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What are the metallic dash and console bezels made out of? Chrome plated zinc diecast? They have a chrome-like appearance when stripped of the flat black trim paint. Below is an example of what I am talking about. The edges and the lettering are chrome-like, but in fact the entire piece is when you take the paint off.
I was able to successfully refinish all of these bezels by stripping them, cleaning them thoroughly, and applying self-etching primer from Eastwood on them, then coating with SEM black trim paint. I did this a few years ago, before I had to stop the project. All of the pieces look great still, but one (the fiber optic trim plate at the top of the shifter console). On this piece paint flaked off in a number of places. When I stripped it again, the areas where the paint did not stick were faintly yellowish. Is this corrosion, and if so, how do you stop it so that the paint will stay?
I did my fiber optic panel. I would clean it with solvent/brake clean, then soapy water, and steel wool, then use a thin coat of primer, then black. It should stick.
Use a chemical stripper to get rid of ALL old paint. Wash, rinse, dry. You can mask off the chrome edges or do as most do and shave off the 'soft' paint after you give it 2 coats of satin black paint. Wait no more than 5 minutes, then use an X-acto blade or razor blade to shave the paint off whatever surfaces you want left chrome. DO NOT wipe off shaved paint; blow off (your mouth) what you can and leave the rest till paint is adequately cured. Then wipe off the excess. Don't get fingerprints in the fresh paint as you are 'shaving'.
68 Corvette trim bezel question
