The black hand brake grip and shift **** look great

 

Hi Doc;
Thanks for the Info!
I was planning on going the Rit Dye way and at the same time doing the Storage Bins too.
Thanks for the link. I had already read it and thought you might have found something different. 4 Boxes of Rit to 5 Gallons of Boiling Water shoud do it.
sgieldon
steve

 

With the carpeting it will probably take more than 5 gallons of water and a bigger tub.

I had a tub with atleast 10-12 gallons of water in it and 3 bottles, not the small boxes of dye. I recommend on the front larger piece of carpet atleast 6 bottles of the dye. This is based on the results between the smaller carpet that sits under the seats and the results of the larger carpet.

 

I was trying to determine what was wrong with the color of the ebarke handle. Then looking at it closer. Duh, it's still chocolate brown.

Ok, need input guys.

What color to paint the ebrake handle. Black or Tan?
Gear shift **** is black but a dull black. What do you guys recommend?
Bins. All black? Can't change carpet because that's the theme.
Steering wheel, Black or leave it the tan?

Don't be shy. I will not be offended at all by recommendations.
It's sometimes better to get outside opinions so as to weigh all the options.

 

honestly ... I think that painting the shift **** and handbrake the same tan color.

About the bins this is what i'm doing. (Keep in mind my doors and seats will be done diffently then yours, and also my door inserts are the GSL type from 84-85.)

So that in mind, the center section and bottom parts of the doors will be done in a Beachwood color, same goes for the headliner, visors, bin center section, and also my seats will be done 2 tone in those 2 colors too. This is the plans for my ... and I think I will be going with a black carpet too (will be alot easier to maintain like that).

One things that I've thought about for you ... is what is you do something like painting the whole handbrake and **** the same color ... but to give it some more contrast you can paint the plastic (i think they're plastic can't remember now) chrome piece black. THat might give it the sharp look you're aiming for.

Even the vents and glove compartment black pieces (i was thinking of doing a contrasting color like that too) but looking at yours it seems to draw too much attention to those items. The center console and guages surround switches look awesome though. I would imagine you can even paint the coin holder/power window bezel in the center part in black if you wanted too.

I'm just tossing ideas in the air ... every little bit helps ... also i know someone mentioned changing the steering wheel to black ... I think either or for that will look good. It can be viewed to either match the dash or the guage cluster surround. Even painting the 2 pieces behind there (where the switches cluster key hole plastic pieces is what I'm referring too) black could also work.

 

dj55b I do appreciate your input. It helps alot from you because you are doing the same thing at this time.

Gives me something to think about.

The good thing about painting is I can try it and see what it looks like.
It's funny because I already painted the ebrake handle the tan but was thinking about painting the release **** black. and I did not even think about the chrome trim piece. I think that would look good black also. :-)
I just installed the center console with the power window switches today and I painted the switch holder black.
I also changed the seat belt receptacles to black and will get some seat belts in black to match from the existing brown.

 

where would you get a replacement belt from? I would like to change them to something close to my tan or either beachwood color. I haven't really looked online yet but I'm sure its doable. Also need to know how they attach exactly at the bottom.

Good to hear about the handbrake ... post up some pictures of that. I totally forgot about the button but I'm sure that it looks really good like that.

Great minds think a like ... well you might have the greater mind but will leave that out for now

 

Best place for replacement belts is either in the yards or place a WTB ad. Most of the people parting out cars hardly ever get a call for seatbelts.

 

Doc, the problem is you have too much time to do this kind of stuff. I dream of being able to work on my car for an entire day.

The tan looks great, i mean Great. as far as the E brake. Black would look good, much more than tan. Besides, Tan is SO easy to get dirty. Leave Tan for parts of the interior that don't see dirty feet/hands on a regular basis. The shift ****... work on a bunch of mazdas over the course of a few years and get in your car without washing your right hand. For whatever reason the FC shiftknob that i have in my mx-6 is ubershiny black and thats the only thing i can think of.

