Saul Jones

I have a 97' civic ej9, currently modified, I want to progress my build with my interior, I like the dark look to the ek4 interior, I want to change(paint/dye) my roof lining to black, sunroof including and all the ugly cream/grey plastics to black, and also the pillar plastics to black. I have a ek4 black carpet inside, along with black steering wheel. has anyone done something similar to this and would explain what way they did theirs?

I thought I could just get a matte black spray can (well a few) and spray paint the plastics and roof lining and it would be okay, even tho stock ej9 dash and console aint black, will they blend and look alright or will they look to light?

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

Do you have a sedan, or hatchback? Yes, it matters. If you have a hatchback, just get the interior out of an EK4 if you like it so much, and boom, you're done. If you have a sedan, the Acura EL is the donor car you want.

I've been in the process of black leather converting my sedan. Only just recently installed and wired EL doors to convert from gray cloth to black leather, and from manual windows to power windows. It's not particularly hard to do. As for the plastics, I've tried spray paint. It's way too glossy, and looks cheap. I've tried Plastidip. It's too easily damaged, and peels off.

In short, your best bet is to find a donor Civic with the same chassis type, with the interior color you want, and swap everything over.

Saul Jones

I was planning on spending a lot less than what it will cost me to buy the interior, just wondering if anyone else has darkened theirs without swapping an interior? I can remember seeing a black ek3 on here which had a dark interior, swear I read he sprayed it?

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

The sprays never hold. They either look like ****, or they fade way too quickly. You have to pay to play.

Alternatively, you could get bolts of upholstery vinyl from your local sewing/fabric store, and completely reupholster your car. It's cheap, but very time and effort intensive.

Ever heard "fast, cheap, reliable, you can only have two"? Well, with interior/appearance stuff, there's a similar concept. Looks good, Costs less, Lasts a long time. You can only have 2 out of 3. An OEM interior will look good and last a long time, but won't be cheap. A re-color/spray can job will be cheap, and if you use really good product, might last or might look good, but it won't do both (and it might not do either). Doing your own upholstery work will look good, and will last a long time, and while it will be fiscally "cheap", the time and effort you spend learning how to do it properly, and then actually doing it, won't be cheap if you actually value your own time.

Saul Jones

cheers for that mate ! any know how or any links to how to remove pillar plastics in a ej9? and how to paint roof lining ? think I'll do that till I can find something oem

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

Don't paint the roof lining. Reupholster it. That part is easy as **** - just use some 3M upholstery adhesive. The pillar plastics are also easy to remove, but you haven't answered my question on sedan or hatchback. Like I said, yes, it matters.

Saul Jones

what materials could I reupholster the lining with? sorry mate, hatch. I want to remove those cream plastics without having to take the rear quarter out

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

Whatever you want. Go to your local fabric store, pick something you like, and go for it. I used black upholstery vinyl. My step brother used leopard print cloth. A lot of people have done this with a lot of different things, it's really just up to you.

For a hatch, the plastics all have only two types of things holding them in place. Either another panel, or a small metal clip that is stupidly easy to break. Get yourself some trim panel tools, and go to town prying stuff out. They're basically different sizes and shapes of pry bars, but made out of plastic, so you don't damage the panels. You can get a cheap set for $10-$15.

Saul Jones

are there any specific how to on how to remove the roof plastics, including the pillar plastics without removing the rear quaters?

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

Just start popping them off. It really is easier than it looks.

tony_2018

If you search this very section you'll find one guy who turned his grey interior into black. Lasted quite a while. There is a certain vinyl paint he used.

Saul Jones

cheers guys, I'll try search for that now, worried about breaking the clips ahah. I was sortve hoping to see a PIC of what leaving the grey dash in but black plastics, how different will it look

tony_2018

stupid looking...

Saul Jones

any pics to back that up mate

deschlong

iTrader: (8)

Acura EL interior is dark grey, not black. OP needs to source parts from LHD market in Europe, or vinyl paint everything, which is rarely works out properly (I have yet to come across one that didn't look awful).

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

It's dark enough that, realistically, it's close enough as makes no difference. I have EL door cards and a rear seat in my sedan.

deschlong

iTrader: (8)

SOme ppl are fussy though. You still need all the sedan trim bits? (eg., door sills) Also some people don't realize that the upper trim around the A/B/C pillars is darker, too. Full retro includes these bits too + the rear parcel shelf.

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

At this point, if it's plastic, I need it. I also need a dash and steering wheel. The door cards were fun, especially since they involved converting to power windows and locks, too. Wait, you're a CDMBro?

deschlong

iTrader: (8)

Not currently, but yeah I think we talked about this a while back. Only black bits are steering wheel and column covers. All else is dk grey in an EL.