Painting the plastic & dyeing the leather.

[scoobyxj]

I picked up some leather seats, and the wood grain trim off a 98 country the other day, and the trim in it was the lite gray [mine is the dark gray]. Any tips on painting the door panels, and dyeing the seats to match the rest of my trim. I have considered just leaving them the way they are. It would look a little odd to me at first, but I think I would get used to it being the two shades of gray. I put the seats in my mothers garage, and forgot the door panels on the floor, or I would get a pic to show what I'm talking about. Also anyone that's done this in the past, how did it hold up, or would I just be better off just leaving them alone?

 

[jeeppowermj]

If i were you i would get covers for the seats. you could dye the seats from light to dark but i dont think dark to light would work.

 

[FUNKYTEE5]

I picked up some leather seats, and the wood grain trim off a 98 country the other day, and the trim in it was the lite gray [mine is the dark gray]. Any tips on painting the door panels, and dyeing the seats to match the rest of my trim. I have considered just leaving them the way they are. It would look a little odd to me at first, but I think I would get used to it being the two shades of gray. I put the seats in my mothers garage, and forgot the door panels on the floor, or I would get a pic to show what I'm talking about. Also anyone that's done this in the past, how did it hold up, or would I just be better off just leaving them alone?

You'll have to get a plastic adhesion promoter/primer for the plastic parts unless you don't mind the paint coming off down the road. You can get it in rattle can form from a local autobody paint supplier. It's the best route to take for longevity

FUNKYTEE5

 

[scoobyxj]

The leathers are light, and I want them dark. Any tips on prepairing them. I would think I should try to get any Armorall, or like protectent off before I would die/paint. I do want this to last as long as possable. Here is a pic of the contrast between the shades.

 

[RichP]

I think I would leave the seats alone, maybe wet okole seat covers. Leather dyes do exist but I have never used them. I have changed dress shoes from light to dark with darker shoe polish, light brown to oxblood or dark brown and that works well, don't know how your butt would fare though.
As for the plastic, they do that krylon 'fusion' paint that is supposed to fuse to plastic, never tried it but it might work...

 

[HaleYes]

I just used some of the Duplicolor "interior spray-bombs". I picked it up at AutoZone. I think it was about $5 a can. My XJ only had the mini-console, so I found a full console at the yard. My interior is tan and the donor console WAS blue. I just followed the directions and cleaned it real good with soap and water, sprayed several light coats....looks like new. I did the colsole insert in black the same way. As far as the color match, it's close but not exact. I would say if you do spray it, you'll have to do everything, old and the new if you want it to match exact. After all was said and done I tried to scrape it off or chip it, ya know...just a little Haleyes durability test. Passed the test no problem. If you want pics I can take some.

 

[EMTJeepers]

and dyeing the seats to match the rest of my trim.

Leather Dye... http://www.leatherfactory.com/

 

[xtrememtbiker85]

rihgt now i am changing the interior of my 94 country from light tan to black.i got all the teh plastic trim from a cherokee at teh bone yard and a friend who had some parts. first i tried to paint but it wore off easilya dn it was plastic paint.

i have changed all the upper and lower trim around the doors, roof,a nd floor. i changed the door handles. next i am getting the dash board, kick pannel and passenger area carpet. i also need the head liner. my seats are still light tan and so are my dor pannels. i want the wood grain for the doors so thats why i did not swap in the black pannels. i am working on locating a good paint for the door pannels, and i think i am going to get seat covers unless i find black leather seats. have fun ad let us know if oyu find a good paint.

 

[scoobyxj]

I think I'm just going to leave them the way there are. I don't have the seats in yet, but I did get the door pannels on. They don't look that bad, and I will get used to the difference over time anyway. Infact once the seats are in I think it will look nice, really lighten the interor up. I do want to have the light colored carpet on the upper back seat of the new leathers changed to mach the dark original, but I'll have that done by an upolstery shop. I can toss up a pic tomarow if anyone wants a look.

 

[explorer]

Some of the interior parts when you buy them new, come in a generic color and require painting to the original color. Mopar has paint in spray cans available to match factory colors. I have also used regular spray cans of Rustoleum, or Krylon flat OD and khaki to paint some of the interior pieces in my TJ to match the exterior. It has held up very well, and most people assume they are the original finish.