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My center console and radio surround are in pretty rough shape. I would like either refinish or cover them. I plan to repair the broken parts so some kind of refinish or cover would be required, Not worried about originality. Any suggestion or actual experiences would be appreciated.
The rubber coating can be stripped off using nail polish remover.It's time consuming to remove the coating but once removed the panel can then be primed and repainted
I did a thread, ok a partial thread on this. I used NON acetone nail polish remover to strip the factory finish. You can then paint it with whatever product you want, SEM etc. I used a product called hyper dip from dip your car that I feel matches the factory finish identically. I wanted to duplicate the somewhat rubbery feel factory feel and the dip product does this well. I have yet to finish my project but I like the results so far. It’s too cold to spray here now so I’ll pick it up in the spring. I’ll pull up my thread and attach it. The nail polish remover works best if you buy a larger quantity and create a bath to dip the entire panel in.
I did a thread, ok a partial thread on this. I used NON acetone nail polish remover to strip the factory finish. You can then paint it with whatever product you want, SEM etc. I used a product called hyper dip from dip your car that I feel matches the factory finish identically. I wanted to duplicate the somewhat rubbery feel factory feel and the dip product does this well. I have yet to finish my project but I like the results so far. It’s too cold to spray here now so I’ll pick it up in the spring. I’ll pull up my thread and attach it. The nail polish remover works best if you buy a larger quantity and create a bath to dip the entire panel in.
Did my several years ago. Stripped the coating, glass media blaster, then used trim coating. No paint. So nothing to scatch off later. Got the process from Joe C.
See this thread. Console restoration
My center console and radio surround are in pretty rough shape. I would like either refinish or cover them. I plan to repair the broken parts so some kind of refinish or cover would be required, Not worried about originality. Any suggestion or actual experiences would be appreciated.
Thanks
Joe
You can find replacement center consoles on eBay for around $50. I went that route after trying to redo the console in my 94, which didn't turn out very well. And the replacement had the cup holder door already installed.
From: Central Kansas – early 1977 L-48 Coupe in Classic White, aka the Sunset Stripper
2023 C4 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Originally Posted by GS023
My center console and radio surround are in pretty rough shape. I would like either refinish or cover them. I plan to repair the broken parts so some kind of refinish or cover would be required, Not worried about originality. Any suggestion or actual experiences would be appreciated.
I did a thread, ok a partial thread on this. I used NON acetone nail polish remover to strip the factory finish. You can then paint it with whatever product you want, SEM etc. I used a product called hyper dip from dip your car that I feel matches the factory finish identically. I wanted to duplicate the somewhat rubbery feel factory feel and the dip product does this well. I have yet to finish my project but I like the results so far. It’s too cold to spray here now so I’ll pick it up in the spring. I’ll pull up my thread and attach it. The nail polish remover works best if you buy a larger quantity and create a bath to dip the entire panel in.
Do you know if the HYPERDIP will get sticky like DULSO in the future?
Do you know if the HYPERDIP will get sticky like DULSO in the future?
I wish I could say one way or another. It just hasn’t been around long enough to know. I can tell you that they make a special cleaner for it that they say actually takes away some of the rubbery feel. I suspect a lot of the issues with the dulso finish were from years of soaking up oily cleaners like armor all etc. I’m not trying to defend it because it’s definitely not the best but I think the type of cleaners used definitely played a part in it becoming soft and gummy. Another thing is that the hyper dip is durable until you don’t want it to be. When I messed mine up, I was able to pretty much peel it all off in one sheet. It was tough to get it started and it was definitely adhered well but it’s film strength was amazing and I pulled really hard on it without it tearing. So if it ever got banged up, it’s easy to peel and redo if necessary.
Aside from not having the somewhat 'soft touch' feel to the finish, the SEM interior paint exactly matched the look of the OE product...without the issues ALWAYS associated with the soft touch paints. Why manufacturers did this without extensive testing is beyond me and it is not limited to these cars. Robbie (www.stickynomore.com) has made a business out of repairing these panels....mostly on European cars. He repaired a few panels for me on a certain Italian car I owned because I could never figure out how to get the sticky crap off the panel. The non-aceetone nail polish removed worked perfectly for me. I had the same issue on all interior panels of a Porsche 997 that I recently sold.
96 console plastic
