instrument cluster cleaning and painting

[fordman]

i have read some about this over my time here. but has anyone repainted thier plastic housing for thier instrument cluster. if so how did you paint it with what kind of paint and how did it turn out.

[69rangerman]

I just finished attempting this. I thought I had done a good job of taping off etc. but after I pulled the tape I had a lot of freehand to do.

I ended up messing it up so bad, I painted the hole thing black and then added some silver (not chrome) accents by hand. Looks cool to me.

One word of caution: Chrome paint for whatever reason (formulation?) seems to stay tacky. When I tried to do touch up and the chrome came into contact with the black it would re-liquify and blend with the black! Big Mess. Maybe someone else has had better luck/more expertise.

[greenies72]

I did this on a '69 Chevy C10 dash that I had. I used semi-gloss or semi-flat black and aluminum. It didn't look factory but it looked good! You have to be very meticulous when you do this work because it stares you in the face all the time you are driving. Use matching finish testors model paints for touch up, then spray a matte clear overcoat to even things up. I'm going to do the dash on my truck, but I will wait till spring so the paint is good and warm.

[68F250]

Toothpaste works real good in polishing out the scratches in the lens.

[lightning_msd]

now someone knows my secrets to cleaning everything. an old toothbrush and some toothpaste. (just make sure you dont use your ol ladies, bad experience )

[fordman]

yea i found some plastic polish. it works ok. it weas made by meguiars. but it says on the back not to put it on navigation lens. but i did anyway. if its going to do any damage to it. its ok because it uncovered some stress cracks in the lens.

[MadMaxetc]

an old toothbrush and some toothpaste

I would not have thought of that.

At hobby stores they sell sticky strips of chrome for scrap booking (my wife does it) and I was going to try some on my '67 if it needs redone.

[fordman]

so far i have disassembled it cleaned the dirt and put a coat of plastic chrome paint on the outer shell. i now need tyo sit down and paint the black places back to the way they were. and i would like to go see about some hobby store chrome to reface it with.

[fordman]

that sound decent. i can't cut glass for nothing.

[lobo]

heres a pic of instrument cluster with glass. dunnohow good the quality is, since i resized the pic[/img]

[Jake11]

Thats why I asked you guys about the 'chrome' paint I found. I got a
airbrush coming and I'll get some paint and see how it comes out. I'll
post some pic's on how it turns out, good or bad. Sound ok?

[fordman]

so your going to buy that paint. you got some deep pockets. yea post pics of it. i'll try to do the same if i can get mine done soon.

[Jake11]

As little as I can. I charged it to you.

[fordman]

yea did you sign my rreal name George W. Bush?

[Jake11]

How's you find out?