Interior Paints THAT MATCH

[Shawn]

For anyone trying to match blue 81-87 I found that SEM and LMC Color Bond DO NOT match and is not cheap to buy. I finally found some blue paint from USA1 in the 81-87 blue. I would assume the other colors match nicely but don't have any experience besides the blue. The colors are the same for the 89-91 years.

Interior Plastic & Vinyl Dye - USA1

I also found this Rust-oleum midnight blue satin color matches very close and cheaper. This works great for other parts like the headliner pieces, speaker covers, rear seat plastic cover, etc.


Be sure to clean well and use plastic adhesion promoter.

My door panels were faded on the top and now they look like new.

For Cognac color, my buddy Allen found the SEM Camel matches almost perfect.

 

[Blue85]

That's good information to have. I probably have to do some parts soon. They are selling interior parts in all of the factory colors, so I wonder if they are using these same products on them instead of molding in 33 colors. They also offer custom colors.

We are the only company in the industry offing original colors for GM trucks, Blazers, and Suburbans

 

[Shawn]

Hard to say if the interior parts they are selling actually match. On my black 79, I had accidentally ordered the wrong color of door panels but I did find a SEM color that worked to match the maroon dash. SEM is hit or miss. I was REALLY disappointed with the LMC Colorbond. Way too dark. Plus the SEM blue was not right. I wasted $50 on 2 cans of blue spray paint plus shipping so I was trying to save someone the expensive mistake I did.

 

[nvrenuf]

Great info, thanks! I've got a center console project in my future and will be needing some good dark blue.

 

[Shawn]

The make these other colors for the different years too. I would imagine 72 and older but have not looked.

 

[85-K5Blazer]

I used both the USA-1 81-87 Blue on all front seat area of the Blazer (all vinyl and Plastic trim and the dash pad) along with the SEM 15043 Shadow Blue from the Cargo area back on on all plastics and the vinyl ... For the Headliner Pillars and supports I used the 79-80 Mystic from USA1 which is how mine came from the factory. The Black I believe and can check was SEM Landu Black ..

There is slight variation but as a whole I was well pleased in how everything turned out.

The Process must be followed to turn out proper ...

CLEAN - CLEAN - CLEAN (SEM Soap)
Degreaser (SEM Solve)
Activator ( USE the correct one .. one for Vinyl, one for ABS Plastic, one for all other Plastic - you have to know which plastic)
Top Coat ( 3 - 5 coatings ... very light, light, medium, medium flowing, flowing)

I practiced on some old pieces until I felt good about what I was doing ...

By the way I am the original owner of this 1985 K-5 and everything you see in plastic and vinyl are the original pieces all restored except the "A" Pillars and Dash Pad are out of a 1983 Suburban that was Brown Interior .. now Blue. Everything else is N.O.S. or the best RePop I could locate. Original seat belts restored and new webbing

 

[nvrenuf]

CLEAN - CLEAN - CLEAN (SEM Soap)
Degreaser (SEM Solve)
Activator ( USE the correct one .. one for Vinyl, one for ABS Plastic, one for all other Plastic - you have to know which plastic)
Top Coat ( 3 - 5 coatings ... very light, light, medium, medium flowing, flowing)

That center console looks fantastic!

Assuming you only bought enough supplies to do a center console, how much would you say you spent?

I’m weighing materials cost vs finding a nice blue console.

 

[85-K5Blazer]

That center console looks fantastic!

Assuming you only bought enough supplies to do a center console, how much would you say you spent?

I’m weighing materials cost vs finding a nice blue console.

Thanks ... I thought it turned out really good.

So the issue for the Console only when you think about paint .. maybe 2 cans because I completely took the console apart, removed the lock and hinges and sprayed everything ... inside and out of the base and top and bottom of the top.

I used Semi Gloss Black Enamel for the Hinge and screw heads (1 Can)
I used the USA 1 81-87 Blue (2 Cans .. you may make it on one .. but if you run out .. your not going to be happy)
I used the SEM Landu Black (I think) (1 Can)

So between these four cans your at $100.00 basically

Then you have the Cleaner which you can use Dawn Dish Soap and grey scotch brite pads,
Then for this the Cup holder is ABS Plastic so you need one type of Activator
The Lid and base use a different Activator so figure another $50.00

Then the blue painters tape to mask off the Black area / followed by remasking the Blue are of the cup holder ..

