Another blind alley!

[Hawks911]

Just when I think I'm making progress...

Can anyone help with the best method to refurbish the top door sills on a 1978 911SC Targa? I was making a list of new door panels, rear side panels and rear deck to order from our host on our current SC interior restoration project when I discovered that the top door sill is no longer available!

Is it common practice to recover this item yourself with matching vinyl / leather material to match the new door panels or should I look elsewhere for a new sill? I'm planning on switching from the current tan color to black door panels and new black, sliver knit carpet. I've considered dying the sills black (from the current tan) but am worried about having the only "reworked" part of the interior being so prominent, especially if I can't get a good color match with the new material.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

This journey sure gives you a high level of appreciation when you see a restoration that's well done on these pages. It's a very humbling experience indeed!

Thanks again.

Mike

[MAS956]

Those don't look half bad from the pix. Were I you, I'd give this product a try first:

http://www.303products.com/tech/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=428

I just went over the leather interior in my Subie with it and it looks like new.

[Hawks911]

Mark,

Appreciate the reply. From what I could gather, product you referenced is a restorer / protectant but not an actual dye. I need to switch from tan to black on this project. Maybe I missed something, but thanks again for the feedback.

Mike

[MAS956]

Sorry, guess I missed the "black" part. I guess my next suggestion would be to try here: http://leatherique.com/

A lot has been discussed in this forum on dying leather interiors. The search button is your friend.

[Gearbox]

Eastwood has a great product to dye leather and vinyl that I had used on a dash. The link is here . They also have a prep spray to soften the vinyl before spaying. The final product came out extremely well. It was a green vinyl that I painted black. After several years of use and cleaning, it hasn't peeled, chipped, nor scratched off. And the coverage was smooth and seamless. Very easy to use. Good luck Allan

[djdsc]

Give the SEM brand of products a try. SEM makes a flexible coating especially for vinyl and is available in spray cans. The door trim tops, rear trim tops, package shelf and fiberglass door pockets were all "painted" with the satin black and prepped with the SEM vinyl prep.

The coating is very durable and shows no signs of wear with a year of daily use.

[jstobo]

Take them off and recover them. The leathe/vinyl is just glued on and only two screws hold the trim on the door. Simple.

[RichMink76]

I used the SEM black vinyl stuff on my cork colored interior and it turned out nice. We will have to see how long it lasts. If you use this stuff make sure you cclean the parts well. I did get a couple of spots that fish eyed.

[Hawks911]

jstobo (and others),

Appreciate everyone's comments on the dying option. Looks like that is viable. I was also interested in experience with the recovering option, as that might provide the best match with the new door and rear panels that I intend to provide. I need new door panels due to abuse from the PO(s) on multiple speaker mounting efforts that have ruined the lower door panels in the speaker area.

Do you have any pics from your efforts to recover the sills? It does look rather straightforward, with minimal screws mounting the sills to the doors. Just curious if there were any special tips such as preferred glues, strectching techniques, etc.

Thanks again to all for all the insight.

This community is awesome when it comes to helping a fellow Pelicanite.

Thanks.

mike

[Hawks911]

bump


thanks

[goat]

Would really like to hear the details of the refinishing of them...
Recovering them looks tough, at least to me.
A few years back I took the easy way out and bought a pair.
If you have no luck in finishing them I have a brand new pair in Black out of a 84 Targa.

[Bob Goding]

Mike --heres a suggestion,I'll buy your tan ones and you buy the new black set from Tim.---good idea?
Tim ,whats your price?

[Hawks911]

Bob,

The wheels are turning (that's dangerous on snow and ice!). Are the sills identical between '78 and '84? What year are you looking for, Bob?

Mike

[Bob Goding]

Mines a '76

[Kirk Lundmark]

I've sent mine to Einmalig in Huntington Beach. $225 each to recover in leather. A little steep but something I look at every day is worth it.

Kirk