Center console panels- powder coat?

m5bb

m5bb

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I had my metal center console panels out earlier this year and carefully striped them, primed them with good metal primer and painted them with a Dupli-Color semi-gloss black.
I looked good but has gotten a scratch or two already. Just doesn't stick too well to the pot metal.
So..... took them to be powder coated.
Pot metal is presenting a problem as it is so porous that there are little bubbles and pits in the surface. High quality powder coater is going to sand and try again.
Any experience with this problem that someone could shed some light on?

Priming and filling the pores seems like the best solution but what can you prime with and then powder coat?

Gary
 
if those are the panels around the steering wheel, i would not recomend to strip them, because you will destroy the "engraving" aspect of the old paint

what i did was merely clean them and spray them with black matt satin semi glossy paint, this maintained the original "grain" aswell as deleting the scratches


030220134920_zpsd94056c6.jpg


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deQuincey said:
if those are the panels around the steering wheel, i would not recomend to strip them, because you will destroy the "engraving" aspect of the old paint

what i did was merely clean them and spray them with black matt satin semi glossy paint, this maintained the original "grain" aswell as deleting the scratches


030220134920_zpsd94056c6.jpg


030220134921_zps754d0c48.jpg
Click to expand...

It's not those pieces I am working on. It the two center console pieces. One for the radio and the other where all the heat/AC controls are.

So Dequincy have you installed the springs yet?
 
m5bb said:
It's not those pieces I am working on. It the two center console pieces. One for the radio and the other where all the heat/AC controls are.

So Dequincy have you installed the springs yet?
Click to expand...

sorry for the misunderstanding

about the springs, not yet, but i have been hoarding all the pieces and bits needed to renew completely that area,

i have been working on the tools needed to remove the front shock tower nut, really a problem, that big nut and that 11mm odd rod

i will keep you updated, thank you
 
PaulinPa said:
What did you strip them with?
Click to expand...

Sorry I read this as why did I strip them. ( senior moment)

I used a very strong paint stripper that is made for use on wood but it won't hurt metal. You have to wear gloves or it will burn your skin. Wicked!
 
Once you get them finished, what are your plans to re-do the silk screened info on the A/C panel? Are the decals still available or maybe just have a detailer re-paint them?
 
Bwana said:
Once you get them finished, what are your plans to re-do the silk screened info on the A/C panel? Are the decals still available or maybe just have a detailer re-paint them?
Click to expand...


Good question. When I got the car there were no labels on any of the heater/ac controls. I had to look them up in the manual when I rebuilt the AC last year.
I do have the symbols like a triangle or square that are imbedded in the panel and will be able to repaint them silver like they were originally.
So actually I was just going to live with a nice looking center console (have already redone the side panels and shifter surround) without the labels. Sometimes you have to compromise and this is not a concours car.
Love any suggestions someone might have?
There seems to be some variations on the labels with different years. Mine is a 72.
 
How hard was it to remove the heater vent face? I had my AC panel repainted but now it looks too nice compared to the heater. Hindsight being what it is, I suppose I should have pulled the whole unit out and had them powder coated.
 
IIRC the hardest part was the 2 bolts (that hold the top section that has the heater controls) to the dash. One on each end that you can not see easily. I think they were 6 or 8mm.
Once they are out the panel will come off after you pull all the knobs off their shafts. Mine came off pretty easily.

Item 10 in this diagram. Not much help.

B0017507.png
 
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