84FirebirdChick

so, i decided to give myself a little project for the day...went outside, started in the hatch area...and unscrewed and pulled all the plastic paneling out and put them aside. pulled the cargo area carpet (i have a leak in the hatch due to almost near lack of weather stripping!). washed everything down with windex...went to advanced autoparts, and bought 2 cans of krylon fusion (black) and krylon vinyl and fabric (black). painted all the panels black with the Fusion, and painted the panels that go over the rear speakers with the vinyl and fabric stuff. now my ugly dark blue panels are black. i'll do the door panels tomorrow...rip out the front seats, tear out the front carpet...paint the blue on the dash... (i need a new dash though anyways).

then a day when i have money, i'll get my seats reupholstered in black leather with the red firebird emblem embroidered in the headrests in red...maybe red piping???

i'll put pics up soon.

WickedTA

id actually really like to see pics. Thanks,

82 Iron Duke

iTrader: (21)

84FirebirdChick

what do you mean, im crazy? it looks pretty darn good...alot cheaper then going to a junk yard and getting actual plastic panels...and if cared for properly, they'll continue to look good!

GhostDakota

Fabric is paintable. There are specific paints for fabric and vinyl.

Borsty

iTrader: (2)

you painted fabric?

GhostDakota

Don't be fooled.. this girl didn't do all the work. I unscrewed most the panels.. she did paint a LITTLE bit haha...

Anyway... Iron, what's your problem with what was done? This is done all the time with older hot rods, classics, etc. This is a normal part of restoration to save money as long as the panels are all still in good condition. I don't see the big deal? Please explain why you think this isn't a good idea... or explain why you used your little smilies... Thanks.

84FirebirdChick

krylon makes a vinyl/fabric paint. i guess think of it more as a dye, but it comes out of a spray can. i guess another way of thinking of it, is like shoe polish... my friend (ghostdakota) did the actual fabric "painting" so he would know it better then i would. i plan on using it to do the carpet and cloth material on my door panels tomorrow. but today we just used it on those cloth panels over the rear speakers. looks darn good too!

GhostDakota

FWIW: For those that have no idea ... if you watch enough Horsepower TV on Spike TV, you'll see the episode where they do exactly what we did. They have a 68ish Camaro or Goat.. I forget what it was.. whatever the case, it was a nasty light green color. The purchase the same stuff we did and redid the entire interior to a nice black color. Real simple, easy to do.

http://www.krylon.com/main/product_t...roduct_details

Though that wasn't specifically what we used on the fabric. That is what was used on the vinyl/plastic though.

Borsty

iTrader: (2)

watever works i guess

82 Iron Duke

iTrader: (21)

If all of you new and junior members would learn how to use the search then you would know why !!! Why would you spend all of your time and money faking a black interior that WILL scratch when you can buy a complete interior for $100-$200 It's your time, money and ignorance that will eventually show!!!

IMHO like most everyone else here who has experience unles it is a "show car only" don't waste your time or effort dying or painting unless you are ready for disappointment down the road.

82 Iron Duke

iTrader: (21)

Best of luck to you!

82 Iron Duke

iTrader: (21)

I have no problem, I assume you are an expert in vehicle restoration and I know for a fact that because of the non availability of the "older hot rod's, classics, etc" paint or dye is the only option. There are a ton of third gens being stripped on a daily basis so why waste your time, money, and effort trying to make something that isn't? It WILL FADE, CHIP, ETC so do it right!!!

84FirebirdChick

well...due to a lack of money...i cant afford to spend 100-200$ on a new interior, when i can spend 5$ on a couple cans of paint/dye. it is much more cost effective for me. maybe one day when i have the $$, i'll buy a whole new interior. thank you for your opinion. but for now, it does the job.

livewire

iTrader: (10)

$100-200? you got ripped off if you payed that much. black interior from local junkyard in very good condition = $35

skapunk8301

I love how people have the "do it my way or you're wrong" mentality... I had a grey interior and did the same thing she did. The paint/dye has been very durable.. When it comes to scratches, etc.. All you have to do is spray over it.. It takes all of 10 seconds to fix. I've been really happy with the new look in my car, as well as the money I saved by doing it the "wrong" way.

84FirebirdChick: Do you have any pictures? I'm curious to see how yours came out!

BTW, this is my post.. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...d-grey-my.html

GhostDakota

Never did I state I was a professional in restoration. I can build up cars/trucks (I built my entire Jeep myself.. with the help of 1 buddy... engine swap, trans swap, axles front/rear, tires, rims, lighting, throttle body, minor engine crap, etc.. and my Dakota... heads, cam, crank, pistons, lifters, rockers, timing, exhaust, etc.) but I don't care if it's "show" quality as that usually goes for a price. I prefer function over looks, though it's always nice when both come together at a great price.

