Restoring Your Own Dash

[Auggie56]

Since someone wanted to know where to get one done, had just started a thread on this topic. How about we start at thread on doing it ourselves, since we all can't afford the freight, a pro wants to do the job. Post your methods, what products you used to get the job done. Pictures would be great to.

Thanks

 

[moparnation74]

Shipping is pricey...But my dash did not ship via freight...I made a crate and everything was within the ground limits. In it was the complete dash minus the wires harness and glove box, steering column pieces, and other front components. I think the cost was around 175 or so and it is cheaper from the companies back to you....

With that aside and back to your topic can you define the level of restoration your referring to? So this can be answered effectively. Keep in mind there are just some things you cannot do at home but they are relatively small....

 

[gkent]

Hmmm ... just "what" can't you do at home ???

 

[moparnation74]

Hmmmm ... just "what" can't you doe at home ???

Plastic chrome plating, for some spraying the original lacquer, repairing the clock/tach, rebuilding switches(not just rockers), restoring the radio(not just cleaning it), calibrating the gauges(not with a battery).....

As I said just depends on what level your looking for.....a beater, daily driver, local show car, or top level....Define that first before moving to the next level...

Hows that?

 

[dieseldazzle]

Driver restoration from my home garage

 

[dieseldazzle]

The above pictures were before.


This is during... still working on it..

I have no time lately..

Cluster bezel and glove box door and inside bought new. Not installed yet cuz I'm calibrating and cleaning gauge faces. Polished my own lenses.

 

[moparnation74]

Driver restoration from my home garage

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Dan

What is that unit behind the glove box?

 

[texas69bee]

Plastic chrome plating, for some spraying the original lacquer, repairing the clock/tach, rebuilding switches(not just rockers), restoring the radio(not just cleaning it), calibrating the gauges(not with a battery).....

As I said just depends on what level your looking for.....a beater, daily driver, local show car, or top level....Define that first before moving to the next level...

Hows that?

I couldn't of said it better myself. I guess you could go with that can of silver paint and slop it on with a brush for that nice do it yourself look.

 

[dieseldazzle]

Dan

What is that unit behind the glove box?

Electroluminescent power pack.

 

[dieseldazzle]

I couldn't of said it better myself. I guess you could go with that can of silver paint and slop it on with a brush for that nice do it yourself look.

I agree. Looks like hell so I bought new chrome plated plastic bezels.

 

[Auggie56]

Shipping is pricey...But my dash did not ship via freight...I made a crate and everything was within the ground limits. In it was the complete dash minus the wires harness and glove box, steering column pieces, and other front components. I think the cost was around 175 or so and it is cheaper from the companies back to you....

With that aside and back to your topic can you define the level of restoration your referring to? So this can be answered effectively. Keep in mind there are just some things you cannot do at home but they are relatively small....

There are some here that just spend that kind of money on our cars, let alone two K on the cluster. So by others sharing their experience, we can at least made them dashes more presentable.

 

[Auggie56]

Driver restoration from my home garage

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Thanks for the post dieseldazzle. Any tips or suggestions you would like to share ?

 

[moparnation74]

There are some here that just spend that kind of money on our cars, let alone two K on the cluster. So by others sharing their experience, we can at least made them dashes more presentable.

I have done restorations myself and I have others to do parts of the dash or the whole dash.....

All I was asking from your broad statement was exactly what information you wanted.......thanks for finally clarifying...

 

[moparnation74]

My 69 charger dash I created a paint booth in our fourth bedroom, no kidding....The exhaust was the window, lol....I purchased interior paint from PCG and painted the black pads....When you do these clean clean clean and More cleaning. I start with see vinyl prep. Cleans well and softens the vinyl. These wash with soap and water.....I always use an adhesion promoter, SEM brand. Then the clean it tons of light coats. We are not painting a car here we are slowly bring the beautiful black back...

Dash frame, I stripped with stripper completely. Removed a particulate plate, lol. Sprayed the well cleaned bare metal with self etching primer. Then a dp epoxy. Prepped and spayed the correct textured lacquer from IS. Lacquer is an art to spray and is done in thin coats. VIN plate was sprayed with a semi gloss and ECS rivets and logo transfer was used.

Tested all gauges appropriately except for speedo sprayed the gauge faces with matte black and applied the gauge face decals. All switches were replaced with NOS units. New glove box. The panels were sent out plastic chromed and painted and white lettering placed. The heater control unit was restored by PCG....

Hows that? Auggie or would you like a simpler version from a 71 valiant or a 72 duster?

The only two things farmed out was the bezels and the radio.....

 

[dieseldazzle]

Thanks for the post dieseldazzle. Any tips or suggestions you would like to share ?

Yes i have a tip, may not go well but I spent the money on totally auto organisol and honestly, it sucks.
Love herbs paints to death but their pearl white and their prep spray? Junk. The rest? Like 85%

Second tip...and only to my mopar brothers... I hit landau black and sem trim flat black with high temp vht SATIN clear and it is like 95% spot on to the dash sheen and durable as hell

Not saying don't call Justins boy in florida, for any other color than black, but it's one of my tips.

Also, patience.

 

[68gtxman]

I did mine by myself. First removed all pads, trim and gauge cluster/switch panel. Cleaned everything and then tested, adjusted or replaced what wasn't near mint condition. Dyed the vinyl pads so they looked new again. Used Rustoleum textured black paint on the dash and switch panel (plus steering column). I sprayed the dash and steering column while still in the car, but spent a lot of time masking off everything that wasn't going to get painted. I repainted the gauge needles with fluorescent orange and polished the lenses with Colgate white toothpaste and a soft rag. Painted the lettering on the switch panel by applying white paint to a rubber eraser and then dabbed it onto the raised lettering. I reset the odometer to 00000 as it had been disconnected for years and I just rebuilt the engine. The reading was at 98,000 already.

Just take your time. Make it look like something you'd be proud of and then say "I did it myself"!

 

[Auggie56]

My 67' Belvedere has a painted chrome trim, around the cluster and glove box door. Did a little research on painting these myself. Found what may work from the model hobby guys. Here are two examples in this video. Both of the products used are available on ebay. There are other choices, but these two looked the best to me.

 

[moparnation74]

The plastic chrome is the Crux of it all...I have tried many paints and achieved the same looks above.

The key of longevity of painted chrome is to baby it....limit any chemicals, sweat from your skin, and excessive wiping and prolonged times of UV exposure..

When I followed those key areas above they have looked nice for a long time.....

Chrome paints look different on different substrates.....btw

 

[Auggie56]

Looks good so far, thanks everyone.

 

[dieseldazzle]

My 67' Belvedere has a painted chrome trim, around the cluster and glove box door. Did a little research on painting these myself. Found what may work from the model hobby guys. Here are two examples in this video. Both of the products used are available on ebay. There are other choices, but these two looked the best to me.

I spent the money on spaz stix and literally just threw that and 4 other cans of spray chrome away just last night as I cleared out my paint cabinet to make way for **** that actually works.

I tried it with and without the black base coat and I tried to polish it... all the crap I seen on YouTube etc etc.

Wasted good money and even more time waiting for the crap in the mail. Matter of fact the can is still in the bottom of my garage garbage and you are welcome to it.