Dashboard paint

[71SSclone]

So I have decided to refurbish my dashboard instead of buying a new one. Does anyone have any paint recommendations for the black plastic? I was going to use a chrome paint pen to detail the chrome trim on the dash, but after looking at it, i need to paint it first. Any help would be appreciated. 

[Dtret]

SEM makes real nice interior trim paint. You can get it anywhere that sells automotive paint 

[MC1of80]

I used the sem trim black like Dennis suggested to you on my son's dash before doing the chrome trim with a paint marker. 

[Marks71]

24 minutes ago, Dtret said:

SEM makes real nice interior trim paint. You can get it anywhere that sells automotive paint 

They sure do. Their color coat automotive interior paint works well. They also make a mild solvent based wax and grease remover for prep, which is extremely important because of all the silicone based spray and wipe protectants used on interiors. Silicone is a painters worst nightmare.

[Blackhawk]

SEM Landau Black is the way to go. It even helps seal in sticky horn pads. 

[71SSclone]

4 hours ago, MC1of80 said:

I used the sem trim black like Dennis suggested to you on my son's dash before doing the chrome trim with a paint marker. 

This is exactly what I want to do with my dashboard. Thanks for posting the pics

[Whons]

If the dashboard pad was painted what is the best cleaner for it? I don't have any idea what paint was used.

[cny first gen 71]

I just use glass cleaner on mine, I painted it several years ago. 

[Ron Tevis]

Used the sem black to change the color of a Monte headrest. Looked better than the original black one, so I painted it too , now then 

[71SSclone]

I'm working on my dashboard finally. It has been a rather hetic few months with knee replacement and other things. I now have the instrument panel primed and painted, and have used a chrome paint pen for the chrome trim. 

Next question. How thick is the chrome around the instrument cluster area? Does it extend down to where the wood grain goes, or is only the top of the ridge chromed? If anyone can take some pictures of their dash and post them, that would help alot. Thanks. 

 

[71SSclone]

[Dtret]

Should just be the top ridge. Also some people paint them but turn signals, high beam and parking brake light circles were not painted check from the factory. 

[71SSclone]

Thanks Dennis. Yes, I painted the turn signals, hi-beam, and brake light. I figured it would look nice if all were painted the same. Nothing is original on this car anyways.

[B-Man]

@71SSclone, thanks for posting your progress and details.  I just bought a chrome paint pen on Amazon and plan to knock out my dash repaint this weekend.  Hopefully without having to pull it out of the car.  The dash-pad is off and the interior is in a mish mash of disassembled states.  I just need to get the gauge ridges chromed and install the really nice burl wood dash insert that another member recently sent-to / sold me.  A PO painted the dash gloss black, and obviously a spray can.  I think I can live with it for now, but will go satin black when I do pull the whole dash out next winter.  Have fun!

[71SSclone]

@B-Man, good luck with your project. It takes a really steady hand to use the paint pen. Just take your time and it will turn out great. 

[71SSclone]

More pics of putting the instrument panel back together. I bought new register vents, but had to swap out the vents in the housings for the left and right. After i cut the housing apart w/ a dremel, went to swap the registers, and the bushings were too small. Had to peel the bushings off the old registers and glue them on the the new aftermarket registers. Then epoxied the housing back together.

[71SSclone]

[71SSclone]

Next step was installing the radio, center vent, and A/C controls. Kind of pointless since I’m going to install Vintage Air, but I wanted the dashboard to be back together before modifying it. Sorry, no pics

[71SSclone]

Now I’m restoring the instrument cluster. Disassembled the whole unit, painted the white behind the gauges. Didn’t realized the clear lens is mended to the gauge housing. I had ordered the lens, but not the housing. Quick search of Summit Racing and I had the housing. Has anyone replaced an instrument cluster lens? Not quite sure the best way to replicate the factory procedure. I have a soldering iron with a wide tip, bit of anyone has suggestions I’m all ears. 
 

I also painted the inside of the housing light blue to match the factory housing. I thought doing that would give the gauges a blue tint at night. 

[willie]

Nice work John, that looks Great!!!!      As far as the cluster lens, you need to heat the tabs that are holding the lens down to remove it. There should be other tabs that haven't been used to reattach the new lens. I also melted some plastic on the old tabs to give the new lens a little more strength.

[Scott S.]

Now that's attention to detail !! 👍

I'm wondering if there's a glue, (polystyrene, maybe) that would do the job instead of heat.... 

Just a thought. 

[Rob Peters]

2 hours ago, Scott S. said:

Now that's attention to detail !! 👍

I'm wondering if there's a glue, (polystyrene, maybe) that would do the job instead of heat.... 

Just a thought. 

I was wondering about glue but then I was thinking Willie had a better idea with melting the plastic tabs and using heat to remove and reinstall because with using the heat to melt the plastic would be easier to remove if needed where if glued, it would maybe more difficult to remove the glue without causing damage to the lens when trying to remove the lens.  After all, you are only melting the plastic tabs only enough to hold the lens in place.

rob

[Dtret]

When I did mine I used a soldering iron. Put the heat right on the tab. 

[71SSclone]

I thought about using glue, but was afraid the vapors might leave a haze on the inside of the new clear lens. I'll try a soldering iron. Using heat would replicate the factory method. 

[jft69z]

I used a soldering iron too, when converting to Dakota Digital. There's a lens for the headlight switch that needs attached on the new gauge housing, soldering iron works great.