Restoring interior

90limited · Jan 10, 2009

This evening, I will start taking apart the interior of the 1990 7up car… I have the carpet, seat skins and new top on order and want to update the tired interior trim. Many of the white trim parts are various shades of yellow and I was going to hit them with some spray die (what is a good brand to use?). Also, the driver's door mirror is loose and the passenger door lock solenoid is out, so I will be taking apart both doors, along with removing the rear side panels and the center console… I will also have the dash apart to replace the speedo cable.

Anybody have any words of wisdoms before I strip the interior and start spraying? What should be done while everything is apart? Also, were can I find rear speaker grills, mine are servicble, but they have some cracks and new ones would be better if not too pricey. I have looked on the net and it seems that the rear speaker grills with the window switch in it is hard to get...

ID89GT · Jan 10, 2009

you shouldn't have to take the whole dash out to do the speedo cable, just pull the cluster out.

skunk21 · Jan 10, 2009

I'm with ID89GT you don't have to pull the dash for the speedo cable, the cluster pulls out enough after you get the trim housing off. 50 resto has good qaulity dyes and prep spray, you could also do search for other brands. I would also use some cheap baggies for all the screws, mark the bags so you know what trim screws where for what.

90limited · Jan 10, 2009

Yea I said Dash meant cluster... While I am in there, I also plan on dusting/cleaning out the gauge cluster.

Mustang5L5 · Jan 10, 2009

Can the original panels be cleaned/restored?

I'm not a fan of spray dying. Sure they look great in the pics posted on the net, but i have yet to see a dye or paint job in person that didn't look cheap and obviously painted/dyed.

LiquidGT · Jan 10, 2009

I think the spray dye would work alright if you paint it the same color just as a 'refresh'.

Going to a different color like from red to black is bad, I've seen painted black door speaker grills, and the paint rubbed off where the grill meets the dash when the door is closed. The rest of the interior was all chipped up... not the way to go.

wythors · Jan 10, 2009

You're not going to find speaker grilles new anywhere anymore.

One note I would give you is to be very careful when reinstalling the rear seat interior trim. Do no overtighten the trim screw even a little bit or you will crack the panels.

I will be very interested to see pics of the finished project. I have a 93 'vert with a white interior and the panels could use a freshening up.

90limited · Jan 10, 2009

Mustang5L5 said:
Can the original panels be cleaned/restored?

I'm not a fan of spray dying. Sure they look great in the pics posted on the net, but i have yet to see a dye or paint job in person that didn't look cheap and obviously painted/dyed.

The first pass, I will scrub the snot out of the parts... That said, some of the pieces are not white. For example, the bezels for the front seat belts in the back side trim are a dull yellow color...

My fear is once I paint one piece, I will have to paint it all to match. I guess we will see.

pudman · Jan 10, 2009

I'll put in my 2 cents worth. i just finished a basically complete interior exterior retore; remod re everything to my 86 vert, and alls i can say is sit back and think about what you are going to do or getting yourself into. once you start, there's no turning back. you are right in thinking once you paint one thing you will have to do it all. exactly what i went thru. i cleaned everything. replaced all the bulbs. do all you can while it's all apart. 18 yrs you'll be surprised at how dirty things are. i started my project 5-9-08, and finished today 1-10-09. when you're all done it will be well worth all your work. take your time and do it right. especially if you plan on keeping the car.
one last note ... wythors is right on the money. be very careful when tightening any screws on any plastic. my stuff was like eggshells. good luck to you

ID89GT · Jan 11, 2009

Ya, I want to repaint my interior grey again to give it a fresh clean look but that is still a little bit down the road for me, plus I will want to read up on it pretty good to make sure I don't miss anything lol. Cause its not like you can just go down to the store and buy a new plastic trim piece for if you mess up

90limited · Jan 11, 2009

Well... Most of the interior is out. Now I just have scrub and get the balls to paint.... You would not believe how much dirt was behind the panels... One picture before wiping down and one after.

While it is apart, I am going to replace dash light bulbs, scrub and clean anything my hands will reach. Find a factory CD head unit to replace the cassette, freshen the electric front windows, etc....

Restoring interior

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skunk21

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Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

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wythors

Get off my lawn!!!

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ID89GT

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