Working on the interior!!!

[chyz-dad]

I did some painting, and began work on the pillars and then the headliner.....

[JRBRUIN7@aol.com]

The interior looks good, what kind of paint did you use and what preparations did you have to do in order for it to come out like that?

[chyz-dad]

I used a model paint ( an enamel - pearlescent deep purple )...since it was the closes to the color that I was looking for....the prep and painting was very easy...just time consuming if you live in a humid part of the country like me...ie: Florida....but if you want to do it I am going to give the same advice I got...primer ( white to brighten, black to darken the paint ), the color of choice for paint, I sanded the stock paint off using 320 grit paper then to a 600, primed, applied 1 very light coat of the paint, let it almost completely dry ( should take about 20 min ), the second and third coat should cover completely, wet sanding after each one ( using 1000 grit for the primary color), after a day of drying I applied the clear coat, I used 2-3 coats, on the last coat after it was almost dry I wet sanded until it was smooth ( using 2000-3000 grit, and a lot of water ). I then used Meguiar's cleaner wax to make it shine<<<<<this part of the process takes time and patience. I then used Meguiar's NXT wax to bring out the color and shine....

I took my time doing the whole thing and still have a couple of things left to do, but I feel it will be worth the time and effort...

[JRBRUIN7@aol.com]

It sounds like something I'd definetly like to do I've just never wet sanded before, how do I go about doing that? Also what brand of paint did you use?

[chyz-dad]

I used model masters paint..the only bad thing is they only come in 3oz cans...it bonds to plastics real well...as far as wet sanding..you use the highest grit paper you can find 2000-3000....a lot of water and take your time because it does not sand down very quick.

The main purpose of wet sanding is to get a very smooth finish...wet sanding enables you to do that. When you get a high end paint job done on a vehicle they will more then likely wet sand everything done so that the paint it completely smooth and you get that shine that is WAY above a show room finish. There won't be any "dimples".

[JRBRUIN7@aol.com]

Thanks for all the help, how long on an average should I spend wetsanding and how did you remove the trim piece around the gauges?

[chyz-dad]

wetsand the parts until they are smooth to touch....may take a litttle while....

as far as removing the trim for the gauges...it pops right off...not much to it...

[navylife59]

Looks awesome and ya can tell you put the prep work in it. What did you use for the cloth interior pieces? We used to use Ritz dye and airbrush it old school style.

[chyz-dad]

I looked for the shortest napped suede that I could find...there won't be anyone writhing on this stuff. All I used was the spray adhesive from 3M designed for high temp applications such as headliners and the like. I had the B and C pillars done within 30 min. The hardest part is getting the parts on and off...the C pillar has a steel pin that flares out just past the plastic insert and you really have to persuade that thing out. I will have some friends help this friday with the headliner and the A pillars...by Sunday I will be rockin a new interior

[chyz-dad]

How hard is to remove the A pillar covers??????

[navylife59]

It will be Killa. If ya need, I can post the removal/install instructions out of the manual for the headliner.

[chyz-dad]

actually I just got the headliner done, and all the pillars. I will be posting pics today...

[chyz-dad]

here we go....whatcha think...

[JRBRUIN7@aol.com]

That looks sweet, how long did that take you and where did you get the materials to do that with and what is the price range of something like that?

[chyz-dad]

I looked for the shortest nap suede that I could find..which can be picked up at any fabric store from $3 - $5 a yard...i used 3 yds...which is plenty...to do the pillars and the headliner...I will need to get another yard to do the visors...2 cans of spray adhesive...3M makes the best...make sure it is designated for headliners and high heat application..$10 a can...overall I had to pay just over $30...

I pay $3 a can for the paint and clear coat...total was around $40 dollars only because I messed up on part of the waterfall, and had to do it over..btw the cans only come in 3oz...

The most time consuming part was painting, because I wet sanded all the parts.
The pillars and headliner...total time was around 5 hours...that included removal which is pretty straight forward...cutting...spraying...placing the fabric (which you have to be real quick with and careful)..and then letting it set for about an hour before re-installing...

I had a blast doing everything and I am still not done...

[navylife59]

Any rattle in your headliner after you put it back together or did you remove the plastic forms?

[chyz-dad]

I removed all plastic pieces with the headliner.....funny thing about that is there aren't a lot of them....a lot of velcro...you have one wire harness that runs up the d/s a pillar to the front dome light then to the back dome light...all held down with a sticky glue like strip. not much there...took like 2 minutes to pull down after the pillars were moved out of the way just enough....it was fun though to see my car missing pieces

[chyz-dad]

well finished the visors today and painted the small odds and ends....now all I need to do is paint the roll up shade....turning it black though....

[navylife59]

SEM (available at bodyshop supply houses) makes an awesome plastic dye coating that works great on vinyl parts to. It is better than paint as it actually melts into the very outside layer of the plastic. It will not flake or rub off. If you were to continually spray it on one spot of a plastic interior part, it will actually begin to cause the plastic to sag. I used it to change the color of my dash/console/door panels/headliner on my 1983 Mercury Capri.

[chyz-dad]

that would be the ultimate...only problem is I have absolutely no idea where to begin looking for this stuff and I have a show on Saturday...