BenUK

The shifter console top trim in my '76 (black/chrome) is looking shabby.



Is there an easy way to repaint this other than masking off the shiny bits? The shifter pattern plate has a wrinkle finish like the gauge cluster surround. Does this shifter plate remove somehow?

(I'm replacing the wood trim so that'll come off.)

Easy Mike

Clean it up and shoot it with Krylon semi-flat black. You can mask it or you can use a finger tip, rag, and lacquer thinner while the paiint is semi set and go over the chrome edges. Q-tips dipped in lacquer thinner are also handy.

BenUK

Hey, that's a good tip. Thank you.

70 LS1

Here's what I did last summer and some pictures of how it turned out.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...storation.html

BenUK

Great info. Thanks

Anybody know what the correct finish is for a '76? It seems to be the opposite to yours: the shifter pattern and ashtray door on mine are crinkle paint and the rest is smooth. Yours has textured finish apart from the edges.

Ohh - just noticed you have an aftermarket (5-speed) shifter pattern plate. Perhaps your original would have been crinkle too.

70 LS1

The original 4 speed shift pattern was smooth, so was the ash tray door.

smon

You can also put vaseline over chrome parts and just wipe it off after you spray. The wood inserts can be ordered seperate also if you are looking to replace it. Mine was tore up...and Im cheap so i just removed it completely and painted that area. Looks good enough for now, until my 5 speed swap.

Sean

Alan 71

Hi Ben,
I've had good luck painting the gauge cluster bezel and console trim plate with semi-gloss black and the slicing the still soft paint off the chrome surface with a new x-acto blade. The paint comes off in long strings. There's one, #17, that's shaped like chisel and works well. Do you have x-acto in GB? Maybe in a Hobby Shop.
Regards,
Alan

69small block

this works wel you can let all the paint dry and then wipe off

BenUK

Thank you thank you thank you. Lots of good ideas there.

I've sent a PM to SEVNT6 who's got an original unmolested '76 and can hopefully confirm the paint types in each component. It may be that the factory changed the paint styles as the models changed. I'll be surprised if my console isn't original but we'll see.

Easy Mike

The 4 speed shift pattern is a stick on plate. It's possible your old original could have been replaced over the years.

Paul L

Replacements are only $15. I would remove that one and stick a new one on.

PHulst

Note that if that wood trim is original (ie real wood) that repros are nothing more than contact paper. If you have real wood, do anything you can to save it.

BenUK

That's a bummer. Mine could be original but it has a couple of pieces missing (you can see one in the photo at the top of this thread) so I've got no way to save it.