The Datsun Z stands as one of the most recognizable Japanese sports cars ever made and bringing its interior back to its former glory can be a rewarding project. Your restoration process starts with a complete inspection. Check every surface, switch and panel to plan what needs fixing or replacing. Take a look at the dashboard, seats and carpet since these areas display the most wear.
Your seats probably need the most attention and care. Remove them and strip off the old upholstery. Now's the perfect time to repair any broken springs or foam padding. Choose period-correct materials - vinyl can give you a factory look - while leather can add an upscale touch. Remember those vertical pleats - they're a signature Z car design ingredient you'll want to recreate.
The dashboard deserves lots of attention since it's right in your line of sight. Fix any cracks with repair compounds or track down a replacement if it's past repair. Clean and restore those classic round gauges and test the warning lights and switches. A fresh set of knobs and bezels will make your dash pop like never before.
Let's talk about some pro tips to get your Z looking even better than it did rolling off the factory floor!
Disclaimer: This article is authored by a member of the Skillard community and reflects their personal views, not necessarily those of Skillard. We welcome your feedback and corrections in the comments to help us continually improve this content.
Table of Contents
Look at Existing Interior Condition
Your car's interior can tell you a bit about its health - let's take a look at what you should check for the most!
Start with a complete look at your seats and upholstery - you'll want to spot any rips, worn places or stains on the seats and floor. Give those seat belts an extra careful check - after all of they're the ones keeping you safe.
Now take a close look at your dashboard display. You need those gauges and warning lights working the right way. Do you spot any cracks? They might feel minimal now. But they can get worse pretty fast - nobody likes looking at a damaged dashboard all day.
Your doors and windows need some attention too. Open and close each door a few times - they should move without any weird noises. Roll your windows up and down to make sure they're working right. The rubber seals around them affect how well they work.
The electrical parts can be tricky, so test everything. Switch on all your lights, play with the radio and try every button and switch you have. When weird burning smells or lights that flicker appear it's your car trying to tell you something's wrong.
You should check that AC and heater too! You'll want to catch any funny noises or weak airflow before the summer hits or winter comes around.
Grab a notebook and write down everything that you find. Take note of what needs fixing and when. Put the safety problems at the top of your list - like those seat belts we talked about earlier.
Get down on your hands and knees and look under those floor mats. Rust spots or water damage here can turn into serious problems fast. While you're down there, check for any soft spots in the floor - that's never a good sign.
Take a deep breath - literally! Weird smells in your car usually mean trouble. Look for any signs that mice or other critters have made themselves at home. That musty smell? It could mean water's getting in somewhere.
Look around for any missing pieces. Maybe it's just a part of trim or maybe it's something you can't ignore. Write it all down.
Your car's interior might need some attention. But now you know exactly what you've spotted.
Remove Original Upholstery Carefully
You'll need to work on your car's interior with careful planning and the right strategy. You'll need some specific tools before you can start. Grab a socket wrench, pliers, screwdriver and something to pry loose those stubborn seat connectors!
Start with the seats - look for the bolts or clips that hold them down. Keep all those little pieces organized since you'll need them later. If you have electric seats, work on the back bolts first and you can slide the seat back so you can reach underneath. Watch out for any wires - unplug them gently so you don't damage anything. Now you can lift that seat right out. But mind the steering wheel and other parts you might bump into.
When you move on to the soft items - carpets and upholstery need different tools. Get out your vacuum with that upholstery tip and maybe a steam cleaner if the surfaces are dirty. Give everything a complete vacuum first to get rid of the loose debris. Those tough stains won't stand a chance against your steam cleaner - just put some cleaner on there, scrub it a bit and suck up all that dirty water.
Here's something to remember - don't soak anything too much. You can end up with a musty smell that never goes away. Test your cleaning products on a hidden place first - you don't want any nasty surprises.
Get out your phone and take lots of pictures as you go. Trust me you'll thank yourself later when you're putting everything back together. Write down where the little pieces go and how the wires connect - this keeps you from guessing during reassembly.
Once you're ready to put it all back, double-check every bolt and wire. Give those seats a good wiggle to make sure they're secure. Choose the right cleaning products for what you're working on! Leather needs special treatment (stay away from harsh cleaners that might strip the material).
Open up those windows while you work and keep them open afterward - nobody wants that damp, chemical smell hanging around. Take off the door trim first. Those pieces can break and you'll save yourself a headache by being careful with them.
Smart move - put all your screws and brackets in some labeled bags. There's nothing worse than having mystery parts left over when you're done!
Restore Dashboard and Trim Components
Take a microfiber cloth and some Nonsense Cleaner to get those surfaces sparkling clean! You'll want to spray the cleaner onto your cloth first - not directly on the dash! This helps you stay away from any overspray everywhere.
Polish works on those plastic and rubber parts. It can help stop the cracking and keep the dust from building up too fast. Just make sure you work it in closely with some gentle circular motions.
Next, grab some VRP to protect everything you have just cleaned - this product shields against sun damage and keeps your dash looking fresh without leaving that sticky feeling. Sometimes you'll run into severely faded areas - especially on rubber trim. Don't worry - you can fix those with some plastic paint, though you'll need a steady hand.
Got scratches in your trim? You can pick up a plastic repair kit. These come with paste that you can combine to match your interior color well. Sometimes trim pieces are past repair though. When that happens, you might need to hunt down some replacement parts from other model years or the salvage yard.
