Restoring Shifter Consul Plate
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 103
From: Brisbane Queensland
Restoring Shifter Consul Plate
G'day All,
I've done a search but can't seem to find the posting by a member that showed how they restored their shifter consul plate, can anyone point me towards the posting with a link?
Thanks for your help,
Mark
I've done a search but can't seem to find the posting by a member that showed how they restored their shifter consul plate, can anyone point me towards the posting with a link?
Thanks for your help,
Mark
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I don't know of the post.. but I can tell you how we do them.
I strip all the paint off the old one, remove the shift indicator lens or the pattern depending on 4 sp or at. I then buff all the exposed chrome edges to as good of a finish as possible.
We then wipe the plate down with thinner, and spray a light coat of what I call DP-90 or an acid etching primer. Once we spray this we take a lint free cloth and some thinner on it and while the primer is still wet, we wipe off all the exposed chrome edges with a lint free cloth. You have to be quick too..
I hold the thinner dipped rag tightly around my index finger and gently rub until the primer is gone. If I have to dip in the thinner a few times it's no big deal you just don't want the thinner to drip on the console plate.
Once this is done I think spray a color coat on top of the primer and repeat the same procedure.
It's really not that hard to do and it will make your shift plate look new.
If you have a plate with fiber optics you can take a razor blade to the headlamp letters and swipe off only the edges... Spray the ash tray door the same way and re-install it. Add a new shift boot, indicator, and data decal and your on your way.
Willcox
I strip all the paint off the old one, remove the shift indicator lens or the pattern depending on 4 sp or at. I then buff all the exposed chrome edges to as good of a finish as possible.
We then wipe the plate down with thinner, and spray a light coat of what I call DP-90 or an acid etching primer. Once we spray this we take a lint free cloth and some thinner on it and while the primer is still wet, we wipe off all the exposed chrome edges with a lint free cloth. You have to be quick too..
I hold the thinner dipped rag tightly around my index finger and gently rub until the primer is gone. If I have to dip in the thinner a few times it's no big deal you just don't want the thinner to drip on the console plate.
Once this is done I think spray a color coat on top of the primer and repeat the same procedure.
It's really not that hard to do and it will make your shift plate look new.
If you have a plate with fiber optics you can take a razor blade to the headlamp letters and swipe off only the edges... Spray the ash tray door the same way and re-install it. Add a new shift boot, indicator, and data decal and your on your way.
Willcox
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,237
Likes: 4,330
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Mark,
The original paint was semi-flat.
The question for most people is how to deal with the exposed chrome edges and detail. There are various ways; I prefer the blade as Willcox mentions,
Regards,
Alan
The original paint was semi-flat.
The question for most people is how to deal with the exposed chrome edges and detail. There are various ways; I prefer the blade as Willcox mentions,
Regards,
Alan
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,977
Likes: 19
From: Canboro Ontario
I first took all the paint off with a gel paint stripper. Used scotch brite pads on all areas that were to be painted. Be carefull, not to hit the edging that is to remain chrome. Then I washed it all with just a dish detergent and rinsed well, alot. Try not to touch it now with bare fingers, use nitro gloves or something similar. You do not want to get any grease or acids from your fingers, on the plate. Use a good masking tape, take your time and burnish well so paint doesn't get under the tape. Use a sharp razor blade to cut all your edges. Mask everything you don't want to get paint on. For paint, I used Duplicolor trim mould black, in a shaker can. Follow instructions on the can and put down 4 or 5 coats and let dry. Peel off the tape carefully and you will see how it turns out. Hope that helps, let me know how it goes.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 361
From: Monson MA
Here are a couple of before and after's. I used the process Willox described but I used 1/8" pin stripping tape to tape off the chrome surfaces. Not the best finish, but acceptable. But the process worked and was very satisfying.
Before
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After
[IMG]
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Before
[IMG]
[/IMG]After
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Last edited by twinpack; Aug 5, 2012 at 07:40 AM.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I'll add to this a bit... If you go with a acid etching primer you'll need to just go with a dusting... If you don't the primer will fill the grain and you'll lose that textured look.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 103
From: Brisbane Queensland
Shifter Console Plate Restoration Update
Here's some photo's of progress from start to finish.
Half stripped.
Other pieces befor stripping.
Completely stripped. I masked off the engine data plate.
Finished results.
I used John Deer Blitz Black paint, looks pretty close to me.
Mark
Half stripped.
Other pieces befor stripping.
Completely stripped. I masked off the engine data plate.
Finished results.
I used John Deer Blitz Black paint, looks pretty close to me.
Mark
