I repainted the chrome lines on my dash and had it looking fairly nice. But knowing myself I said "I can get it looking much better then that" now it looks worse I am thinking of repainting intire dash black and starting all over again on the chrome lines. Has anyone painted plastic dash in black? do you dye it or paint it? Is there any companys out there that restore plastic dashes? (justdashes only dose vinle) I checked everywhere and you can not buy something to actually chrome plate plastic so I used silver chrome base model paint. I cleaned most of the silver off with paint thinner but seemed to of faided the black that is why I am thinking of painting intire dash. Any hints, thounghts, do's, don'ts, any comments, Or just anything to help me out will be well apreciated as I wan't to get my dash back in and see if my rally gauges are gona work after the repair to them. I am just frustrated with myself right now and need someone to give me a swift kick in the you know what.

Stephen

I'm sure we have more than a couple certified a$$ kickers on this site.

The dash that came in my car had been re-painted black by the previous owner. He did a terrible job and I ended up ripping it out and buying a new one. It can be painted. Make sure you use the correct gloss. Mine was very glossy. I think it should be something between satin and flat. (I don't know the correct term or gloss level for it.)

Q

Give Classic Industries a call and tell them that you need to paint your dash. They have the correct colors and primer.

Tom

I repainted the plastic dash area on my 68'(i know not the same) and used a scuff pad by 3M (used for bodywork:black in colour) lightly scuffed it up,then used a tack cloth and then painted it. Came out perfect! No "orange peel" The plastic on the 68' is smooth and not sure if there is any type of graining on the 69's (i owned a 69 with the dash having the burlwood inlay) and not sure how this will affect painting it.If so my advice would be to thoroughly clean the dash panel so there is no residue of any sort(grease,armour all,dust,etc...) so the paint will adhere to it and not flake or "peel". You are better off to take the panel out of the car to paint it.Hang it on some thing using a coathanger and just spray it from a distance of 10-12 inches.Spray in an even stroke pattern.Let it dry the time the paint manufacturer says to allow for drying and then repeat.You should have a nice finish now! As far as the chrome detailing on it,i know there is something out there for the 67-68 cars but not sure about the 69's? Anyways hope this helps and if you try my way,let me know how it works out for you.
David.

Posted this on the wanted list but since it's dash related.... I'm looking for the plastic grommets that go into the dash pad on my 69. The instument panel screws go into it. I need four. Anybody know where I can get some?

Robert

I painted my radiator fan shroud last year with paint made to coat plastic that I bought at a local hardware store. It may be krylon but I'm not sure. I am very happy with the results.The color was suposed to be glossy but it turned out more satin or flat. It was about five bucks and readily available. It may look good on a dash too, but it definetly looks good on my fan shroud. Pete

Firebob, I just bought some of those from a car show. I will see if I have some left over. if so you can have them.

I have been thinking also about buying the burlwood aplique for the dash instead of painting it. I saw theburlwood dash for sale at Carlise last weekend and liked it alot, but price was to high for me to purchase. The aplique i belive sells for around $40-$50 and thats more my price range then a new dash. I guess I will figure out something and will let you guys know.

I just completed my dash and here are the exact steps I took (after practicing on a couple of plastic buckets!):

Used SEM 38353 Plastic/Leather Prep
Used SEM 38363 Sand Free
Used SEM 15013 ColorCoat (Landau Black)
Painted "chrome" trim using a Argent Silver paint stick from a local craft store (unbelieveable how easy and results were fantastic!)

Let's see if I can post the pics....

Before

After

Very nice JC

Gerry

Holy cow! I'm sending you MY dash!!! That looks awesome!!!

Q

1500 .... time to take a break.

Wow! Nice dash!!!

Now that looks good!! I need to get my dash looking like that. Was the paint in a spray can or did you have to use a spray gun? I think you talked me into repainting the dash now. The only other pice I need is a new chrome vent ball but am having no luck finding one for non A/C. Where did you purchase the paints from? locally avaliable or did you have to order them from somewhere?

Stephen

Year one has chrome air vent deflectors listed for 67 with ac and both 68 a/c and non a/c.Not sure if these will fit a 69' though but you could check with them or better yet ask someone here.
www.yearone.com Type in part# RU1797 or RU 1797P
Is the diameter the difference or am I crazy cause they look the same to me.

