interior panels,refreshing and cleaning, did some work today

[Thule]

hi all

when i bought my 73 eldorado few weeks ago i thought the interior would need big spending and replacement of panels and upholstery to be good agen,

but when i started to look closer at the interior i noticed that that most of it was covered in some material of some kind, kinda like a super sticky blackish grease. it made the interior look much darker, somewhere the panels where black,

i went out today and started to try to clean this, i used some strong materials from the house, not intended for car using, like oven cleaner, alot of water and soap, and alot of things to rub,

damn.. this was alot of work, but came out brilliantly! i did the whole rear section and door panels, and the interior is just  not the same. it feels like another car to sit in,

here is a before pic, you can see how discusting  the panels were, the upper one has a thick layer of some sticky dirt


here you can see the diffirence




and after alot of work

[/img]


next on the plan is to get the seats to a pro leather/upholstery guy i know, i will just redo the colour on the stock upholstery, its fine, just need to be softened up and colored,  the door panels will be redone though, and i am in the progress of ordering a dashtop from justdash,

hope you like this,
best regards!
ivar iceland

[Jeff Wilk]

Nice Job!!

[Thule]

thank you, i am really glad with how this came out it feels like another car to sit in, and smells alot better

[Paul Tesone]

Ivar - great job , but I have a couple of questions . First , what's wrong with the seats as they are ? They look pretty good to me . Second , when you talk about redoing the color , are you speaking about the process where a flexible paint is applied to the leather ? I have been thinking about having that process done to my seats , but am concerned that it wouldn't last and may be a very obvious "paint job" since the leather and the stitching will all end up the same color . I would like to freshen up the leather's appearance by getting rid of the typical brown cracks, but have been told that the leather can't be dyed , only painted . Once that's done , there goes the originalty and perhaps point deductions if ever judged . And can the seat color be reproduced so it will not appear different from the door panels ? Attached is a picture of my seat . Front and rear look the same . Door panels are fine . Would appreciate thoughts and comments from anyone who has had to make this decision . Thanks , ...Paul Tesone ..CLC #6876

[Thule]

thank you paul

about the color.
i've done a few seats myself, i got some kit from a leather shop few years ago, if i remember correctly i rubbed the seats whit a sponge or other rough material, then it went matte and kinda soft, then i buffed out if there were sharp edges, like the brown cracks,
then i went one round with a silicone cleaner in a wipe, and apply the color. it was a paint like material. but much dryer then most paint, i used a sponge a rubbed it in the leather,

after that waited until it dried, and then i went over it with a microfiber cloth and took away extra color and such,

after that i put on clear coat, i've seen both sprayed on, and how i did it, i used a spong

i hope this helps, and is understandable.

about the seats, the fronts need a little sewing. the orginal sewing has let go at 2 places. 

other than that i am mostly seeking after getting the red color like it should be, this is a california car from 73-06 and the front seats have seen alot of sun, and the leather is a bit hard and suntanned here and there,

the door panels are also sunburned, the guy i talked about has proven to be really good in everything that comes to leather and interiors,  so i plan to let him do the door panels, getting him to refresh the seats should get the interior really fresh and nice looking

here is the same panel as on the picture w/ my doughter on

[Nicholas Y]

What do you think causes that black grease sticky buildup?  I had a '73 Eldo coupe that had the exact same thing only in the rear upper arm rest area.

[Thule]

yes it was armor all or something like that, white foam in a spray can,
i cant say i would recommend it,if you leave it on it eats up the color,

i sprayed it on, and then went over it with a hot water in sponge, and then washed it with a hot clean water.

cad59. thats kinda interesting, i talked to a man few days ago that said that this is from many years of cigar smoking, his grandfather smoked cigars non stop in this car for many years and there where a thick layer of a black grease stuff on the interior,

if that is correct i i dont have a clue