As she stated, though, that money isn't in the current budget ... as $5 is. We ARE looking into the whole junk yard thing. Once she comes back from Vacation in 2 months we're going yard hopping. Already found a 2" cowl hood for $100

mpayne

I am painting my interior plastics because I'm going with a shade of grey that thirdgens didn't come with. I have painted plastic interior pieces before and they still look great. Maybe the people you have talked with about it don't know how to prep the plastic for proper adhesion. By the way, do you sell used interior pieces?

nikkev

Junkyards around here don't have any third gens. We called around when I first got the car about four months ago. seems they have become popular lately and the ones they had were stripped bare. So I have to either repair my own parts or order them on-line. So me running to a junkyard and paying $35 for some panels simply isn't going to happen.

dr1

you had a blue interior?? ive never even seen a blue interior on a 3rdgen

87CIZ

iTrader: (8)

i had blue interior in my 84 Z. and as far as the vinyl dye it works great on plastics if you get it sprayed just right otherwise it runs and looks like ***. the fabric dye on the other hand, when it gets hot and humid it bleeds. There was a theory going around so me and my buddy tried it on his camaro seats after he swapped to 4th gen. wasn't pretty. ruined a good pair of khaki shorts and a shirt.

BT283

iTrader: (3)

the dye works fine in my experince, my carpet looked like crap so i cleaned up and sprayed it last summer and it still looks great, and my sill plates were broken so i went to a junk yard got a faded set and painted them and they still look perfect...prep is the key

GhostDakota

I have faith.. everything looks fine now. If the paint ends up chipping off down the road, so be it. We'll pursue other means if that happens.

82 Iron Duke

iTrader: (21)

You talk the talk, but can you walk the walk??? I will buy every complete black interior from you for what you pay plus a great profit. Let me know how many you have and I will pick them up tomorrow!!!
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I parted an 82 Bird with blue interior, I had never seen it before?

WickedTA

i did this as well before and it turned out pretty well. I was really wanting to see pictures.

zrated57

I painted my gray panels with black dye/paint and they look amazingly great. The always look like they have been armoraled, even though they have not. I did notice that the paint does scrape off easy though. I hauled a box in the hatch and it rubbed up against the panels, but it was an easy fix. Just sprayed that spot and it looked new again.

Congrads on the color change. I dig.

CreepingDeath94

iTrader: (4)

If youre on a budget or dont have a junkyard with 3rd gen interior availeable, then the paint is a good substitute so long as you prepped it well. I personally think the actual black interior, or whatever color youre going to, works best. If it is faded or stained, then you can paint it and if it scratches it isnt so obvious. I have only found one paint that works really well and doesnt scratch off easily even with proper prep work, and thats this stuff ina can from Dupont...sprays on like exterior paint but is the only stuff Ive seen that sticks well and looks factory. Even it chips off occasionally though. The only reason I dont like the paint as much is the chip factor. Unless the car is hardly driven or you treat it with extreme care, it will chip. Thats not to say you cant get it to look great or pull it off and repair it again with relative ease if it does get scratched, its just the point I guess. I can see both sides on this one. One way is more durable is all, but more work and money. And by work I mean locating the parts needed.

1982TA

iTrader: (1)

I think if prepped right, and the correct materials are used you shouldn't have a problem. If you were to get replacement parts from the factory, a lot of the times they were not in the color of your interior and needed to be painted anyway. If you look in the factory shop manual it even has a section on how to prep and paint interior plastics and vinyls. It's all about the prep and products you use. Stay away from the Krylon junk, and similar stuff you find at WalMart. Use something like SEM, you'll get much better results.

fawien

I know for a fact that the paint dye has been used in not only old car restoration but general interior changes by a large number of pro body shops for well over 10 years. I grew up around body work half of my family did body work for 35 years. One thing thats for sure in the area of paint and body is a unskilled person with the best tools probably wont do good work but a pro with just about any tools can do a good job.

So what if your interior scratches. Every car ive ever owned with that kind of interior has gotten scratched at least once deep enough to show the undercolor. Grey/black/red/blue they all are the same color underneath. Even factory black pieces scratched deep enough show grey or white.

Now straight colored plastic panels are a different story they have the same color all the way through.

If i could dig up my pics i could show some of the uglier interior scratches ive seen on factory pieces that show the true undercolor.

For a non show car does it really matter how you get your interior color. For seats i wouldnt paint due to fear of bleading in heat. When slip on covers that look really nice are so cheap thats the best way to go for me.

If its show quality i would rather hunt down the best matching pieces and use new carpet and upholstry.

livewire

iTrader: (10)

what are you talking about? i'm just saying how much i payed for my black interior from a local junkyard. that was when i was living in cheyenne, maybe thats why it was so cheap. I really couldnt tell you, I am not 'selling' interiors lol. but I do have a couple extra hatch trim peices, the part that goes on the very back. 2 extras i think.

firebirdjosh

iTrader: (1)

So getting one good deal suddenly makes the average price a rip off? $200 for a complete and good shape black interior is a great deal.