While at Carlise I stoped at Ames performace booth they had set up and I was told the diameter was different altho I don't see why it should be different as it looks the same size to me.

One trick on painting your dash(69) if you are painting both the black and the silver edging is to paint the silver first. Then you use some fine line tape and tape off just the edging and then paint the black. It is a LOT easier than trying to paint the edging last.
Jim

Stephen , here`s another way.....
My buddy Sal here in Houston took his dash out , had it chromed , yes they chromed the entire thing, THEN he painted the black part .....
thats the way to get "real chrome" on there.....

myself I painted my dash edges in place , used "Model Masters # 1790 'chrome silver', you can buy in local hobby shop...took about 2 hrs....w/ a very skinny brush..

And on the vent balls , 67,68 and 69 are same size( the design/style is different)....I know because I have 68`s in my 69...the early 69`s had the 68 style ,( two chrome lines across ,rather than the X), then they went to new style....so when I reordered them (mine were bad too) I stuck w the 'early version' rather than going to the X type...they have to be the same size , because the vent bezel they fit in is only one size...plus the retainer seal is also for 67-69...


(and since we were talking paint here , in case you want to touch up your hood emblems , I used "Testors" , color by Boyd # 52706 'sunburst', and its a good match.)

Well I have tossed around the info all you guys gave me. I apriciate all the help. My plan is to repaint intire dash, purchase burlwood dash aplique and try the paint stick instead of hand brushing the crome lines as that didn't work out to well for me last time.
Bjorn I am glad for the info on the vent deflectors, I never paid much attention to them but you are right, My 69 is early production and dosn't have the "X" style so I should be able to order the 68's.
I am in the prosess of looking for the dash aplique right now but only place I have seen it for sale is ebay. IS there somewhere I can order it from and stay away from the auction thing? I will post some pics in a few weeks when dash is finnished. Wish me luck this time guys.

Stephen

Thanks for the compliments....it really did turn out nicely. Everyone who has seen it can't get over how good it looks.

-- I purchased new ball vents from PY
-- The paints are from Eastwood and rattle cans
-- The paint stick literally took about 10 minutes and came out flawless. I had painted an earlier bezel by hand with mixed results. You gotta have a steady hand!

John

I realy appreciate your info JC and I am gona try your way this time. Did you also purchase paint stick from Eastwood? I see you are in VA, what part? I am in the Norther Neck of VA

Stephen

firebirdcrzy, I appreciate the look on the plastic pieces. Let me know what you come up with. I have the name of a place that sells the dash applic. Probably the same place on ebay. You should just be able to contact them and buy it outright without going through the whole auction thing. I think they run $40 or so. Don't know about quality.

Robert

Stephen,

I got the paint stick from Michaal's, but any good craft store should carry it.

I'm up here in the armpit of Northern VA, in Great Falls.

Are you in Kilmarnock?

John

Yup! Nice looking dash. Someone asked about painting the chrome lines a while back. Hindsight is 20/20, but I suggested scraping off unwanted paint. I didn't mention it, but I learned long ago, you want to be darn careful when using thinnner on anything. (I would NEVER EVER use thinnner on plastic because it instantly eats most plastic.)

You might be able to restore the damage without repainting. I don't know what to suggest, but I'd look around for a plastic/vinal conditioner/restorer.

I don't know if it would work, and it's major expensive. 3M makes a marine-grade vinal cleaner and conditioner. (There are 2 types. The first is just a cleaner, and it has a soapy consistancy. The second type is a cleaneer/conditioner. The second type isn't that nifty of a cleaner, but it's excellent as a conditoner.)

My boat--the dang money suck--has snow white vinal seats, and the seats seemed blackened beyond salvage. With a bucket load of elbow grease and a soft bristle brush, I used the cleaner, the first type, then followed up with the second type. The results were absolutly incredible.

thanks again for some more info guys.
John I am just out of Kilmarnock in the town of Callao.

The paint tinner didn't destroy the plastick but actually started to lift the black off the dash. I may try the 3m marine cleaner as I have some for my boat also. And your right it works wonders for removing that black mold off white vinle seats. The weather is warming up and I can't decide to cruise the boat or the firebird. life is full of desisions

Firebob ( Robert )

Where in Ca are you? I would like the name of the place that sells the dash applic, You know if they sell it by the roll? I'm closing up the holes for the heater, A/C, and radio. I'm in San Bernardino

Wade