Dash Paint
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 978
Likes: 1
From: Scranton Pennsylvania
Dash Paint
I started my re-wiring project yesterday. As part of this, I wanted to re-paint the gauge cluster and the steering column. I checked some posts from this forum and krylon #1613 was recommended. I tried it yesterday on some of the steering column hardware and it seems too dull. Would another coat help? My prep included sanding, wet sanding and one coat of krylon grey primer. The parts do look alot better than they did before I started, but thought that it should have alittle gloss to the finish. Any suggestions?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,458
Likes: 27
Originally Posted by JohnZ
I prefer SEM Trim Black #39143 for those applications - still a satin finish, but not as flat as Krylon #1613. 
I forgot to mention that I used the SEM on my dash. It is a tad glossier and the nozzle was better. I discovered the SEM paint a couple of weeks after doing the column and gauge cluster.
Ren, you can get the SEM stuff at most pro auto paint stores.
Here's a pic of my non-NCRS dash. You can even see some reflection from the grain in the dash pad.
Just remember....NO DUST. One spec of dust on satin black and It'll look like hell.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,682
Likes: 3,678
From: Central Arkansas
Originally Posted by ren
I started my re-wiring project yesterday. As part of this, I wanted to re-paint the gauge cluster and the steering column. I checked some posts from this forum and krylon #1613 was recommended. I tried it yesterday on some of the steering column hardware and it seems too dull. Would another coat help? My prep included sanding, wet sanding and one coat of krylon grey primer. The parts do look alot better than they did before I started, but thought that it should have alittle gloss to the finish. Any suggestions?
Dan
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 978
Likes: 1
From: Scranton Pennsylvania
65 Hardnoks, Thanks for the reply--your dash looks great. I'll try to find SEM. I encountered another problem. A previous owner had removed the clock and replaced it with a c-4 logo. It really looked stupid. I bought a clock at Carlise and couldn't wait to see how it looked. When I removed the logo, I discovered that they had drilled a hole outside of the clock hole to mount the c-4 logo. The clock fits perfect, looks great, but I have to find a way to fill the hole. It is located about 1/2 inch from the 3 o'clock position. It's about as big as an eraser on a pencil. I'll try to put something behind it and fill the hole with thin layers of bondo. Hope it works. The frustrating part is that it's too cold and damp to try it tonight.
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 240
Likes: 4
From: Mendon MA
Dash repair
Ren,
I repaired my 63 gauge cluster with several layers of bondo, a nice sanding, black primer then Krylon1613 (8 coats) and it looks great. It had a hole cut out to fit a 64. I think it will work fine on the dash, just need to make sure you don't lose the grain texture if any is there.
Jim
I repaired my 63 gauge cluster with several layers of bondo, a nice sanding, black primer then Krylon1613 (8 coats) and it looks great. It had a hole cut out to fit a 64. I think it will work fine on the dash, just need to make sure you don't lose the grain texture if any is there.
Jim
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 978
Likes: 1
From: Scranton Pennsylvania
Thanks for all of the replies. I'll try to do some prep work this week and start the bondo on Sat. The center part of my dash doesn't have any grain to it. I never saw that before. I just recently read that some early 63's had a smooth center dash.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 978
Likes: 1
From: Scranton Pennsylvania
Bought the SEM paint today. It was pretty hard to find. I've been testing the Krylon on parts of the steering column collar. I sprayed two light coats of SEM on one of the pieces. What a difference!!! The color looks perfect. Now if I can only muster the patience to properly prepare and mask the gauge cluster, it should look like new.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 240
Likes: 4
From: Mendon MA
Gauge Cluster
Ren,
Be very careful with taping the gauge cluster. I used the paint tape from an auto store (3M blue tape). The dull aluminum on the bezels tends to come off pretty easy. The Krylon 1613 looks very nice on the cluster itself (I did use primer). You need to wait awhile before masking the fresh black paint off if your going to do the bezels as well. Since mine was a 63, I used the dull Aluminum spray from LI Corvettes. Still took many times to get it right!!!
Jim
Be very careful with taping the gauge cluster. I used the paint tape from an auto store (3M blue tape). The dull aluminum on the bezels tends to come off pretty easy. The Krylon 1613 looks very nice on the cluster itself (I did use primer). You need to wait awhile before masking the fresh black paint off if your going to do the bezels as well. Since mine was a 63, I used the dull Aluminum spray from LI Corvettes. Still took many times to get it right!!!
Jim
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 87
Likes: 1
From: Calgary AB
Cluster background
The cluster "background" on my 65, black interior looks like it was flat black and the instrument bezels semi gloss, does that make sense? What would that mean to the glove box door? I've done the dash itself in semi gloss, as well as the shifter console and the steering column. Its a driver long ways from NCRS, but would like to get approximately right. Suggestions?
