93 FD Owners with peeling interior, don't want to buy new panels? Look inside!!

[Brent]

This is a little trick that I figured out thanks to Scott Fleming(Power Hungry on other forums) when he purchased an FD from me in 2002. Basically, you are stripping the top layer that peels off the panel to reveal a very smooth shiney finish(what appears to be the gel coating). I have done this to several interior panels over the year by heating the panel up lightly with a heat gun, then using goof off with a rag to remove the peeling layer. Which takes alot of time, but IMO, is worth it once it's all finished.
Recently, technomentor discovered a new way to do this while removing tint. Here is a quick how to.

This process can be done for the cost of under $10 and a few hours.

What you need:
-water
-ammonia(you can purchase at Wal Mart for a couple of bucks)
-latex or protective gloves
-ventalation mask
-outdoor area


*Make sure you have your gloves and mask on at all times*
1. Remove the interior panel you will be stripping(ie door panel trim, gauge hood, A/C panel, or shifter panel). You can do it without removing them, but you need to tape everything around it up. Even so, I still do not reccommend doing it with the piece still installed in the car.

2. Next take appoximately 1oz of ammonia and pour it into a 20oz bottle of water. A normal aquafina or whatever water bottle will work fine. Put the cap back on, and mix it up a bit.

3. If you have a heat gun available, heat the panel up lightly to help make the peeling layer and adhesive come off easier. If you do not have one, do not worry about this step.

4. Take a cloth and saturate the panel with the ammonia water solution and lightly rub the panel. If it does not begin to come off, let the solution sit on the panel for approximately 5 minutes or you can rub harder. However, rubbing harder can put fine scratches on the panel(this has only happened when I have used a scotch brite pad). I also normally add a little more ammonia to the water. You will have to play with this and see what works best for you. As always, it is best to start off using the base 1 oz of ammonia for 20oz of water and add more as necessary. WARNING: Using too much ammonia or heat can melt, deform, or discolor the panel. Although this has never happened to me, I would reccommend trying this method out on a broken interior panel you may have laying around.

5. Clean off interior panel throughly with water. Once it is nice and clean, I normally put a little armor-all on it. It doesn't really make it shine anymore, but it never hurts anything. The finished product looks like this:

Door Trim:


Shifter Panel:

[RedX7]

Thanks for the tip! I was just about to start the whole sand and paint process.

[BigIslandSevens]

Not to steal the thread in any way. I actually did the same thing for a customer until the decided they wanted it painted flat black. This is mine i just did. It was already a 94 but had been done silver to match.

You could just clear coat it and accomplish a permanent shine and some protection form scratching

http://rotarycarclub.com/showthread.php?t=1071

[RXtacy]

Yea but you can't beat new OEM.

[BigIslandSevens]

Nope, that is nice. although you can't get the whole set anymore,but yeah, that is nice and clean!!

[RXtacy]

93 you can which is what that is.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by BigIslandSevens

Not to steal the thread in any way. I actually did the same thing for a customer until the decided they wanted it painted flat black. This is mine i just did. It was already a 94 but had been done silver to match.

You could just clear coat it and accomplish a permanent shine and some protection form scratching

http://rotarycarclub.com/showthread.php?t=1071

I cleared some 5 or 6 years ago and I haven't really found a clear that is a semi-permenent fix, without first stripping the top layer off like the panels I have pictured. The reason for this is because it still has a the layer that has a tendency to peel. True though, the clear did help some. If I was just going to paint them, I'd just sand it down(which I have done several years ago and painted myself in the booth(which turn out well, but a novice can't do). Yours turned out very nice, but I'd still rather have my shiny ones Plus, anyone with no experience, a couple of hours, and $3 can make their interior look great with no painting required. I have also used Plasti Dip to get the textured 94 look, which takes some practice, on some of my other panels.

Truth be told, I have a brand new complete 94 interior trim(hood and front, door trims, ac panel, and shifter console) sitting in the box waiting to go in one of these days, maybe 5 or 10 years from now. I know someone else that does too *cough cough* Dan *cough*

[BigIslandSevens]

[QUOTE=Brent;11215]I cleared some 5 or 6 years ago and I haven't really found a clear that is a semi-permenent fix, without first stripping the top layer off like the panels I have pictured. The reason for this is because it still has a the layer that has a tendency to peel. True though, the clear did help some.

I actually meant clear the stripped shiny panels you have now to protect them. I understand completely about the layer that will still peel. Been bit by that before Haha. The plasti dip sounds intresting. Would you mind PM'ing me some pics of that if you have any. I could imagine keeping it from running would take practice on our interior panels.

And what are you guys, interior panel chipmunks, what else you got stored in your cheeks?

[Brent]

ah ok, gotcha. Between me and Chadwick... we keep mazda motorsports in business. I think it's all just a matter or time before they stop selling alot of the OEM parts and I want to make sure I have them ready when they do. As far as the plasti dip. It is actually pretty hard to get it to run. The difficult part is getting the finish you want(if you want the smooth 93 look). I'll PM you more info. once I find it on my computer in a day or two.