Interior Discussion about interior restoration, repairs, and modifications.

Any good info on restoring faded seats?

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Old 08-10-2013, 06:43 PM
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Car: 1992 Camaro Z28 Convertible Z03
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Any good info on restoring faded seats?

I scored the complete interior for my car today in awesome shape but being my "Fun" car and not a daily driver it serves me no purpose to not make the interior 100% new looking before it goes in.

The plastics are good and should just need a cleaning. Most of the seats are good but the outsides of the front and tops of the rear are faded. What products are currently on the market to restore these seats?

I want this thing looking show room when its done.

BTW, Price for the interior....$0.00!!! Its from a hard top and I have a vert so I'll need seat belts and rear side panels but everything else I got in great shape for free.
Attached Thumbnails Any good info on restoring faded seats?-freeinterior.jpg  
Old 08-10-2013, 08:30 PM
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Re: Any good info on restoring faded seats?

Maybe try to find a dye that matches.
Or re-dye the seats completely to keep some sort of color uniformity, but possible chances of lighter // darker areas.

Thats short of getting new full set of covers.

I'm by far no expert or have experience in this, just offering an opinion.
Old 08-13-2013, 02:00 PM
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Re: Any good info on restoring faded seats?

Dye is your best bet. They don't look to be too terribly faded (usually they fade to yellow), so you should be able to get away with just light coats of it.

This is a good opportunity to dye any interior plastics that are faded as well. Good thread on that here https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...ic-carpet.html
Old 08-14-2013, 08:03 AM
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Re: Any good info on restoring faded seats?

The pics look pretty good, but make sure the fabric is worth the trouble of saving. The seats I have pulled were only slightly faded, but many I could poke my finger through like paper.
Old 08-14-2013, 06:43 PM
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Re: Any good info on restoring faded seats?

I have a set of seatbelts in red from an 89 iroc vert.Includes the 2 front retactor units,2 rear lap belts and the 2 shoulder belts that attach to the underside of the tonneau cover
Attached Thumbnails Any good info on restoring faded seats?-img_2894.jpg  
Old 08-16-2013, 10:54 AM
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Re: Any good info on restoring faded seats?

Originally Posted by navy02ws6
Dye is your best bet. They don't look to be too terribly faded (usually they fade to yellow), so you should be able to get away with just light coats of it.

This is a good opportunity to dye any interior plastics that are faded as well. Good thread on that here https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...ic-carpet.html
Maybe I missed it but I don't see him hit much in that article about dying the upholstery. Does that use the same due as the plastics or is there a different dye?
Old 08-17-2013, 05:56 PM
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Re: Any good info on restoring faded seats?

i removed my rear seat cover and tryed to dye it using rit dye using my washing machine per label instructions.i let it soak 12 hours. it did nothing.i ended up using duplicolor upholthery spraypaint.it looks good but feels like sandpaper.
Old 08-17-2013, 06:37 PM
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Re: Any good info on restoring faded seats?

Originally Posted by zenish
i removed my rear seat cover and tryed to dye it using rit dye using my washing machine per label instructions.i let it soak 12 hours. it did nothing.i ended up using duplicolor upholthery spraypaint.it looks good but feels like sandpaper.
RIT dye doesn't work on polyester...I tried it too and only succeeded in making a mess in my driveway. I too used the fabric paint and am in the same situation. The seat covers were ok, but frankly, I'm using them to experiment with. I plan on getting another set or just replacing them all together.
Old 08-18-2013, 09:04 PM
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Re: Any good info on restoring faded seats?

I did a little more experimentation with the fabric paint...I did notice that if you spray it on (a good coat; enough to cover/ change the color of the fabric) and wait about a minute. Then rub it in all directions with a brush (something stiff-ish) to work the paint in. I have some spots that are soft like the original seat cover. I waited for it to dry all the way after and brushed it again. I think it's working but more research and development is needed.

Just a helpful update
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