83 Z28 interior restoration
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 156
From: Louisville, KY
Car: 1983 Z28
Engine: 385 Fastburn
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: BorgWarner 9-bolt posi, 3.27 gears
83 Z28 interior restoration
I bought my car while I was in highschool, 7-8 years ago, for $300. It's been a fantastic hobby throughout h.s. and my undergrad/graduate career.
Here are some pics of the original interior....it was bad. PO had pulled the motor/trans/battery and left the driver's window down...in the middle of KY winter (there was 3" of ice in the back floorboards!!).
Many years later alot of parts have been replaced (thank you junk yards and ebay) and this weekend I finally took care of my horrible plastics.
Here are some pics of the original interior....it was bad. PO had pulled the motor/trans/battery and left the driver's window down...in the middle of KY winter (there was 3" of ice in the back floorboards!!).
Many years later alot of parts have been replaced (thank you junk yards and ebay) and this weekend I finally took care of my horrible plastics.
Last edited by RedLeader289; Jan 27, 2014 at 08:06 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 156
From: Louisville, KY
Car: 1983 Z28
Engine: 385 Fastburn
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: BorgWarner 9-bolt posi, 3.27 gears
Re: 83 Z28 interior restoration
Here's pics of the plastics after I refinished them in black.
Last edited by RedLeader289; Jan 27, 2014 at 08:16 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 156
From: Louisville, KY
Car: 1983 Z28
Engine: 385 Fastburn
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: BorgWarner 9-bolt posi, 3.27 gears
Re: 83 Z28 interior restoration
There has also been:
new carpet, steering wheel, leather shift ****, console lid, dash pad, gauges, pedals, ...the list is endless, and it still needs work (headliner).
Pics of all that stuff to come soon.
new carpet, steering wheel, leather shift ****, console lid, dash pad, gauges, pedals, ...the list is endless, and it still needs work (headliner).
Pics of all that stuff to come soon.
Re: 83 Z28 interior restoration
Nice work. I'm also in the middle of redoing my interior. These frequent cold snaps keep slowing me down. Can't repaint the plastics when it's 40° outside.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 156
From: Louisville, KY
Car: 1983 Z28
Engine: 385 Fastburn
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: BorgWarner 9-bolt posi, 3.27 gears
Re: 83 Z28 interior restoration
Thanks!
yeah, that's what was getting me too, luckily I had a garage, which helped alot.
I recommend the rust-o-leum paint for plastics though, it may be a bit shinier than factory plastics, but it works great.
yeah, that's what was getting me too, luckily I had a garage, which helped alot.
I recommend the rust-o-leum paint for plastics though, it may be a bit shinier than factory plastics, but it works great.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay, FL
Car: 2001 Camaro
Engine: 3800 Series
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: ??
Re: 83 Z28 interior restoration
Congrats! I also have an 83 Z28 and also painted the plastics from saddle to black. I was fortunate enough to purchase my car with a mint set of 4th gen T/A seats in black leather though, so I didnt have to do anything there and the rear carpet was already black for some reason or another. For things like the sail panels and center console carpet I used SEM Color Coat in Landau Black and it look great. I even did my headliner and sun visors with it. I know SEM's instructions say not to do radical color changes, but I figured black covers just about anything. 3 coats later and it looks like it was supposed to be black all along.
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Supreme Member
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,211
Likes: 3
From: GO PACK GO
Car: 83Z28 HO
Engine: Magnacharged Dart Little M 408
Transmission: G Force 5 speed
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" w/Detroit Trutrac
Re: 83 Z28 interior restoration
Looks great! I did mine last winter! Looks like you had about the same interior I did when you started....
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...-interior.html
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...-interior.html
Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 187
Likes: 2
From: Bardstown, KY
Car: 1956 Chevrolet 210
Engine: Chevy 305 V8
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: Posi 3.42
Re: 83 Z28 interior restoration
Looks great RedLeader289! Keep up the good work!
BTW I'm fairly close to you (Bardstown). You'll have to cruise in this spring/summer to Bardstown - every second Saturday (April-October) is the Whiskey City Cruise in ---anywhere from 20-50 cars and swap meet.
Also check out Derby City Camaro Club (I'm a member)....mostly 5th gens but open to any generation of Camaro or Firebird....need more third gens!
BTW I'm fairly close to you (Bardstown). You'll have to cruise in this spring/summer to Bardstown - every second Saturday (April-October) is the Whiskey City Cruise in ---anywhere from 20-50 cars and swap meet.
Also check out Derby City Camaro Club (I'm a member)....mostly 5th gens but open to any generation of Camaro or Firebird....need more third gens!
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 156
From: Louisville, KY
Car: 1983 Z28
Engine: 385 Fastburn
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: BorgWarner 9-bolt posi, 3.27 gears
Re: 83 Z28 interior restoration
devestator_x: Thanks! that looks great! Yeah, some 4th gen seats are next on my list... and that was my thinking too, enough coats of black and it all gets covered, haha.
Thanks, Confuzed1!! I'll check out that link
drjewalton, thanks!! every second Saturday you say? I'll definitely try to make some of those! and I am planning on joining the Derby City group, (I was a little apprehensive because of only seeing 5th gen pics) but hey, thirdgen represent!
Thanks, Confuzed1!! I'll check out that link
drjewalton, thanks!! every second Saturday you say? I'll definitely try to make some of those! and I am planning on joining the Derby City group, (I was a little apprehensive because of only seeing 5th gen pics) but hey, thirdgen represent!
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 156
From: Louisville, KY
Car: 1983 Z28
Engine: 385 Fastburn
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: BorgWarner 9-bolt posi, 3.27 gears
Re: 83 Z28 interior restoration
Yeah, thanks for the heads up! I've frequented that place a lot, I'm waiting for a warm day to go scrounging out there, too afraid everything I pull would break in this current weather.
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