Anyone dye their interior?

[MC71Nova]

So I've got a perfect condition interior in my '71 nova with new seat covers, perfect door panels and perfect headliner... it's just all in Jade Green. I'd prefer to have black but it's going to be thousands to change everything to new or aftermarket stuff and it really doesn't need it. I'm considering trying to dye the headliner, seats, rear deck and door panels black and then just putting a carpet kit in it, painting the dash black and replacing the dash pad (it's cracked). I'd spray paint the "hard parts" (kick panels, misc. plastic trim, etc.). Has anyone else done this? Was it reasonably succesful and presentable aftewards? Any tips or tricks or products that "take" better than others? Prep I should be aware of on the surfaces? I plan to get the dash professionally prep'd and painted but do all the rest myself so any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[GregWeld]

I dyed the headliner (off white) in a '55 post I built for a buddy... he wanted it silver to match the silver and black seats and doors. I masked the car off (it was gutted but still had windlace and glass) and sprayed it with the dye... three different ways - so there were no "holidays". It turned out perfect. I didn't expect it too and we were ready to do this with the expectations of ripping it out and getting one custom made. Figured nothing to loose trying to spray this one. Bingo - worked great and cost $50 instead of $500.

BUT -- it's not touched - and it's not sat on... and the headliner material is different than the seat and door panels...

If you have a automotive paint shop near you -- go talk to them about the PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS they have for the job... don't do the $1.99 cans of crap at Pep boys.

Figure it this way --- It's not the color interior you want - but a good careful dye job might make it servicable until you can afford to replace it.

[MC71Nova]

That makes sense to me. I was actually considering an upholstery shop but it seems they don't want to do this... they want to replace instead. I guess that makes sense from their end but I just can't see trashing perfectly good upholstery. After all, it all gets dyed in the beginning, right? There must be a decent way to do it in the aftermarket.

[T-Type]

i've often wondered about changing the color of my carpet from light gray to black. i haven't had great luck in the past with the spray dyes as they don't get deep into the fibers and i've found also dries a bit hard. since the topic has come up i thought i'd also ask if there are any recommendations for carpets?

[Roberts68]

A previous owner dyed my Camaros deluxe interior from gold to Black )thank you PO! ). I don't know when but I got the car in '89. What I have replaced, dashpad , front seat covers, a pillar moldings were all purchased in black.

The rear seat shows wear, some on top as if the dye faded through the rear window and some on the piping or high spots of the cushion from butts rubbing across. The seat belts are kind of a gray/greenish color instead of a pure black, and the carpet which I still need to do is sort of brown on the trans hump. The headliner, if they did that looks mint and same with the door panels.

There was an episode of Musclecar on Powerblock recently (Spike channel I think) where they dyed interior for "Blue Collar Buick" and showed it step by step. I think they even 2 toned it with grey insets on black.

I have intentions of redying my rear seat. Oh, and when my car was painted they re-shot the kick panels black again.

[redfire69]

For the hard parts, I used OER dye and plastic prep primer. Results were pretty good. 5 years later, no pealing or cracking. Good luck!