painting dash
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
From: virginia beach
painting dash
I am going to paint my dashboard, i guess spray paint. The truck used to be a lightish blue, so the dash is a light blue. The truck now is a Creamish white. What type of paint should i use for this. Do i have to take the dash out, or could i just leave it in. Anyone ever done this before.. thanks
Senior User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
painting dash
Go to an auto parts store and look in their touchup paint section.You should be able to find some paint that will be close to the outside.If you can you need to remove your dash pad,clean and scuff the surface and try to make sure you don't leave any dirt or grease on the metal.After that the only problem I see is with the windshield,it may be pretty hard to get the can where you want it with it in the way.It should be like any other painting,the prep makes all the difference.Good luck.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville, FL
painting dash
CRJ,
You should pull the whole dash out. It's not that hard and an excellent opportunity to learn about the wonderful mysteries that await you "behind the dash." Go ahead and replace that cracked dash pad while your at it. When your through, you'll have to show everybody you've ever known the most incredible job. I used a Plasti-Kote enamel on mine and it looks factory. Go get'em!
Good Luck, Have Fun,
KingFisher
You should pull the whole dash out. It's not that hard and an excellent opportunity to learn about the wonderful mysteries that await you "behind the dash." Go ahead and replace that cracked dash pad while your at it. When your through, you'll have to show everybody you've ever known the most incredible job. I used a Plasti-Kote enamel on mine and it looks factory. Go get'em!
Good Luck, Have Fun,
KingFisher
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
From: virginia beach
painting dash
Ok, cool. Oh yea how did u know my dash pad is cracked???? and what is your opinion on the color i should paint it. the outside is a creamish white...oh yea, if i didnt tell u before its a 68 f100
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 65
From: Eastern, Idaho
painting dash
I would paint it creamish white. Is the inside metal parts of your doors and cab still blue or were they painted along with the out side of the truck? If it is still blue I would just leave it alone. If you paint it scuff it up with fine sandpaper and if there is some bare metal spray some primer on it, make sure it is very clean, no dust or lint or it will look rough. Also dont get it to dry or to wet or you will get runs or orange peel. paint it until looks wet dont overdo it, try not to let off on the spraying just keep spraying constantly until the can is out or the dash is painted enough, and keep a sweeping motion going. If you do all that your dash should look very good. You could probably put a couple of coats on, make sure the 1st coat is tacky or sticky before the 2nd coat is applied if it is dry rough it up with some really fine sand paper or steel wool make sure it is really dry though or the paint will peel up.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 671
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From: virginia beach
painting dash
the inside of the doors are creamish white also ( the same as the outside.. so should i really take the dash out?? is there anything i should know when doing this.. where should i start.. give me your input. thanks
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 6
From: SD
painting dash
[font color=red size=2]A couple years ago I painted the interior of my '73 black, it was brown. I first removed the dash trim, head liner and visors. Then I scuffed the surfaces, taped off what I didn't want painted and then primed and painted them. I used Krylon primer and gloss black. I even painted the plastic dash pad and the plastic door panels and they have held up very well. I've only had to touch up the armrests. I'm surprised it held up this well, I'm very pleased with the results. And it only cost about $15 to do it.
Marty
Marty
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville, FL
painting dash
CRJ,
Do you have any existing color schemes on your truck?
What color rims do you have? Creamy white is a very neutral color.
Would earth colors be along your style? What color is your dash? What color is your seat? Help me out here, I've done a few of these before and there not that tough.
Good Luck, Have Fun,
KingFisher
Do you have any existing color schemes on your truck?
What color rims do you have? Creamy white is a very neutral color.
Would earth colors be along your style? What color is your dash? What color is your seat? Help me out here, I've done a few of these before and there not that tough.
Good Luck, Have Fun,
KingFisher
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
From: virginia beach
painting dash
I have Pacer rims 15's. They are pretty much brand new and very chromey. I have a blue seat cover on right now, the dash is a light blue, i have kinda of a blackgray carpet i put in a few months ago.... the seat cover and the carpet really dont matter cus i could replace them easily for under 30$. But to paint the dash a creamish white wouldnt seem to look good... what other colors.. maybe ill just paint it another shade of blue. i have a black dash pad.. thanks
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: South Central PA
painting dash
I had painted the vinyl dash AND the back seat of an old CJ7 I used to have. I used a regular spray paint that was made to use on vinyl and flexible surfaces. Think I got it at Walmart or Kmart. I know the brand name on it was Mar Hyde. I never really expected it to hold up that well, it was always exposed to the elements all summer. Painted black over tan. It held up suprisingly well! The dash still shined up with a little Armorall after 4 years. The only places on the back seat that came off were from hauling our Great Dane in the back where she clawed it up. I would not even think about painting it inside though. You can get to all the studs to remove it through the opening where the glovebox, radio, and instrument cluster are after you take them out. Not really that big a job, but gauranteed to leave a couple scratches on ya!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 3
From: central Alberta
painting dash
To start disassembling your dash, you can start with the instrument cluster. Reach up around the right side of your column and unscrew the speedo cable nut. There are eight screws holding the cluster in place, then it tips toward you and pulls out after you disconnect the wiring. The glove box, radio and the ashtray are pretty easy. The big face nut on the ignition switch will come off without removing the cylinder. The **** on the w/w wiper will need a 1/16 allen key to remove. I think there's about eight nuts across the front (firewall) side of the dash pad, two in the middle above the radio/ashtray and one at each end (left of cluster and right of glovebox). After you get the dash pad off, mask the lower windshield rubber, the windshield pillars, the lower kick panels and anything else you don't want painted. Lower the column, degrease thoroughly and scuff with a scotchbrite pad or 400 sandpaper and paint.