My exterior is faded glory and the interior is an awful brown. Can I change without re-upholstering? Paint, dye?
You'll spend hours cleaning the old vinyl to prep it for the vinyl dye to last. I'd take a course at one of the industrial sewing machine vendors, or buy a copy of Singer's Upholstery DIY book at a second hand store. You can rent a machine by the week or month, and maybe drop $250 to $300 for good automotive vinyl (you need the UVA and UVB chemistry that comes in automotive upholstery vinyl and fabrics, or it will fade in months, not decades. Most fabric shops (bigger ones, have a selection of roll-ends that they sell for about $10 per running yard, usually 54 o 60 inches wide. Ask them about high grade automotive thread as well. I've done one car in pigskin leather, and another in Naugahyde. Leather is a specialty that only the best would do. http://www.naugahyde.com/ Naugahyde is sweet, but its not you're ordinary vinyl. It's supple and far more flexible, so sewing it requires a lot more attention to NOT stretch it on tough corners. Good vinyl is nice if you do some textured panels in the backrest and seat cushion. OR!... You could use Jean fabric, like they used in the 1968 Javelins! If you do decide to do it yourself, buy good upholstery tools to take the old one off and use it for cutting panels. A steam iron on a damp towel over the old stuff will flatten it out enough. Either way, its time and money, cleaning and dyeing or a new skin. Ready made is pricey, and you still have to install it.
Anyone can do an Interior Click the photo. This interior was burgandy front T-bird buckets. Rear was black pleated naugahyde. "Preclean all old interior material." I went to NAPA and had them mix a quart of red dye using a sample of body color and sprayed seats in my back yard. Red is Corvette Bright Red. White is Nisson Super White. I know what color my car is because I panted it. The dye is as thin as water but good hidding. For the white on the headrests and other trim I used vinyl dye in auto parts spray cans. Everything covered the black very well. I bought prepleated vinyl and red vinyl at an upholstery shop that was remnants on sale for doors and side panels. For the thin chrome look trim I used stick on door guard in the size I wanted. My theme was custom with a 57 Chevy Bel Aire style added. Arm rest 80's Camaro. Speakers Auto parts cheapies. Been that way since late 80's. Front seats starting to show some wrinkle cracks where we sit and from Florida heat. But this has always been a driver and little kids sit in it for pictures. Big girls too when I can get them to. Did a total interior factory original in my 1926 Ford Model T using plain black naugahyde, ladies nylons to pull the foam thru the home made pleats, mid gauge canvas for the backer, and a very old Sears treadle sewing machine with an added electric motor I borrowed from an old electric sewing machine. Everyone thought it looked like Henry's boys did it and last I saw the car in a museum it still looked like new. I've done several other smaller projects including a 1950 Chevy pick up and a 1950 buick. Keep in mind, simple is still better and cheaper. Some people don't have the time and do have the money. Personally I bought my cars to play with myself. Everything may not be perfect but it's mine! So the answers are YES!
As an auto trimmer, I mostly disagree with ModelT1. You can definitely do reupholster the interior yourself and it may even look okay. I encourage anyone to learn and give it a shot. There aren't many more satisfying feelings than doing a big project from start to finish. I don't have any experience with dye and have turned away every customer that asked for it. I've had no interest in it, but it can be done.
I'm confused. You say you disagree yet you encourage him to try to redo the interior. That's what I said. I realize not everyone has the time, room, or ability to do some things on cars. But as a hobby I didn't buy mine to pay others to do the work. I'd rather have a sloppy job and say I did it myself. I will say this, if you want it to look original you should do a lot of reading and practice on something first. For a custom job it's much easier. I've done both. On the other hand there is nothing wrong with having anything done by pros if you have a good shop and the money. Dyeing material is just like prepping a body for paint. You must get it clean first.
I may have taken it out of context but you made it seem as though it is easy or simple to do your own interior.
Thanks Red. Actually there are a lot of things car owners can do if they just read, study, and learn. There are so many who buy an old project and don't even change a tire, change antifreeze, or grease the car. Little things like replacing inside door and window handles are left to a shop. It's true there are many different types of clips or pins but reading and learning about your car is half the fun of owning it. I've had people in my old neighborhood tell me I should buy a new car so I don't have to spend my time under that old thing! I usually just say I can't afford to.
I have dyed interiors successfully several times. It will hold up good IF the proper prep work is. The drivers seat will take the most abuse and the kick panels. If it is not a daily driver and kept in a garage most of the time like my cars are then it will hold up. Always get some extra dye and then if you need to touch it up it can be done to match.
I'm beginning to think those T-Bird front seats I used are leather. They are starting to show the creases and cracks more now. Still it was in the late 80's when I dyed them with NAPA super thin spray dye. That stuff was like water and smelled horrible. Florida sun, heat, and many days of slidding in and out is hard on anything. Even my butt! Time to have them recovered or wander thru the junk yards again. I love these because the backs are flat and I used the same black carpet as on the floor and back of rear seat.
I redyed my 81 Camaro interior with SEM dyes I got from Eastwood... if you prep it right the results look very professional
The '59 Impala wheel in ModelT1's car is my favorite Chevy wheel of all. The rest of the interior looks pretty darn good too, for Florida heat and day to day wear. The brown gold (light beechwood) in my car doesn't do anything for me, but I can live with it.