Stevo

iTrader: (45)

Im not a new member, and ive painted my interior in the past and it looks great. All i painted were the plastic panels so i have no clue about cloth/fabric. But if you prep it correctly it can hold up to a lot of abuse. Yes if you run your metal tool box into it, it will chip. So what do i do just touch it up with the spray can...it works fine and you cant tell. No one would ever know i painted my interior and i did a red to black change. Why is this a stupid idea? please tell me. I hit yards almost weekly now and most the black plastics are scratched/cracked or faded to hell and even still its like 8$ a panel. Thats over $35 bucks. $100-200 is a GREAT deal for GOOD plastics. Ill even post up pics of my gf's car who we just repainted all the grey plastics to a darker grey it looks great. Like said if you prep it right you will not have many problems.

purpleZ-28

chances of finding a junkyard with a complete interior in very good condition, extremely slim to none.
and its going to cost you a tad more than just $35. id say at LEAST $50 for ok condition.
look, vinyl painting is a good idea when done properly, you need to clen it extremely well before hand. and if you do that, and use good quality vinyl paint, it will look good.
however, painting your carpet is something i would not do. it will look very bad and even though replacement carpet is more expensive, it is worth the wait to save up some funds and get it.

84FirebirdChick

i would never, in my right mind, paint my entire passanger and cargo area carpet. however, redying it is an option. but my interior carpet is long gone (moldy, etc). however, i am only going to use the fabric paint on the small carpet/fabric panels on my door panels. nothing comes into contact with these, so runnning paint and dye will not be an issue. we did this on my ex boyfriend's door panels and they came out brand effin new! so this is nothing new to me.

i'll put up pics when im done.

livewire

iTrader: (10)

well i guess i got a great deal then, because i paid $35 and it was in great condition, not OK. i woulndt say perfect, but is pretty nice. this was for only the plastic parts, not door panels, seats, carpet, or headliner, but everything else that makes a black interior black.

84FirebirdChick

thats cool....but 15$ for a couple cans of paint is still cheaper then 35$...and the gas and time to go to a junk yard and pull those parts.

purpleZ-28

yup.
they make vinyl paint for a reason. it works well, i used it on the dash pad on my 71 GMC about 2 years ago, looks great. you could never tell it used to be a different color.
another thing to take into consideration is that when you get those parts from the JY, even if they are in great condition) they will have scuffs, so you will need to touch them up anyhow.
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also dyeing your carpet is not such a good idea. it will look good for awhile, but after it gets some wear into it it will look like crap again. howver dyeing door panels is ifferent, because you dont step on those everyday like you do on your carpet. and everytime you step on it you bring everything in with it from the ground outside.

si_camaro

I have one, I've posted it in this thread

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...rior-pics.html

I got my interior from a junk yard as it used to be red and the previous owner painted the car purple...yuk! I live in England though so it wasn't cheap...

Since then I've painted her white and I'm going to be changing the plastic panels for grey, but I'm planning on going down the road of vinyl covering rather than painting.

purpleZ-28

HEY! purple camaros can be cool!
j/k i like it

livewire

iTrader: (10)

sounds like YOU got ripped off!!

purpleZ-28

depends on what he means by interior. if he spent $200 on seats, door panels, carpet, headliner, sail panels, and plastic panels all in good condition, then he got a good deal. i still say that painting the plastic panels is a cheap way to make your interior look good.

rpob4z

I am going to use the Year One products to change my interior from tan to black. I think this is probably the best stuff you can buy, as it comes with a cleaner, primer, and paint?

84FirebirdChick

ive never used the year one products that your speaking of, but year one in general is a repuatable source and i would trust them...im so pissed, i lost my copy of it...i need to find that!!!

WaaX

what happened to the pictures? I wana see this!

Ill more than likely end up doing this myself, but I want to see what the results look like first.

82 Iron Duke

iTrader: (21)

purpleZ-28

eastwood makes a very good viny paint aswell.

si_camaro

The purple was ok, but not with the red. Now that the car is white, I wish I had kept the red interior!

will8

painted my blue interior black today with the krylon fusion another member mentioned and am really impressed. just for @#$% and giggles ai painted the back side of one peice and let it set overnight and then banged it on the side of the trailer and was surprised how durable it was. As for some of the plastics is there anyone that makes reproduction panels and plastic peices? Ive gone through every bone yard in 75 miles and what they had left were all sun bleached and brittle or were all gouged up.

purpleZ-28

ugh i hate the red interiors.
white looks very good on our cars.

84FirebirdChick

i told you guys its good stuff. and as for the pictures, im currently in oregon until aug. 30th...so unless you wanna pester ghostdakota to get them while im away, then your **** outa luck until im back in PA. so be patient lol. thanks.