Que Sera Sera ... serviced and normalising.

[scdan4]

surely acetone will just destroy the entirety of the dash? That stuff absolutely love to yum up plastic.

 

I thought the jetwash idea was a good one. 

[Parky]

Try placing some gaffa tape on the dash, it might peel the old paint away like an enormous dashboard waxing strip?

[Guest Breadvan72]

Brazil, or Hollywood?  

 

Vajazzle, maybe?

[skattrd]

It looks like different types of paint on different areas of the interior. The stuff on the door cards looks like it will be harder to remove than the dash, and the black stuff on the door trims is different again.

 

I don't own a jetwash, and I can test the Xylene without removing anything.

 

If anyone has any ideas on another solvent or anything else to try feel free to suggest them.

[barrett]

I remember Vulgalor demonstrating how to remove paint from the plastic bits of old toy cars he was restoring. Helpfully i can't remember what he used, but after an overnight soak the paint just lifted away.

 

I know humbrol enamel and whatever shit is on your dash are obvs totally different but the science might be the same. Vulgalor?

[Bear]

I didn't know these existed; are they just a JDM Paseo with attention-seeking doors?

 

Starlet, with Paseo engine but better (5E-FHE rather than FE in Pastito).

[brownnova]

I wish I could unsee that steering wheel!! Think I'll be having nightmares tonight!!

[vulgalour]

It's a white interior, it can't be that bad. He's banging on about that white interior again. I'll just keep reading till he gets bored of mentioning the white dashboard. It won't be that bad, it's just white.


OHGODTHEHORROR


Seriously, WTF? Why would you do that? I had great success using neat brake fluid, a toothbrush and kitchen towel removing black satin paint from the brown interior of my stupid floppytop Golf.  Ungrateful Teutonic blue shoebox.  Anyway, the link to the pertinent post: http://autoshite.com/topic/14224-1984-vw-golf-cabrio-0112-on-the-road/?p=441492 It is a tedious job, it takes forever and you mustn't use any water and must wear gloves.  The end results are quite remarkable.

[fred]

Just flock it with errr, Flock

[Junkman]

Gosh is this horrible. I love it!

[320touring]

*doffs cap*

 

shall I post you some sunglasses so you wont be blinded by the dash?

[Honey Badger]

Actually I wonder if steam would soften and lift the paint instead of using solvents straight away?

 

Or buy a big sheet of fake carbon fibre wrap and lay that down over it, it will still look shit but at least it will stop burning the back of your retinas off every time you drive it.

[LC Torana]

<IMHO>

 

I'd avoid strong chemicals altogether.

 

If you can remove the dash and door cards, then either a jetwash or a steam cleaner would be brilliant.

 

But for those parts that have to be de-painted in situ:

 

First try plain steel wool dipped in hot water;

 

If that doesn't work, try a weak sugar soap solution.

 

</IMHO>

[LC Torana]

Oh, and Normie Rowe approves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9dTHhDD384

[skattrd]

Thx for the info/suggestions Angyl/Major/Honey.

 

Brake cleaner, I have acess to that at the garage, cheap solution, and sounds like it could be a go-er

I'm starting to think that removing stuff and trying a jet wash and or a steam cleaner are the safest things to try first ... At present I have neither of those, but will see if any friends/relatives have them that I can borrow, I just won't tell them what  need them for.

I also have some metal pan scourer type things that might be useful

 

Now, has anyone got a spare steering wheel?

[Jim Bell]

[ruffgeezer]

I have a pressure washer you could borrow, but the only wheel I have I think is either 330 or 350mm.

[Hertz]

Nice purchase Chris, you nutter.

 

I suppose regarding the dash it depends how hard it is to remove, how much wiring or heater ducting is behind it. If it was a pain in the arse I'd be more tempted to Flock it. If it's a piece of piss to remove and the white ain't coming off how about paining it again in the desired colour? I just painted part of the dash in out Camper with success. I used plastic primer then just cheap satin black paint over the top.

[Taff]

can I buy that steering wheel? it will look ace in the MGF

[vulgalour]

Don't use abrasives like steel wool on that dash, you'll wreck the finish and never get it back. I learned that one the hard way.  You might find that a nailbrush and hot soapy water, or even gaffer tape, lifts the majority of the white paint.  If it's already peeling then prep can't have been that great and that works in your favour.

[John F]

OMG (I don't believe in G obv, but you know what I mean).... I like Seras a lot, but the previous owner needs to get points on their licence for doing what they did to the interior of that one.

 

I suspect you'll be looking for a replacement dashboard. The steering skeletor is in another league of hideous entirely, but will thankfully fit in a standard-sized bin.

[Taff]

OMG (I don't believe in G obv, but you know what I mean).... I like Seras a lot, but the previous owner needs to get points on their licence for doing what they did to the interior of that one.

 

I suspect you'll be looking for a replacement dashboard. The steering skeletor is in another league of hideous entirely, but will thankfully fit in a standard-sized bin.

 

I like the idea of penalty points for poor taste. Parliament for you, young man!!

[Bear]

The dashboard is mostly that squishy stuff, but the instrument top and surround for heater is hard, brittle plastic - it would have been a slightly metallic-looking dark grey. I think for that paint colour, the interior would be sort of beige-brown, the other colour is grey-blue - I now can't remember what my Sera-that-sort-of-colour was like inside as it was the one I owned the shortest time.

 

I would be inclined to flock the interior - doors included. The dash does get reflections. When doing the flock you could get some leather armrest pads and glue on. Door trim removal is relatively easy; dash removal is a bit of a bugger.

[Bear]

Gen 7 Celica foglights match the profile of the bumper, btw - if it's got one of those dangly things or converted reverse light and you want it to work right. Plus, illuminating the Sera logo is fun, lots of DIYs out there on how to do it.

[trigger]

I couldn't believe you bought it when i saw the ebay photos the other day, that interior would be one for the "Silly Things That Put You Off A Car" thread.

 

There's only one thing for it...

 

[Bear]

Yes, fucking this car up even further is definitely what it needs... 

 

Good luck, looks like you;ve got your work cut out with that one. Be keen to see it all sorted and back to its former glory

 

It needs a rear foglight. Law requires it. Most importers fit a stupid low dangling one by drilling a hole in the bumper - my black car's one was also wired in with speaker cable.

 

 

This is what a Gen 7 Celica foglight looks like on a Sera. Looks factory.

 

And some more pics of a couple of my old Seras.

 

 

 

 

This is the one that got me into them - it has a G5 bodykit.

 

[HillmanImp]

I really like the Sera Volksy and I owned. Great fun to drive and if it ever breaks down you can grow tomatos in it.

[skattrd]

I thought you and Volksy had a Sera before the Fulvia Mr_Imp, congrats on the new addition btw.

[Ghosty]

 

IMG02266.jpg

 

 

I think MR2s have that steering wheel too (hint).

[inconsistant]

Barry Scott says Cillit Bang! that dashboard and the shit is gone.