Wood trim needs some attention. Start with stripping off the old finish - sandpaper works or you can try eco-friendly strippers. Sand it down completely, then lay down new veneer. Press it and trim off the excess with a sharp blade.
Finish up with a coat of sanding sealer mixed with cellulose thinners. You should use a spray gun to get that factory-smooth look.
Remember to always spray products onto your cloth instead of directly on surfaces. Quality microfiber cloths improve your buffing and cleaning. Stay on top of the maintenance and you won't need serious repairs down the road.
When you look to revamp your dashboard completely, you have options. Professional restoration can deliver exceptional results but costs more. Want to tackle it yourself? Pull the dash out, clean it thoroughly and patch any cracks with Great Things foam and SEM Bumper Repair. Or you can go for a bit cover - they're easy to install but might show some edges.
Want something different? An aluminum dash upgrade looks sharp and weighs less than stock.
For trim pieces, take your time removing them! If you're restoring or replacing, make sure everything lines up well when you put it back together!
Install New Seats and Carpeting
New seating and carpeting will change your car's interior! You'll need to choose materials that can follow the original design or give you the upgrades you want. A tan interior fits well in a 280Z - but you might need to search through specialty stores to find it. Your best choice is to grab a carpet kit that's made just for your car model. Experience shows spending extra cash on premium kits beats those basic semi-molded ones.
First you'll want to strip everything out of the car. Take off the seats, the console and those lower door panels. Now you have a clean slate to work with. Make sure you can scrub that floor well - get rid of all that old glue and debris that's built up.
The sound deadening material can really transform your ride comfort. You should think about laying some down before you start the main job.
Now for the carpet work. You can spread out each piece and check how it fits before you break out the glue. Get yourself some carpet adhesive from AutoZone (they sell proven products) and spread it evenly on the floor and carpet backing. The transmission tunnel piece goes down first. Then you start with the floor sections and work your way up the sides. Glue shots will keep the carpet snug around storage areas. Just remember to leave some places unglued where you might need access later - like around the spare tire.
When you move on to those seats then you'll need to choose upholstery that matches what came from the factory or goes with your new style. Pull off all that old seat covering and give those frames a complete inspection. The new upholstery should come with directions, so follow those closely to get everything lined up right. You'll probably need some upholstery tacks or staples to finish the job.
Double-check all your measurements and test-fit everything before you commit! Strong adhesives and quality fasteners will keep it all in place. Pick materials that look interesting but can manage wear and tear. Watch out for your seatbelts - make sure nothing gets in their way.
A useful idea is to leave some areas you can get to later - especially in that cargo space.
Upgrade Electrical and Audio Systems
You'll want to start with a complete look at your car's electrical system. Take some time to find out exactly how much power your planned audio gear and other add-ons will need. Your alternator might not pack enough power for that new equipment. So you might need to swap it out for a more powerful one - this helps ensure your sweet new sound system gets the juice it needs.
When you run low on power, you should think about adding a second battery to take some of the stress off the main one. The Big 3 Upgrade (replacing those main power cables) will get more power flowing through your ride and stop those dimming headlights when you increase the volume.
Ready to upgrade your sound? Start with a good head unit that lets you connect your phone and USB devices. You'll hear the difference right away when you replace those factory speakers with some high-end ones. Want your music to punch? An amp will give you clean and crisp sound even when you're blasting great tracks. When you add that subwoofer - nothing beats the deep, rich bass it brings to your music.
Put some Dynamat or similar sound deadening material around your car. You can cut down on road noise and rattles - that makes your music sound much better.
Get your hands on some quality cables - they'll keep your sound crystal clear without losing any of the signal along the way. Want to dial in your sound? An equalizer lets you adjust everything until it's just right. Leave the tricky work like installing component speakers and amps to the pros - they'll make sure everything works together well.
Keep those wires cool and tucked away neatly. Nobody wants to see a jumble of cables under their dash.
Love that classic Datsun Z look? You can still add modern gear without ruining the vintage appeal. Pick parts that blend in with your interior and won't stick out. While you're at it, upgrade those headlight relays to take some strain off the switches. A fresh wiring harness - like the Painless Performance 21-circuit system - will manage all your interior and exterior electrical needs.
This fresh wiring setup tackles those tricky factory issues and common electrical problems.
Make sure your new wiring harness has the hookups for your radio and other equipment you plan to add.
Build Your Dream Car
Your Datsun Z's interior restoration needs careful attention and complete quality checks. You'll want to test each part meticulously - from every single wire in the electrical system to each stitch in the upholstery! Your car can look great when you take the time to check that everything works.
You get to add your own style while keeping the classic Datsun spirit alive. You can find premium items at Skillard that'll improve your classic car and help it be its best. Pick from our custom-designed bumpers, sleek aluminum door cards or beautiful center consoles - we have exactly what you need for your Z car project. You can count on quality parts that match your restoration goals well. Our parts keep that authentic Datsun feel while giving you modern performance upgrades.
Take one last sweep through everything you've restored. Give your car a complete inspection and make sure the parts work together. You'll love seeing everything running smoothly!
Ready to put the finishing touches on your Datsun project? Head over to Skillard.com and check out our products for your 240Z, 260Z or 280Z. You'll find the equipment that brings your restoration vision to life!
