I am getting ready to change the interior of my runner and I have removed alot of the pieces already. The factory color is oak and I'm changing it to black. My current dash pieces are painted silver and I'm changing them to charcoal gray. The main thing that I need help with removing is the main dash. I was wondering if anyone has undertaken this task before. I know I'll have to mess with the airbags so any pointers on that. I don't know if I have to remove the steering wheel, but I'm told that I need to. Would Chilton's or Haynes service manuals help with this? Any pointers or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Just curious, but how are you going to change the color? Interior spray paint?

hope it goes well!

 

I'm using this vinyl / fabric spray paint by dupicolor. Its flat black and I bought it at walmart. I know there are specialty companies online but I'll put my trust in dupicolor this time. Hopefully it lasts til I graduate from grad school. Then maybe I can get it done professionally.

 

You can buy my 99 FSM and know everthing about your truck

 

Haha...I would but the FSM is an arm and a leg. And you already have a few things that I would like to get from you thats higher on my list than the FSM. But usually I don't do mechanical stuff to my car since I don't have the time. Usually just electrical and cosmetic stuff.

 

make sure you do a small test area. Your going to find that the texture, and finish is a lot different then what you have in your head. It may look nice from 20 feet away, but up close and to the touch it's going to look and feel rough.

either way good luck. I know I wish mine had a black interior as well.

 

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME THAT YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT SPRAY PAINTING THE INTERIOR OF YOUR RUNNER!!!

 

Well I'm thinking that I'm dyeing the vinyl black. I already have the dash pieces silver. I just don't like the silver look anymore and I'm going to change that to a darker gray color. I don't think its that bad of an idea. The seat I'm not spray painting of course, those are getting reupholstered. The carpet I haven't decided but for now I think I'm gonna dye it and maybe just change it later on.

 

here's a novel idea...

if you want a different color, then get the OEM grey pieces from a junk yard, then sell your OAK stuff on ebay. don't PAINT it. if you want charcoal/black console, then just sell your silver sport stuff on ebay and buy standard OEM SR5 console pieces.

just swap them out with other OEM stuff - DON'T PAINT IT - YOU'LL BE SORRY!

 

Well I don't have silver sport console parts on my car. I painted them silver years ago. This is how it still looks now.






I have thought about getting the gray interior pieces but in the end I think that'd be alot harder than it was for me to find all the limited flares for my conversion. I know not to just spray paint the interior with regular spray paint. I'll make sure to test it in a few in conspicious areas before going through with it of course.

 

But I do really want to know whats wrong with spray painting it. Is it the after effects where it may chip / bubble / scratch off that you're talking about. I'm not a pro at what I'll be doing but it's not the first time I'm gonna be undertaking something like this.

 

it seems like it would give it a really cheap look/feel...maybe even smell?

but if you've done it before, you know more about it than i do....

 

There really isn't much of a smell. I think the black look would look nice. But I did the silver back in high school like 4 years ago. I didn't like the wood grain trim that was stuck on there and the car had came like that. Its not that I don't like the silver, it just looks ricey. I don't know, I haven't started yet.

 

Depends on what you use, years back I resprayed some Renault door panels from tan to red using Vinlykote paint, I've also resprayed a few old style 70's & 80's vinyl headliners to go from nicotine yellow, to virgin white with the same stuff.
On each occasion the results were excellent. The stuff penetrates the surface, so won't scrape/crack/peel off and the original grain is preserved intact, great stuff.
If I had the time I'd certainly consider completely redoing my (blue) interior into an all black affair, IMO Henry Ford had that bit right, any colour as long as its black, especially the interior.

Go for it.