Carpet? Black, hands down. Doesnt show dirt as much AND really matches your switches and vents.

-Eric

 

Hey Doc;
I'm only doing the Rear Peice. 3 Boxes not enough? Per 5 Gallon Laundry Container?
Thanks
Steve

 

Steve, if that is the piece under the seats then that will be fine.
If you are refeering to the hatch carpet it will not accept the dye.

 

Post current pictures.

 

More updates.

I decided to try the tan shift **** with accenting the chrome bezel in black.
Did the same on the ebrake handle and accented the **** in black and the chrome bezel in black.

Yes I know the window switch trim is sticking up.
Has to be one of their less thought thru designs with plastic mounting clips?

Tomorrow the door panel carpeting will be black and the cargo carpet will be finished with the final coat of black.

 

I think that we've just craked it right there with the handbrake and shift ****. Like this the top of the shift **** is contrasting it perfectly, and even the chrome to black is looking perfect I think. ... whats your thoughts doc?

Looking at the power window holder though, I think that painting it tan might be better. The switches are just blending in too much and it looks like its too much black in that area.

lastly the seatbelt parts are looking a little off too. I think if you paint the top part tan and leave the tube part black it would look alot better. I understand the issued of rubbing and what not ... but lets face it its going to rub either way. I'm thinking of putting like a piece of carpeting of someting to surround it to act as a soft material to reduce the wear in that area.

besides that looking really good.

 

I like the way the shifter and ebrake turned out. Good call!
I agree on the window switch holder. I have to buy a new one anyway because of the broken clips. I have a mahongony style cut out that was on top of the switches from the previous owner.
The seat belt receptacles were tan,lol. I changed them to black trying to get some offset to the tan seats as they lay across them.

 

WOW thats all i can say. WOW!!!!

 

so you basically did the exact opposite I recommended. ***.

 

I wonder if kori yaki is doc's grandson.

 

Doc;
So you don't think that 3 Boxes of Dye will not do it?
Last nite I put the Rear Peice of (Hatch Only)Carpet in the Laundry Tub with just water and it was completly submursed.

Ya think if I added 1 Bottle of Liquid Black Dye to the 3 Boxes of Powder Dye it will work?
I feel really stupid asking this ???
Anyhow your project is looking Great.
sgieldon
steve

 

Why are you calling him an ***??? This is all experimental, and I think that both me (since I'm doing the same thing as he is) and Doc agree that this is more pleasing to the eye. You gave your recommendation like anyone else .. but thats all it is ... a recommendation.

Not trying to be and *** ...

Sam

 

No 1 on this forum should never be called an ***.
We are here only to Help & Share our Expertise to Projects done or wanted to do.
So leave out the Your Opinions unless they are helpful to RX Owners.
sgieldon
steve

 

I have the window switchplate with the coin cup where the joystick normally is, and painted body colour with clearcoat - hard to replace. So when the plastic clips broke, I used a bead of Gorilla Snot black adhesive around the lip of the console to glue the switchplate down. Cleaner than putting screws through it!

 

Sam, Steve it's ok about Kory's comment. He and I are friends and that is his way of using sarcastic Humor. He doesn't mean anything disrespectful at all. :-)

Steve, what I was stating about the rear cargo carpet was that I tried to dye it and it would not accept the dye. I even bleached it for hours and nothing phased the color at all except that it was really clean when I got done. It seems that the thin material used in the hatch area color is impregnated into the fibers of the material.

Manntis, thanks for the tip. Guess I could use try the glue but I think that monstrous joy stick pushes too much upwards.
Thanks guys for all the input and comments.
Sam, can't wait to see how yours turns out. Hopefully the rest of mine will be finished today.

Kory, by the way, it's Mr. *** to you,lol

 

Just bead on the black adhesive, press the plate in place, and hold it for about 40 seconds. if you just put it in place and leave it, the wires going to the window switches and joystick will push it up out of the wet adhesive and make a mess.

 

If I am, I sure didn't get my good looks from his side of the family!