New door panels, do they match?

[Skunksmash]

I noticed that this site sells these: http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=7&Product_Code=18-35&Category_Code=DP

They seem to be the coverlay ones that a lot of places sell. I want to buy a new set, but it seems like the only color is that brownish dark tan color. Maybe the pictures are not quite accurate? I have the typical light tan interior in my 87, and i need my new door panels to match that color. These look to dark. Maybe someone can correct me if i am wrong? Im not saying that i want all my interior pieces to match perfectly, cause i know that is not really possible. But i would like to buy some that are as close as possible so i had to ask this first.

[Captkaos]

They color is fairly close to true (depending on how good you monitor is), they don't make them to match, they just offer those pre dyed.
If you want it to match all your interior pieces, and it IS possible, get a neutral color and then SEM paint everything the same color.

[Skunksmash]

I am kind of a computer buff so i have a good monitor. How close would you say those are to the factory color i am referring to? You know, that really light khaki color. Pretty much the only color they had that resembled a light tan. I mean, you know.. when they had blue, they had one blue. They had one black, one grey, ect, ect. I personally really don't like to paint stuff as it never comes out right. I think it's just that i suck at painting. I always seem to get it to thick in one spot, or it flakes off after a little time, or it runs, but it just never looks like it should in my opinion. Thats why i was scared to get an unstained/uncolored dash. So i am trying to either buy stuff that is close, or recover my old ones. With all that being said, what would you suggest when it comes to those coverlay ones?

[Captkaos]

Most of any factory door panels are faded by now, but those will probably be darker than factory.
I personally would die everything with SEM and make it match.  It is really a simple process.

[Skunksmash]

Dyeing may be easier than painting. Is it like staining wood?

[Captkaos]

By Dyeing, I mean paint.  Read this article, it is VERY simple.
http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/interior/vinyl_dye.htm

[SUX2BU99]

The use of 'dyeing' is a misnomer when talking about certain plastic parts such as the door panels. You can't dye it, you can only paint it, like with the SEM paints. Even their vinyl 'dye' doesn't actually dye vinyl. It paints it but it sticks really really well, like it was dyed.

Plastic that you 'can' die is nylon. I've taken white nylon plastic pieces and using clothing die in a saucepan of hot water, dyed them black. Nylon will absorb the die and truly change it's color all the way through.

[Skunksmash]

The use of 'dyeing' is a misnomer when talking about certain plastic parts such as the door panels. You can't dye it, you can only paint it, like with the SEM paints. Even their vinyl 'dye' doesn't actually dye vinyl. It paints it but it sticks really really well, like it was dyed.

Plastic that you 'can' die is nylon. I've taken white nylon plastic pieces and using clothing die in a saucepan of hot water, dyed them black. Nylon will absorb the die and truly change it's color all the way through.

Thank you sir, that explains a lot. Maybe i will just say screw it, and give it a try. As for the SEM, is that a brand name, or is it just one of those more advanced polymer bonding paints? You know, the kind that is supposedly very tough because it actually "bonds" with the plastic. I need something really tough so it actually stands up to the sun for at least a few years. Also, which color do yall think i should order if i wish to match the typical light khaki/light tan color of these trucks?

[Donut]

SEM is the brand name, I can't help with the color though.

[Captkaos]

SEM is the manufacturer, they are the best one to use.  Here are the colors...
http://semproducts.com/images/Users/Chip%20Cards/CL.pdf

[Skunksmash]

Thanks. From that, if i had to guess without seeing the auto maker's names then i would have guessed that Acura's "creamy ivory" was the right color to use. But apparently, it's GM's "oak".

But what makes yall say that one is the best to use? Is it that the color matching is the closest to the factory colors? Or is it just that it's some pretty tough stuff?

[Captkaos]

SEM is the best stuff in my opinion for changing the color of vinyl pieces.  All the other stuff I have used, flaked off over time.

The ones they list for GM should be closely matched to what was offered.

[Skunksmash]

Well i got my truck back from the shop and i took a look at my factory ones... not so good. They are bowed and slightly warped from the sun. I dont think i could ever get that out. I think maybe they are just trash and i should start with a new pair. So if there is some kind of way to scale this, how close to that factory color would you say that the coverlay's  are? I need to know before i buy anything because if they are noticeably off, i will need to have them covered as well which will be extra cost for the project.

[DnStClr]

I'm going to redo my tan interior too. There are other colors from SEM that you might prefer. Here's a site with another color chart- I've noticed that the GM light oak color on the Captkaos' link changes color on this chart- it almost looks olive green..

http://www.msitrt.com/SEMchart.htm

[N2TRUX]

If you really want to be happy, I suggest you dye everything at one time to get a perfect match. GM never had a panel that matched in these trucks. If you could look at a brand new 73-87 trucks interior you would be surprised to see how poorly the colors matched up.

I couldn't stand several different colors, so everything was dyed at once to ensure a match.

SUX2BU99- you are "technically" correct, but it's still called vinyl dye, not vinyl paint. That's like pointing out the difference between a "motor" and an "engine".