After 5 years of waiting I have saved a couple of nickels and will be taking my interior apart that is currently Doeskin. I will be changing the color to Black. I am not changing out to new some of the original parts except the obvious carpet, seats, etc.
When I am working with the arm rests, door panels, pillars, seat buckets, dash, etc. and making the change to black is it best to use the dye on everything or is a paint product better on some of these parts?
Also anyone know of a video or picture tutorial on replacing the door latch assembly? My driver side door does not open from the outside only from the inside so the latch probably has to be replaced. Any guidance will be appreciated.

Thanks,
P

 

Dye is for cloth. The plastic panels and vinyl need paint. Obviously paint designed for flexible interior parts. And going black is much more doable than trying to recolor black or other dark panels to a light color

 

Well your answer is what I was thinking. I was getting a bit confused when i have searched the subject on the forum and have seen where some have used the term "dye" and I could not understand how the dye would penetrate let's say the vinyl on the door panel or the plastic pillar. Carpet will take dye pretty well by the non fiber material the dye will sit on top and not adhere well, even if primed...at least in my mind.

There is the CA dye and the SEM. is there a suggested spray paint for the plastic pieces others have used with success?

 

SEM has that also, and black is pretty universal. Blue, red many diff tans and browns difficult to match. Never hear "That's the wrong black!" I have a neutral interior. Goofball before me put med saddle door panels and seats in it. Neutral is oddball 75 only-i think-color. Off white with green door pulls and other small stuff. Probably just gonna do it all med saddle.

 

Vinyl dye is paint which has had an elastomer added, so that the paint will flex with the part. That is what should be used for plastic and vinyl parts. It can also be used on rubber and leather; although there are specific dyes for leather which are best for it.

SEM makes rattle-can vinyl dye, but I have not been impressed with the luster/sheen of parts using the spray can dyes. You can get vinyl dye mixed to match a specific part or to match an interior code at most pro auto body paint supply stores. That is the best way to go. Buy liquid vinyl dye and spray it onto your parts. If you don't have spray equipment, they can sell you a Pre-Val gas/bottle sprayer for about $10 (additional gas canisters as needed are available) which does a really good job with vinyl dyes, as they are thinner than most paints. SEM brand liquid vinyl dye is my preference.

Parts need to be absolutely clean and dry. You must use detergent to get ALL oil/dirt/grime off the parts; then you must rinse WELL to get ALL detergent off the parts. As soon as they are completely dry, you can shoot. Some folks use vinyl dye prep products to maximize adhesion. I've never needed to do that using SEM liquid vinyl dye (ColorCoat products). Two light covering coats will change any color to any other color, if the dye is good quality. Before installing re-dyed parts, I always wipe on a coat or two of Nu-Vinyl polymer protectant. It blocks UV light and will not chip, peel or turn yellow. And you can wipe new coating over old anytime. Meguiar's makes a similar polymer protectant called Meguiar's for plastics. NEVER use a petroleum-based 'protectant' on vinyl or plastic parts.

 

Black interiors are pretty popular. At some point in my car's past, the red interior was converted to black. The PO used a combination of replacement parts and, I suspect, SEM vinyl dye, especially on the plastic parts of the seat and on the dash. I've used the SEM system to convert some stuff back, as well as to paint and/or refresh several parts of two vettes, including oyster halos and t-top trim. If you use the complete system, and follow the directions, (7T1vette covered that), you will have great results.

Before you begin, you may also want to post a WTT: announcement in the Parts For Sale forum. I was able to trade some parts rather than paint/dye them. Perhaps someone wants a Doeskin interior and has a bunch of black pieces. It could save you some time, and you'd both come out ahead.

Good luck!

 

thank you all for the insight...this info is apprciated.

P