How many coats did you put on it? Did you use SEM dye?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 803
Likes: 4
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
I just dyed my interior to black. Been driving about a month now. It took about 3 quarts to do entire interior. Every thing is holding up well except the drivers seat. It has wrinkles from age I reckon and the dye is not covering the wrinkes anymore. I am going to redo the drivers seat.
