Painting The Dash

[Rider90]

No, not lime green.

Has anyone thought of painting the dash piece that goes from your headlamp switch, or around it, to the radio? That one large piece that pulls out. Black. I've seen it done on a Chevy Avalanch that I drove and at night it was the coolest thing - the gauge lights and numbers bounced off the painted dash like it was tinted glass.

Just a thought, if anyone has done this please post pictures...

[Petrograde]

hmmm,... interesting,... I'd like to see how that looks!

along those same lines; how could we modify the dash for a couple extra gauges?

[Donny Carlson]

No, not lime green.

Has anyone thought of painting the dash piece that goes from your headlamp switch, or around it, to the radio? That one large piece that pulls out. Black. I've seen it done on a Chevy Avalanch that I drove and at night it was the coolest thing - the gauge lights and numbers bounced off the painted dash like it was tinted glass.

Just a thought, if anyone has done this please post pictures...
I saw a GM on Ebay that the owner had painted this trim piece to match the body color.

[Breadfan]

I'd be up for it if I can retain a stock peice to switch back. I'm reluctant to modify the interior on this car in an irreversible fashion...I dunno why. But I guess that peice is the same as any GM or CV right? I'd pick one up cheap from a yard and be able to swap 'em out. ;)

Cool idea!

I did accents on my grand am in silver, it came out really nice...

Before:
http://www.neuralimpulse.com/cars/pics/IMG_0970.jpg

After:

http://www.neuralimpulse.com/cars/pics/IM001712.jpg

So yes I do think painted accents can look really good and make the dash more styling if done well.

I've also seen really bad experiences, like painting huge peices of the dash neon yellow. A fine line here! I think black or silver paint on that peice you mention would make it look good.

Maybe even the areas around the vents.

[SilverStreak]

Hi Brian,

How bout trying to get a piece from a junkyard off an old cv or gm and try it
on that first. I do think it would look cool though.

Darrell:)

[Bowman9]

I too had thought about breaking up the mono grey interior by painting some of the pieces black.
You might want to try photoshopping some of your ideas first.
I would also like to see chrome or satin rings around the speedo, tach, and fuel gauges.
And maybe billit window and door switches.

Please share any photos or ideas you have.

[Rider90]

This can't be too expensive. One of these days I might just do it...

[Petrograde]

I'm thinking about painting some of the trim pieces as well,.. but,... I'll have to give this some serious thought on how I want to do this...

also...

I'd like to modify the speedo/tach/fuel level/etc. panel,.. I'd like them to look like the Autometer Nexus gauges. :drool:

[Donny Carlson]

I saw a GM on Ebay that the owner had painted this trim piece to match the body color.3

http://i2.ebayimg.com/03/i/04/46/1c/ce_1_b.JPG

http://i19.ebayimg.com/01/i/04/3e/2a/d3_1_b.JPG

[Bowman9]

Is that a billet interior door handle and window switches?
I like the idea of new "metal" door handles our plastic ones feel week/cheap sometimes.



3

http://i2.ebayimg.com/03/i/04/46/1c/ce_1_b.JPG

http://i19.ebayimg.com/01/i/04/3e/2a/d3_1_b.JPG

[rdvldog1]

Guys and Gals,

I saw an article somewhere on the web about fiberglass and gauge pod install on a stock dash. The guy that did it added a stock plastic gauge pod to the dash with super glue, and then covered the whole setup with a couple layers of fiberglass cloth. Once that cured, he filled in all the gaps and holes with Rage Gold body filler. But the key I think for us, is that he used a combo of sand paper and a rough nap roller to achieve the kind of "elephant skin" texture that covers our dash. I was looking at one of those two gauge pods that late model mustangers use to replace the clock on stock gt mustangs. Maybe getting this and 'glassing it into the dash above the "hump". MAYBE......

gauge pod
http://www.mustangtuning.com/simco-white-face-gauge-pod.html

here is a little knowledge and example of a fiberglass dash at work
http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/fiberglass-tutorial-52028.html

now this is a little detailed for our casual discussion, but check it out anyway, the basics are all there.
http://caraudiomag.com/competition_corner/0310cae_corner/

good luck, one of my roommates hit the mustang I am trying to sell, so now I have to repair that and sell the car for money to do some mods to my dark blue pearl beauty. IF I beat you guys to the gauge upgrade with fiberglass, I will post plenty of pics.

[Rider90]

Is that a billet interior door handle and window switches?
I like the idea of new "metal" door handles our plastic ones feel week/cheap sometimes.
Look into billet switches for Mustangs, I believe we have the same switches, and there are billet covers to go over them on a few websites.

[Petrograde]

Look into billet switches for Mustangs, I believe we have the same switches, and there are billet covers to go over them on a few websites.


Here (http://www.exoticwooddash.com/bit3.asp) is a site that sells trim panels,.. I dunno about the wood grains,.. but they do have aluminum.

[Shaft333]

I've painted the rearview mirror on my last car. It looked great. It lasted about 6 or 7 years before the signs of my lack of proper paint prep started to show. It began to crack and flake off.

If I did it again, I'd take the time to prime it first. Maybe even add a flex agent. I used a dupli-color paint...
Next time I might use a paint from one of the airbrush paint makers... some of them have been fantastic no matter what I sprayed them on.

[Rider90]

I've painted the rearview mirror on my last car. It looked great. It lasted about 6 or 7 years before the signs of my lack of proper paint prep started to show. It began to crack and flake off.

If I did it again, I'd take the time to prime it first. Maybe even add a flex agent. I used a dupli-color paint...
Next time I might use a paint from one of the airbrush paint makers... some of them have been fantastic no matter what I sprayed them on.
Does anyone want to venture into this before I might? I have my dollars set some different items at the moment.

[Warpath]

I've painted the rearview mirror on my last car. It looked great. It lasted about 6 or 7 years before the signs of my lack of proper paint prep started to show. It began to crack and flake off.

If I did it again, I'd take the time to prime it first. Maybe even add a flex agent. I used a dupli-color paint...
Next time I might use a paint from one of the airbrush paint makers... some of them have been fantastic no matter what I sprayed them on.

You also have to make sure the plastic is very clean first too. Make sure everything is off including any Armorall. I've read that some people warmed - not hot - the plastic first to allow the pores to open up. I'm not sure about that one.

[DEFYANT]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/Defyant/s55_interior.jpg


This painted dash trim is in my future. Simple but dramatic. Before I paint, I place the part in the sun or oil burner room to get it warm. Not hot.

[Bowman9]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/Defyant/s55_interior.jpg


I like the polished rings around the speedo/tach/fuel gauges.

[Rider90]

This painted dash trim is in my future. Simple but dramatic. Before I paint, I place the part in the sun or oil burner room to get it warm. Not hot.
Defyant, are you going to paint it black or silver? After seeing that picture...hmmm...silver might not look bad? Looking forward to pictures when you complete this project. Thank you

[DEFYANT]

I plan on painting the dark charcoal - black strip in the center of the dash red like from the concept. I need to find the proper pigment red first.