Hey how is everyone? I'm new to the forums so bear with me please.
I have an 86 F150 XLT Lariat. It's the 2 tone brown and tan exterior, with the saddle tan interior. I want to slowly replace everything I can with black components, or at least shelf the items until I can get it painted inside and out.
Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?
Or any sources for parts?
I can find a decent amount such as door panels, carpet sets, dash pad, etc. but the rarer things I'm having a tough time finding.
Also if anyone has any suggestions as to other things I could do to the truck performance or cosmetic. It's the 5.8L 351 model by the way. Thanks a lot!

 

The black vinyl die in the spray cans work well on areas that are not prone to wear. It would work fine on the plastic pieces going up each side of the windshield, and the dash pad if yours is any good. Probably work well for the pieces over the door.

You can try it on the door panels, and maybe the new stuff now will last a little better, but it will probably wear off if you put your arm up on top of the door panel with the window down. You could at least try it till you got the new panels installed.

 

I have also had real good success on hard vinyl/plastic parts with that so called "Fusion" paint. I cleaned the parts first with a mild degreaser then with dawn dish soap and water and finally with a non-abrasive sink cleaner made for plastic RV sinks...Rinse well...let dry...then paint exactly according to directions on paint can.

It took awhile, so I got everything ready all at the same time. Took me 3 or 4 days, but the results looked fantastic and wear areas have seemed to hold up real well against skin acids and such.

All my parts got 4 light coats and 2 coats of clear (matte or semi-gloss) After about a month I then waxed everything with turtle wax once I had re-installed. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it's really not. It's the waiting periods between coats, work, and other time consuming stuff that we all have.

Well that's my take on it. I was really critical on my work because I have been restoring my truck to like new condition for a couple of yrs. Nearly there.

Hope this gives you some ideas andgood luck!

 

Are there any sources for vinyl spray paint (dye or whatever is the correct term) that matches factory interior colors for our trucks? I know I can still get exterior touch-up paint by the factory color code.

My interior color is 1982 Ford "Harbor Blue" (Dark Blue).

If I know the color is correct I don't mind paying a higher price - I'd rather not resort to buying a couple of cans of dark blue and hoping one of the brands matches (existing parts).

 

Go to a local paint store that sells automotive paint, I've had good luck with SEM Color Coat that the paint store color-matched and custom-mixed for me.

Preparation is key! My Taurus project is here:

I agree with the book, this is best done with two people - Taurus Car Club of America : Ford Taurus Forum

 

If you're lucky, you can still find a complete factory black interior in the junkyard. If you have access to the big truck junkyards, 1980-1999 F600, F700, and F800 trucks often came with misc black interior parts, especially dash pads.