I've used these before and had decent luck. It definately made up for 30 years of fading but not quite as clean as brand new. I've got black interior and debating if I should use a flat or gloss on mine. I'm looking at spraying any and all plastic trim that will come out, door panels, console, etc.

Any ideas on which would look more original gloss or flat?

This is on a 74 SS with the floor shift and swivel buckets.

Originally they were simi or flat. I think that they called it saten finish.

You definatly do not want the dash to be glossy, expecially here in Texas, if you ever plan to see out the window. I went to a flat finish with my 80 and on the 76 I did a simi gloss and that was a bit much, for me anyway. I like the flat finish best.

If you look at a new car they are not glossy they are flat.

Yeah I had figured flat for sure on the dash but mine is so shot I'll just wait and put a cap on it. I'll stick with the flat then. I'll take some before and after shots to see if it makes much difference.

I'm waiting to do it till next weekend while the wife is out of town and I have more room in the garage and can soak the parts in our tub without her throwing a fit :)

I know it might not get them to brand new but for the investment I think was worth it when I did it before on my 77 and I'm not changing colors just freshening up the black.

Its pretty tough to get out all the Armor-All from the vinyl. I soaked mine in a hot "bath tub" with lots of soapy water and scrubbed on then really good and rinced them off well but I still had issues woth the Dye/paint fish eye'ing and not covering well. I used degreasers and other stuff with still very little success and now the paint/Dye is ready to start peeling.

I opted not to use Automotive finishes on the panels but when, not if but when I do them again I will use Dupont Automotive finish with a flex additive like is used on New car bumpers and plastic parts. It holds up better and shouldn't peel after three or four years. Mine was done about 4 years ago now. The Black is showing through in spots now.

I used Castrol Super Clean on my dash pad and other interior parts before dyeing. It seemed to do a great job of taking everything off. Remember to use rubber gloves with this stuff, I think it contains dilute caustic as one of the ingredients. Also I would not let it get on painted surfaces.

got alot of the interior out and a coat of vinyl spray on it. So far I like it. Sadly a previous owner cut the inner metal armrest support and 3 circular holes on the lower panel to put in an 8 ohm 4 x 10 coax radio shack speaker :(

GRR. I has grilles but drivers side is cracked and I guess they knew nothing about car audio. Also found the original color silver and the reason the inside door handle isnt functioning is that it is worn out.

Is the LH driver door inside handle the same from most of the late model gm cars?

Now to see if I can figured out how to get that factory center console out.

Go to Seargent's AutoSalvage or Little John's in Ft. Worth. Get your pieces there. Little John's has four or five, possibly more now, 4th generation Elkys in their bone yard. Seargent's also has some sitting in their lot. Get the door Handles from them too.

I'd get new panels from EC Parts or The El Camino Store insted of using the old cut up plastic lowers.

Seargent's is on Bus Hwy 287 west of I820 in Ft. Worth. Little John's is on E. 1st street in Haltom City not far off of Hwy 121 and Carson St. Take the Carson St. Exit and go So. until you come to E. 1st. Its where Carson Ends. Take a right (Go West) its on the North side of the street about 1/2 Mi. There are a ton of Bone yards on that street.


Good Luck

I'll try and snap some pics later. I've got the interior pretty well all resprayed and put back in. Still working on the dash cluster and have the driver door stuff still off till I find a new handle.

i dyed the inside of my 83' from a dark brown to a medium gray. there is a product on the marked put out by dupont. it is called vinyl prep. I found mine a napa. great for getting armor all and other protectents off the old vinyl.