Thought I read about someone painting or having dyed the grey tweed seats and trim black. Has anyone had any luck doing this or got pics? Also would appreciate any advice or tips (even if it's "too hard to get an even finish, don't do it!"). Thanks JB
I've got some old tweed stuff here that someone dyed red. Like a center console n glove box. Actually in the car going to the dump tomorrow.
Yes. My TT's full interior has been dyed black (except the recaros of course) using Midnight Black upholstery spray. Product: http://www.simplyspray.com.au/products/Upholstery-Spray®-MIDNIGHT-BLACK.html It's awesome. The only thing I'd change my interior for would be for a genuine OEM black tweed (series 3+) interior, and that's only for the want of "oem". Check out this thread: http://www.aus300zx.com/forum/showthread.php?t=305104 This is Ryan 1/2 way through doing my interior - seat is undyed. The seats especially feel awesome. They're just a little bit more firm than stock and are more form-holding. I'd recommend doing the seats.
If I were to do it again, I would have liked to give the whole interior another coat to try and get it slightly darker. Pretty happy with the results though and if my new slicktop didn't already have suede I would've definitely dyed the interior black on it too. I did one or two panels in the cheaper stuff you get from autobarn but it made the tweed go a bit funny and felt cheap and rough then. The simply spray stuff is by far the best out there, be warned though it's quite pricey. Cost me a good couple hundred dollars to do (almost all) the interior on a 2+2.
Thanks Anti, I've been thinking about what to do with the seats, seeing as I got the rest of the leather interior from the GB a while ago. Leather no good here in QLD, so either wait for some decent (and expensive) velor seats, or go the spray. How many cans needed to do 2 coats on the front and rear seats?
Just a photo to give you an idea of how it's holding up 3 months after originally dying it. I've steam cleaned it once about a month ago. Still comes up sparkly after a good vacuum.
Don't use the VHT stuff man, it's crap. Order the good stuff and you'll be able to do your seats as well. Pepper didn't do his seats due to how stiff it was making the material.
Just a thought here... If you didn't want to pull the interior but just removed the seats and masked everything properly, is it doable while the trim panels are still in the car?
NO. Take them out. HELL NO. And ye i'd suggest using anti's dye just by what he's said about the feel o the trim. Mine is two/three coats. Read the direction on the can, get All coats on within the hour.
And anti, it softened quite a bit after a week. Don't get me wrong its still stiffer then stock, but doesnt feel hard or spikey like it did right after dying. Still wouldnt do the seats in the VHT dye though.
Thanks Anti & Pepper. Wouldn't try saving some bucks & ending up with hard seats! I'm pretty sure it was the VHT stuff I used on some door trims years and years ago, pretty sure I remember thinking too that I'm glad I didn't use it on the seats.