I probably spent a good 10 hours total of multiple days cleaning and preping.

For me ... I had so much to paint, the cost of all the cleaners, solvents, activators was igsignificatnt .

Also mine being an original and original owner, the cost was not the issue .. keeping it original was ...

Looking for a good one that is not in too bad of shape I see on E-Bay for anywhere between $200 - $300 ...

Hope this gives you something to think about in your decisions ..

I did enjoy the heck out of my efforts, but it took many, many weekends to get everything painted before I even started putting the new carpet in.

 

[nvrenuf]

That's great food for thought, I really appreciate you breaking it down like that. I've been looking for consoles and saw the same $200-$300 range for nice but not amazing examples. For $150+ in materials plus time, I think I'll keep searching for a blue one. I'm in no hurry so I can be patient.

 

[Blue85]

I used both the USA-1 81-87 Blue on all front seat area of the Blazer (all vinyl and Plastic trim and the dash pad) along with the SEM 15043 Shadow Blue from the Cargo area back on on all plastics and the vinyl ...

Wow, these pictures bring back so many good memories of mine...

 

[Shawn]

@85-K5Blazer Great info!!!
On my 79, it had the Mystic white pillars and headliner. I could not find the matching fabric so I finally just went with a burgandy fabric and painted the pillars with a SEM Burgandy to match the dash and door panels. So on this 86, I never tried looking for the Mystic white fabric and just went to the blue like the 89-91 have. The fabric is a tad darker but fine for this build. Keep in mind the pass door panel is not painted yet. My hard headliner piece was warped but I was able to straighten it out with a spray bottle and flat weighted pieces with 2x4's to get its shape back. I found the blue visors on ebay. Previous owner used black floor carpet for headliner (horrible idea) and black paint for the pillar pieces and visors so this looks much better.

 

[85-K5Blazer]

@Shawn yours looks great ... for me it took 2 years of looking for the off white Snakebite Perforated Foam Backed Vinyl.

My original headliner board was damaged by an employee at the upholstery shop. I purchased an uncovered ABS Plastic headliner and had them install the headliner material I purchased.

The Mystic Paint from USA-1 was a perfect match for the trim.

The Headliner Mart had the headliner material ... it takes a yard based on the bolt size to recover a headliner.

Products & Color Charts — Headliner Mart

www.headlinermart.com

 

[Shawn]

@Shawn yours looks great ... for me it took 2 years of looking for the off white Snakebite Perforated Foam Backed Vinyl.

My original headliner board was damaged by an employee at the upholstery shop. I purchased an uncovered ABS Plastic headliner and had them install the headliner material I purchased.

The Mystic Paint from USA-1 was a perfect match for the trim.

The Headliner Mart had the headliner material ... it takes a yard based on the bolt size to recover a headliner.

Products & Color Charts — Headliner Mart

www.headlinermart.com

View attachment 473333

Do you remember how much they charged for the white headliner? PRP-1181-A then correct? I had no idea it was called snakebite. Thats great you found it. Its really tough to matches these colors of interior sometimes. I know people have been going to SMS fabric for the plaid seat material only to wait over 6 months to a year and its not cheap material. I must went to every fabric shop looking for the damn mystic white! I gave up.

Here's a recent picture of my 86. Nothing as nice as yours. Its original carpet and seats so its a little faded but not in too bad of shape with the years and miles it has. I used some special blue dye for the carpet to help bring back the color. Hindsight I should have just replaced the carpet but its good enough for now. I had the seat material cleaned and re-glued to the bottom foam piece. The dash was done by PO in Mexico I believe. Its like a leather covered dash but they never cut any holes for the dash speakers. I still need to find a top seat belt harness cover. It has come a long way from where it started.

BEFORE:



AFTER:

 

[Shawn]

Before and after on my 79 K5. Used SEM Napa Red for door panels and pillar pieces





Recolored headliner:

 

[Shawn]

Before and after on my 89 K5. Trying to find the exact SEM paint I used for the gray.