Interior Re-dye progress

Well, J & J Restoration of Tucson, AZ showed up yesterday to start the re-dye of my '86 Cab., a lot of work goes into preparing to do the work. Will post pictures today of the final product. Mitch Stone, owner of J & J Restoration and his helper Jack are the best. To look at his web site go to Tucson's Best Vinyl and Leather Repair Company!
I highly recommend him if you live any where near the Tucson area.
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I'm about to start the same or similar process on my 85 QV Coupe.

How was your leather before the Re-Dye? Mine is very stiff. Not quite cardboard, but getting close.

did you use/need anything like the Leatherique Rejunvinator oil?

I was intending to pull all the leather out of my car, until I saw your pics. Although, if I have to rub in the Rejuvinator Oil, it still might make sense to pull it all out.

Sid

 

Very nice, looks like they are using air brushing instead of rag and polish.
Looks like NEW !

 

When I got the car in Feb of this year the leather was stiff as cardboard. I started using a product Zymol to condition the leather and after about 4 months of applying it weekly it began to soften up. Spent about 4+ weeks stripping the old dye off, several layers before they started the re-dye. It really looks great, going to be well worth the time, effort and expense.

 

Yep, he is spraying the dye on, helps bring out the grain as you are not building it up so much. When I stripped the old dye off every piece of leather had been gone over with a tooth brush to clean it so the grain would come through. Happy with the results.

 

What are the plans for the carpeting and other bits?

 

The inevitable question - what is the cost?

 

What did you use to strip off the old dye?

 

Plan is to out tomorrow and rent a carpet steam cleaner

 

$1,500.00, which does not include my 4+ week's 6 hours a day of stripping the old dye off

 

Lacquer thinner per recommendation of J&J Restoration

 

I do a bit of this as an advocation and use professional removers which basically contain acetone. The drawback is that acetone, which is also in some lacquer thinners, has a short work period due to evaporation. I've noticed in working some of the leather in my Mondial that the dye and coatings are unusually thick making removal difficult. I can fully appreciate the hours and days Andrew spent prepping his leather. Put a dollar value on that and I'm sure the cost would have been double. It will look new when fully completed and reinstalled.

 

Rag and toothbrush? Other approach?

 

Impressive!

 

fantastic result.
the amount of prep work sounds scary

 

Looks great so far.

 

Yep, rag & toothbrush...... There were several layers of old dye and I wanted to have the grain of the leather show again. I'm glad I went through the effort as the result is great. Finished cleaning the carpets today, tomorrow I start to re-assemble, can't wait, love the car now. 😁

 

Impressive work!!!!!

How long ago did you apply the leather softener?

Mine was also cardboard hard. I went the Leatherique way. Then I tried Lexol. Made the leather nice and soft. But, it also made the folds soft and the leather ended up tearing after 2 years.

Did you have any tears in the leather that you had to fix first?

 

Richard,
I kept applying the softner to the leather to right up until I started to strip the old dye. Mine didn't have any tears, there were a few cracks that they filled which now you would never know they were there. All of my seams are in great shape also, guess I'm lucky. Today I start to put it back together, will post pictures when done.
Andy

 

Having done ONE seat bottom....I can only imagine your pain!!! It will look spectacular upon reassembly!!

 

WOW, what a day, got most of the interior back in, only thing left is the dash vent air kit by Ron (hoping it will be here next week), and to paint the two angles of metal at the top connection point of the seat belt harness. The other big issue was the new boot cover I got from Rich&Famous had to send it back for them to look at a bad area on the leather, hope to have it back in a couple of weeks. Then it is car shows for the next few months in our great winter months of Tucson.
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After three months, today I got my '86 Cab. on the road again, what a blast shifting at 5 & 6 thousand rpms, these car's are a blast to drive, they just beg for more. 😁

 

.

+1

Looking nice.

I hope it smells like new too.

 

great reward for your efforts

 

Looks great. Congrats