Ultimate LE interior paint thread - SEM - Portola, Firethorn, Napa

[73Bacon]

Well, you super anal retentive fashion types on MazdaRoadster should appreciate this. Or maybe not

The point of this thread is: You can get a really good match to the 1993 LE red on plastics by spraying these two SEM paints simultaneously:


Yes, after a bunch of testing with about a zillion original LE plastic trim and all three SEM colors people use for this (Portola, Firethorn, and I added Napa to the mix) this is what I found.

My opinion of the three colors normally used for this:
- SEM Portola: Too pinkish or cherry red.
- SEM Firethorn: Darker, but too glossy and still red with no burundy.
- SEM NAPA: Too burgundy:

Looking at the colors I wished I could mix Firethorn and Napa. Then, I realized if aerosols could mix in the air and form smog over Los Angeles, they could do something similar in my garage. Just spray both colors at once and let them mix. The resulting color is in my opinion nearly a dead match for the factory LE red plastic colors.

For anyone seeing this topic for the first time, you can use SEM interior plastic paint to restore or color convert to a 1993 LE red/burgundy color. If you do this be sure you follow these basic steps:

- Degrease part
- Clean with 98% rubbing alcohol, wipe dry
- Spray with SEM plastic adhesion promoter
- Sand with 400 grit
- Re-spray with SEM plastic adhesion promoter
- Light coat of color SEM plastic paint
- Wait five minutes
- Second coat of SEM plastic paint

In my case, I sprayed my color coats using SEM Firethorn and Napa at the same time. Two hands, aimed at the same spot on the part, light coats and uiform passes = perfect color.

Experimentation is below. I sprayed over black, over the original LE, and compared the results to a Nakamae leather door panel and original 1993 LE parts.

This picture, clockwise from one o’clock: 1993 LE stock glovebox, Firethorn kick panel, Nakamae door panel, Portola glovebox.


Portola govebox on left, Stock 1993 LE on right, Firethorn kick panel


Another pile of test runs


Stock 1993 LE on the left, Firethorn+Napa on the right


Another pile of test parts, this time out in daylight. Of course between the reflections, the uneven lighting, how the different textures show the colors, and my shitty camera skills you can’t tell anything from this picture other than I had nothing better to do last weekend


Partial shot of dash prepped for paint


Dashboard painted Portola, mixed with LE glovebox. Wayy… too pink. Not that there’s anything wrong with that


Dash sprayed Firethorn, too dark


Pile of parts painted Firethorn+Napa simultaneously. A stock LE trim panel is on the Left. Look at how rich the combo color is.


Dashboard painted Firethorn+Napa, this works.


Have fun with this one guys, its not as hard as it sounds if you've got a pair of steady hands

[tanakapz]

wow, awesome experimentation. it came out great. how's the durability on the paint?

[Demon I Am]

too bad you can't have them mixed that way. looks like the hard work is paying off.

[Rogue]

Problem is there are no LEs the same color.
Everyone has faded a different shade, even to a purple/maroon.
They were a bright red originally.
I have 2 93LEs and parted out 3 more.
On the one I have been driving since 2001, I put Katzkins in Red and dyed the rest to match that red.
Looks awesome and never been called out by the purist……even at the LE gatherings at the GAP.
I used PPG DBI interior paint, just like the OEM uses.
It can be matched to any shade and sprayed with a regular spray gun (I used a 1.4)
Its been done since 2005, still looks good.

I did the black crash pad too, love it.

[—Martin—]

Nice work!

[Cxmoney]

Well, looks like I need to sell both of my LE dashes and just buy a plain black or tan one. Lol

[— Malibu Q —]

Well done 73Bacon.
I really like what you've done.
I have often observed how many automotive vinyls (particularly beige) have been originally finished with two colours combined.
It makes the vinyl look more textured.
It looks like your method may make the plastics etc. look richer, while maintaining a good match.
I have never seen a complete red interior but have a growing pile of red parts, from many sources.
Which part of a red interior would you choose to match to?

[—atank—]

This is a very good experiment, red interior without the rare LE parts!! I just hope the paint lasts.....

[73Bacon]

Well done 73Bacon.
I really like what you've done.
I have often observed how many automotive vinyls (particularly beige) have been originally finished with two colours combined.
It makes the vinyl look more textured.
(snip)
Which part of a red interior would you choose to match to?

You are right about the plastics being finished with two colors, at least on the dash. The LE govebox I have, if you look close, has the grain in black and the top portions in the red color. But you have to look close. My LE carpets are the same way, two colors - black spattered behind the red color.

However, the LE trim panels were not bi-color like the dash. These were definitely only one color.

As far as a pile of red LE parts goes, all of these parts except for the dash started out as gennie LE parts. I painted them anyway to make sure the colors all matched identically, and if they get scratched they will be still Red underneath. I think this mattered more for the kick panels.

My color match target was the Nakamae door panels and the original LE glovebox, both of which matched each other spot on. As a result of painting everything I've probably got a better match than the factory did on the plastics.

As far as durability, so far so good. I had to wrestle the rear trim panels into place when installing them last night due to infereference with my roll bar, and the paint didn't show any signs of contact at all. So it appears to be somewhat hard and with good adhesion.

[— Phatmiata —]

love it!! Great Idea!!! I have several dashes laying around here, I might have to try this out!! Thanks Given !!!

[mx54life]

Good work. Now LE interior prices coming down yo lol.

[jux]

Thanks for experimenting, Bacon! Great info.
I'll need to try this on my faded rear trim panels. They're fairly pink these days.

[Stealth97]

Nerco bump I know, but doing research on the subject. you can buy SEM paint by the quart, mix them 50-50 and spray.

[— Malibu Q —]

No. Don't do that. It won't look as good if you mix the colours beforehand. Mixing the two colours in the air gives it a more textural look. I did my tan crash pad red using 73bacon's method, and it worked out great.
Also done recolours on other interior stuff. Unless black, the two tone air mix method is best.

[Stealth97]

Will keep that in mind thanks.