A while back there was a thread about refurbishing the center shift console and I can't find it.

I currently have the metal shift console out of the car and stripped it down to bare chrome with acetone. I took off the 4-speed shift pattern and the data plate at the bottom, then painted the whole thing flat black and now need to remove the paint from the raised parts that are supposed to be chrome. I can't remember what was done in the old thread at this point.

Do I use more acetone and try to strip just the raised parts? Or Do I use a knife and scrape off the paint from the raised parts?



I assume the procedure would be the same for the center gauge section?


Thanks

 

I would try a rubber sanding block wrapped with a fine cloth of some kind (terry cloth maybe?). Use a spray bottle with acetone and mist the cloth a bit and see how it works. It should remove the paint pretty easily and give a slight radius look to the top of the raised image.


I did this on my plate and it worked well.
Good luck?

 

When these were not available in reproduction, the only way to make one look right was to restore them. We used to paint the entire plate then let it dry completely.

Take two lint free towels and lay one on your work bench. With the other cloth wrap it around your index finger tightly and dip it in the thinner. Before you try to rub off the excess paint, pat your finger on the other lint free towel. (you don’t want it to drip on your newly painted shift plate). Gently rub over the letters and the edges a tiny bit at a time. Do not try to remove all the paint in one pass either. The thinner will absorber in the paint and on the next pass it will come off clean.

I’ve used the scrape method and it works on letters pretty good. But when you do the outer edge of the plate you run the risk of removing to much paint and starting over. If memory serves me correctly, you want about 1/8” of the paint removed from around the outer edge, and all the letters cleaned off smooth. This should not take you very long to do and it should produce a very nice looking console.

When you install your new shift pattern make sure the paint on your new pattern matches the paint you put on the shifter plate. Also make sure that you remove the paint from below the area where the shift pattern is to attach.

I’ve had real good luck scuffing the chrome in this area and applying a thin coat of fast tack trim adhesive with a brush to it before installing the shift pattern. The cheap tape that comes on the back of the pattern seems to not want to hold on real tight. It’s easy to do, just spray the glue on old scrap cardboard, and use an acid brush. On the back of the shift pattern, peal off the tape and apply a thin coat to it. When you place it on the console plate it’s there for good.

IMHO,

Willcox Inc

 

And there you have it...

 

Thanks guys. Here is the finished product, tell me what you think.

 

Looks great. I like the motor ID plate. Where did that come from? I might have to get one for mine.

 

70,

LOOKS GREAT!!!! Now I have to do mine. So which procedure did you use to get such awesome results?

Thanks.

 

:lol : A-1.....

 

I used acetone to strip the entire plate, then sprayed it with flat black. Maybe I should have used satin or semi-flat per Wilcox's recommendation to more match the shift pattern, but I like the look of the flat for the interior.

I then wrapped my finger with a paper towel, put a little acetone on my finger and began to slowly rub away the black. You only get a few seconds before the acetone evaporates so it is kind of a slow process. It took about 1hr to strip the raised chrome.

Now I just have to do the ash tray door and the heater controls and the center gauge cluster and... does it ever end??

 

Looks great and to answer you last question: No it never ends.

When you do the ash tray door, make sure to install the door clip on before you put the door on the car. If you leave this clip off the door will slide down when you hit a bump.

willcox

 

Well, very nice. I have been working feverishly getting my 72 ready to paint, and have been procrastinating on restoring the interior parts. You have motivated me to start knocking out those pieces now!!

 

Where are you having it painted?

 

Being a retired Navy guy, I get my cars painted at Ft Lewis auto hobby shop. I do all the prep, and the painter primers and does a BC/CC for about $250. I get the paint at wholesale from Wesco, LDI, or Canyon. It probably wont win Pebble Beach, but a very nice quality job nonetheless...

Rob

 

Jeff,
Your console rocks! Love the LS1 / T56 tied so nicely to the stock console.
Wow - more retired Navy (MakoShark 72)- I won't be able to say that for at least another year .
Just finishing putting my car back together after a paint job also - new led taillights with homemade led license light and rev lights were todays install.
Steve

 

Steve, I'm looking forward to seeing yours when I come down in a few months.

 

Thanks for sharing. Very nice work. This ones going in the archives.

 

I painted mine about three weeks ago. All i did was to let the paint dry to the touch then simply scrape the paint off with your finger nail. It comes right off, no chemicals and it looks perfect. I fact I had bought a new fiber optic bezel for the top of the shift console just for the heck of it i painted the old one cleaned off the letters and it looks just as good as the new one. sometimes the easiest way is the best way, not often but sometimes.

 

Here's where I got it.

http://www.afterthoughtsauto.com/corc5facratd.html

 

Nice work! Just finished mine, but don't have pics at work. I cleaned mine with acetone, but did not remove all of the paint (it's been there since 1969; it's probably going to stay put).

Then sprayed all with satin black, let dry, and wiped the edges I wanted exposed with 0000 steel wool over a piece of dowel. Very light pressure takes off just what you want and feathers the edge so it doesn't chip. Cleaned the shift plate numbers using steel wool on the end of a pencil eraser--lots of control, no spills (not that that would ever happen) and it leaves the paint in the bottom of the number.

Again, really nice job.

 

Very nice job!