Ultima GTA seats.. SEM paint?
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Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 28
Likes: 4
Car: 1989 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Ultima GTA seats.. SEM paint?
The PO of my 89 GTA installed Hampton vinyl upholstery covers at some point. They're in excellent condition other then the fadfing. They look like a salmon color on the areas where the sun must have been hitting. It was parked for a looooong time.
Question is has anyone painted/dyed these with SEM camel? If so, any regrets? I'd like to eventually get them custom recovered with real leather or even a quailty cloth. Im installing new carpet and was planing on freshening up those faded plastic interior panels as well.
Any thoughts are welcome. Ty!
Question is has anyone painted/dyed these with SEM camel? If so, any regrets? I'd like to eventually get them custom recovered with real leather or even a quailty cloth. Im installing new carpet and was planing on freshening up those faded plastic interior panels as well.
Any thoughts are welcome. Ty!
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 354
Likes: 142
From: central Texas
Car: 91 TA Vert WS6-94 TA Vert
Engine: 5.0/5.7 LT1
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73-3.42
Re: Ultima GTA seats.. SEM paint?
I'll throw in my two cents worth since nobody has responded. Take it for what it's worth....
First, nothing wrong with using SEM products for hard plastic parts....It works well as long as you do your prep according to their instructions and use adhesion promoter. Before doing that, however, I would try a heat gun to restore the faded plastic. There are many YouTube videos that show how to do it.
Second, I'm not sure I would attempt to dye Vinyl. My opinion only. Unlike leather, vinyl is a man-made product, and is not porous, nor does it breathe like natural fibers and materials.....therefore, any colorant you use is strictly a surface treatment and is bound to wear off quickly, react more readily to temperature changes, and start to look crappy where it routinely bends and folds. I actually sell high quality leather furniture, and occasionally vinyls that you couldn't tell were not leather. When, on a rare occasion, I have to do a leather repair, I use products from a UK company, furnitureclinic.com, who even has an automotive section. (They supply product to Rolls Royce and other "exotics" manufacturers.) I've purchased custom colorant kits for furniture and my 91 TA. Their stuff is great, but they offer nothing for vinyl, and since they don't, I believe there is good reason.
Have you looked at a company called "lethal interiors? I haven't used her, but understand she's the best when it comes to 3rd Gens. She also does Seat Covers. www.lethalinteriors.com.
First, nothing wrong with using SEM products for hard plastic parts....It works well as long as you do your prep according to their instructions and use adhesion promoter. Before doing that, however, I would try a heat gun to restore the faded plastic. There are many YouTube videos that show how to do it.
Second, I'm not sure I would attempt to dye Vinyl. My opinion only. Unlike leather, vinyl is a man-made product, and is not porous, nor does it breathe like natural fibers and materials.....therefore, any colorant you use is strictly a surface treatment and is bound to wear off quickly, react more readily to temperature changes, and start to look crappy where it routinely bends and folds. I actually sell high quality leather furniture, and occasionally vinyls that you couldn't tell were not leather. When, on a rare occasion, I have to do a leather repair, I use products from a UK company, furnitureclinic.com, who even has an automotive section. (They supply product to Rolls Royce and other "exotics" manufacturers.) I've purchased custom colorant kits for furniture and my 91 TA. Their stuff is great, but they offer nothing for vinyl, and since they don't, I believe there is good reason.
Have you looked at a company called "lethal interiors? I haven't used her, but understand she's the best when it comes to 3rd Gens. She also does Seat Covers. www.lethalinteriors.com.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 28
Likes: 4
Car: 1989 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Ultima GTA seats.. SEM paint?
I'll throw in my two cents worth since nobody has responded. Take it for what it's worth....
First, nothing wrong with using SEM products for hard plastic parts....It works well as long as you do your prep according to their instructions and use adhesion promoter. Before doing that, however, I would try a heat gun to restore the faded plastic. There are many YouTube videos that show how to do it.
Second, I'm not sure I would attempt to dye Vinyl. My opinion only. Unlike leather, vinyl is a man-made product, and is not porous, nor does it breathe like natural fibers and materials.....therefore, any colorant you use is strictly a surface treatment and is bound to wear off quickly, react more readily to temperature changes, and start to look crappy where it routinely bends and folds. I actually sell high quality leather furniture, and occasionally vinyls that you couldn't tell were not leather. When, on a rare occasion, I have to do a leather repair, I use products from a UK company, furnitureclinic.com, who even has an automotive section. (They supply product to Rolls Royce and other "exotics" manufacturers.) I've purchased custom colorant kits for furniture and my 91 TA. Their stuff is great, but they offer nothing for vinyl, and since they don't, I believe there is good reason.
Have you looked at a company called "lethal interiors? I haven't used her, but understand she's the best when it comes to 3rd Gens. She also does Seat Covers. www.lethalinteriors.com.
First, nothing wrong with using SEM products for hard plastic parts....It works well as long as you do your prep according to their instructions and use adhesion promoter. Before doing that, however, I would try a heat gun to restore the faded plastic. There are many YouTube videos that show how to do it.
Second, I'm not sure I would attempt to dye Vinyl. My opinion only. Unlike leather, vinyl is a man-made product, and is not porous, nor does it breathe like natural fibers and materials.....therefore, any colorant you use is strictly a surface treatment and is bound to wear off quickly, react more readily to temperature changes, and start to look crappy where it routinely bends and folds. I actually sell high quality leather furniture, and occasionally vinyls that you couldn't tell were not leather. When, on a rare occasion, I have to do a leather repair, I use products from a UK company, furnitureclinic.com, who even has an automotive section. (They supply product to Rolls Royce and other "exotics" manufacturers.) I've purchased custom colorant kits for furniture and my 91 TA. Their stuff is great, but they offer nothing for vinyl, and since they don't, I believe there is good reason.
Have you looked at a company called "lethal interiors? I haven't used her, but understand she's the best when it comes to 3rd Gens. She also does Seat Covers. www.lethalinteriors.com.
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