Hey all, I recently got myself a 98z. It's got the gray interior and the car is Arctic White. The gray is ok but I really like darker interiors, which I think would look great with the white exterior.

Short of a full ebony interior conversion, is there anything I can do to give it some new life? I think if I mix/match the gray and ebony it might look cheesy and slapped together.

I'm just looking for some opinions. Maybe some people who have mixed/matched the two colors and what pieces they swapped.

 

I have a mixed interior and really like the way it looks. Check my sig.

 

IMO, if you want darker. Start searching for Black/Ebony Guts. Then sell yours as there is always someone looking, even if it is to replace worn int. You will comeout some $$$ but overall you should make out fine.

 

I have a '94 with the base gray/black seats. All of the plastic panels (with exception of dash) are gray. At one point, i wanted to convert it to black panels and black carpet. I started with the hatch. The hatch panels are 2 or 3 pieces (can't remember) and i changed those first since the carpet in the trunk was black and it wouldnt look so out of place since i was buying in pieces rather then whole. Never got around to finishing it but it doesnt look half asses in my opinion

 

That does look awesome! My biggest problem is the gray dash. I think if I swapped other parts over like the console and door panels, the dash would make things look out of place though. That's what I'm worried about. And I don't know if I want to try and tackle a full dash swap. Seems like there is a lot to go through.

Maybe what I really need is a carpet swap?? I'll have to spend more time in the car and figure out the pros and cons. I like the input guys, keep it coming!

 

i can get u a full charcoal grey interior... just pay me the price i pay from the local junkyard and shipping and gas. i have a price list if u want prices.

i did a full black interior on a couple of my cars. both were light grey before and it looks alot bettter black

 

I just clicked the link in your sig and that looks really nice!!!

 

I had exactly the same concerns as you when I was changing over my interior. I have a 1998 Z28 too and it originally came with a grey cloth interior. I came accross a good deal on ebony seats with low miles and bought them without thinking about the rest of the interior conversion. After I bought the ebony seats, I bought grey leather door panels to match the rest of my panels. I've since left the rest of the interior untouched. I'm happy with it. I didn't really think it was worth the hassle of switching over everything and you can almost hardly tell there is a difference between the two color leathers. I think it looks good, if anything you can tell people you have a two-toned leather interior, lol. The picture the below isn't the best... I really need to get some different floor mats but, you get the idea. Hope this helps you make a decision

 

going through this exact same process myself.

it all started when my friend gave me a set of black leather S2000 seats i mocked up into my car (gray interior).

then, the rear seats didnt match, then the panels didnt match, then the carpet looked funny, then the sail panels, then the floor mats......

see how this goes.

I found someone selling the interior out of a T/A, all in ebony. I bought all the panels, carpet, rear seats, headliner, mirrors, console, etc. and went from there.

I just got ebony door panels off ebay and redid those in matching leather as the seats.

This was all fine, except the dash is a slightly different color than the ebony panels, this is really evident only in certain lighting conditions, but it is different. Because of this, i bought an entire new dash that i now have to swap it, and let me tell you, its gonna be a blast!

be prepared to spend at least 1000 or so to get everything you are gonna need. this is for a complete swap. figure 300 or so for all the panels and console, 80 or 100 for a good headliner, 50 for the matching mirrors, 150-200 for a good dash (think of all the parts that go with that) seats are gonna be around 400 or so, carpet is another 100 or so. Floor mats are 90. and it goes on.

and then you need the seat belts too, because they dont match either.

you can sell some of your old stuff, but the ebony is much more desireable than dark gray is, so you will take a loss in that department.

The ebony looks much, much better though, i must say. Its a worthwhile mod, but make sure you know what you are getting into.

if you are like me, if it doesnt match, it will drive you nuts.


the only thing you could do would be to take off say your door panels and incorporate some colors into that, thus blending the gray with the new color, it wont look as mismatched.

 

Yeah the more time I'm spending in the car the more I'm accepting the interior as-is. I do have to replace a few things that the previous owner broke/mismatched. But I'm trying to convince myself to stay gray and be happy with it. It's not terrible by any means, but I thought the ebony conversion would be kinda fun. The more I look into prices for parts, the more I try to convince myself it is not the best way to spend the money. =\

 

spend that money on some headers or a cam, probably be happier.

if you really want it ebony, take it all out and get it dyed, or do it yourself.

seen it done, it turns out really well.

 

I prefer ebony to charcoal as well. I found a deal on carpet, headliner, rear seats, and interior plastics, and painted my doors , console and dash with SEM dye. It looks really, really good. In, fact a couple of the interior plastic pieces were scuffed a bit and I ended-up spraying them with the SEM as well. I have had no issues with the dyed items since spraying them about 6-months ago. As is the key with many things here, clean the surfaces to be dyed/painted thoroughly, and then once again with recommended cleaners.

Good luck!