Dash re-colouring

[InfernoSR]

I want to basically have a black dash to match the seats, door trims and carpet... its currently in two shades of grey, as they are original. So, how do i go about this?

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by BLUEPRINT

I want to basically have a black dash to match the seats, door trims and carpet... its currently in two shades of grey, as they are original. So, how do i go about this?

put in a black dash, or paint/colour dye it ?

[ten[A]cio[U]s]

From what i have seen and read, a few of the E series guys have dyed their dashes and door trims etc.

Im not sure where you could get the dye from though sorry.

[superroo]

Check out my build thread. I dyed and painted my grey dash.
I'll post some more pics when i get home, on mobile at the moment.
It could be done a lot easier than what i have done, but i will tell you all that once i'm on a computer.

Cheers

[InfernoSR]

Originally Posted by superroo

Check out my build thread. I dyed and painted my grey dash.
I'll post some more pics when i get home, on mobile at the moment.
It could be done a lot easier than what i have done, but i will tell you all that once i'm on a computer.

Cheers

I definetly want to know more about the products you used, where you got them from and how you applied them...

[superroo]

OK, now I’m on a computer.
Before pics:







Now pics, Full black and blue interior, headliner and sun visors:












The interior is the same as the original pics, bar seats and door trims. The colour match is really good. Even the dash vents are the same as what came with the car:



The products that I used were VHT vinyl dye on the dash pad, a pillar trims, and most of the other black parts. On the sun visors and upper B pillar trim I have used a black paint. There are parts of the dye that is funny, and I’ve been meaning to touch them up.

The way that it was done is that I stripped all of the interior back, to just having the dash in there. Every thing that could be pulled out of the dash was. EG. Cluster, center fascia, seats, door trims, glove box, side panels passenger airbag, steering wheel, steering column covers, as I said I mean everything. This is the only pic I have:



Then went over the vinyl dash pad a few times with k&h wax/grease remover. Taped up overspray areas, and then sprayed. Not as how the can says though. Through all my use of the dye I found that doing one layer, let it dry until touch dry, and then apply next layer, and so on until your happy with the colour. Oh and you don't need to wait 72 as per VHT say, couple of hours are sufficient

Doing the dash took me two weeks. But that was due to the painting the bottom part. Truth be told, doing the dash pad alone took me a day. I would say two days though for stripping and re-assemble.

All products used were brought from autobarn, and I’ve gone through stupid amounts of dye and paint to get to this stage now, but it's still not done. I still need to modify and paint blue the center fascia, paint some other parts, and then some other things.

The only problem that I have with the vinyl dye is that it is not a real "hardy" product. I've found it scratch of easily. I tried paint on the sun visors and top B pillar cover to combat this but it still has scratched off, but not as much as the dye.
Although even "nargee's" pursuit who had the interior dyed professionally is still wearing the colour thin and through in the same areas as what mine are, so yeah. See detail below of unhardy dye.



That’s about all that I can think off. If you want details of how the bottom part of the dash is painted, I’ll post that too. But I would recommend against doing that unless you are really comfortable with painting.

Cheers

[Professor Farnsworth]

awesome job superroo, very well done

[HLC]

that is a damn good job! well done~!!!!!

[superroo]

Should also say that in the VHT range, satin black is what you need. That is the colour that the interior is currently done in.

Gloss black is what the steering wheel airbag was originally done in, and as you can see it is the wrong colour.
Charcole is only a slight darker shade than what the grey of the original interior is. I have no pics but i can say it is the wrong colour.

Cheers

[InfernoSR]

Damn... sounds like it wont be a good idea for a long time... thanks all the same.. time to find a black dash... :(

[aye you]

awesome job there roo

i'd be thinking that finding a balck dash set would be your best option, since it will be a little more scratch resistant as opposed to the dying method.

[InfernoSR]

Originally Posted by aye you

awesome job there roo

i'd be thinking that finding a balck dash set would be your best option, since it will be a little more scratch resistant as opposed to the dying method.

I was offered a Series 2 black dash for a good price, plus fuel to get it... but seeing as no-one has answered my question about fitting one... i dnt know if i can do it or not...

[aye you]

have you tried the Au god, JC?

[InfernoSR]

With the centre facia (radio surround/aircon switches), would paint hold up on that?

[superroo]

Yeah, the paint seams to be more hard wearing than the dye. My center fascia was done quickly with K&H rapid dry enamal, and i've had no problem witht that yet. All that involved spraying it was a few coats of plastic primer then paint.

You just need to give it a clean with wax/grease remover and plastic prime and you should have no problems what so ever.

As for doing the dash. If you did the top part in vyinal dye and the bottom in that rapid dry enamal you should have a problem with "hardy-ness". It's only the dye on plastics that i've had a problem with.

You should be able to do it in under a day really, if you coloured the whole dash.

Cheers

[InfernoSR]

Originally Posted by superroo

Yeah, the paint seams to be more hard wearing than the dye. My center fascia was done quickly with K&H rapid dry enamal, and i've had no problem witht that yet. All that involved spraying it was a few coats of plastic primer then paint.

You just need to give it a clean with wax/grease remover and plastic prime and you should have no problems what so ever.

As for doing the dash. If you did the top part in vyinal dye and the bottom in that rapid dry enamal you should have a problem with "hardy-ness". It's only the dye on plastics that i've had a problem with.

You should be able to do it in under a day really, if you coloured the whole dash.

Cheers

Ah.. cheers mate... that helps me more... now i wont have a problem with doing it... but using the dye.. is it a spray or wipe on process?

[superroo]

It's a spray can. You spray it onto the surface, let it penetrate/dry then spray again.
Just remember lost of light coats are better than one heavy coat. Run's are a pain to fix up.

Cheers

[InfernoSR]

Originally Posted by superroo

It's a spray can. You spray it onto the surface, let it penetrate/dry then spray again.
Just remember lost of light coats are better than one heavy coat. Run's are a pain to fix up.

Cheers

Cheers... I am yet to find a VHT seller here in Bathurst, but AutoOne sell Motorspray...

[superroo]

As i said, it's avalible from autobarn, but there are a few brands of vinyl dye. Supercheap have one that i can't think the name of, K&H do one, and there are more. I just chose VHT because i knew the name and had seen their adds.

Cheers

[InfernoSR]

Supercheap do Septone...

Ok, as a price comparison, how much did you pay a can?

[superroo]

$15ish

Think i've gone through 10+ with all the stuff i've done. For just doing the viynl top, 2 should cover your *** nicely

Cheers

[InfernoSR]

Originally Posted by superroo

$15ish

thinks i've gone through 10+ with all the stuff i've done. For just doing th viynl top, 2 should cover your *** nicely

Cheers

I'm not dying my *** though... :togo:

[superroo]

: so what are you going to do? Full dash swap?

[InfernoSR]

Originally Posted by superroo

: so what are you going to do? Full dash swap?

Sorry... word disappeared on me :P

I gotta way up the 2 options, re-colour or replace... depends on cost...

[superroo]

Originally Posted by BLUEPRINT

I'm not dying my *** though... :togo:

:Sorry, thick headed me just got that joke

[InfernoSR]

Originally Posted by superroo

:Sorry, thick headed me just got that joke

It happens... even to the best of us