painted my dash

dotcentral · Post by **dotcentral** » February 9, 2011, 11:05 am

No photos yet, will try to get a few up soon. I added some flattening agent to get a semi-gloss look. Figured if it didn't look good I would save my pennies up for a new dash pad.

Anyhow, it does looks good, but not great. I got a couple specks of trash in the clear, and a little ridge where the masking paper came loose and layed down on the top of the dash. I should leave well enough alone, but has anyone here every tried to wet sand anything other than gloss clear? Some are telling me it will turn my semi-gloss to gloss, others say it will screw it up and create a need for re-clearing. Or any other tricks? Please, no "maybe this could work" sorts of things. Looking for a proven technique someone has actually used sucessfully on semi gloss or eggshell clears. Or if someone can share a good painting web site where I could find my answer.

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » February 9, 2011, 11:09 am

I know nothing...

But I would start here:
http://www.autobody101.com/content/

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » February 9, 2011, 11:13 am

an opinion , not a solution-

seems whenever i am not extremely happy with something that others might not even notice trying to "fix" the issue makes it worse then has to be redone.

jmf66 · Post by **jmf66** » February 9, 2011, 5:17 pm

Yes, sanding and buffing the flattened clear will affect the gloss (I've done it). The flattening agent (solids) float to the top in the clear as it dries, and you end up sanding into the solids.. which affects gloss. It's usually best to re-clear the whole piece after sanding.

With that said... it may not be as noticeable to sand/buff on your semi-gloss as it would on a very flat clear. If you have an old fender lying around, you can shoot that and do some experimenting.

There's great information on painting at http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/

RedneckCowboy · Post by **RedneckCowboy** » February 9, 2011, 6:35 pm

My truck came stock with the dash pad and now it's cracked and I don't really want to buy a new one. So if I remove it and paint whats underneath will it look like the trucks that came from the factory without a dash pad? My truck is a custom cab if that makes a diffrence.

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » February 9, 2011, 9:13 pm

i believe so. those pads were glued to the dash i think. at least my 66 didn't have any weird holes to patch.

Post by **Greg D** » February 9, 2011, 9:53 pm

Some trucks with the dash pad had a trim piece right up along the windshield, bout a half dozen small holes for the clips - hard to find piece of trim. There will be holes under the trim that runs along the bottom of the pad too. Of course these are trim holes - pad is just glued on.

Truckrat · Post by **Truckrat** » February 9, 2011, 9:59 pm

If you have clear on it already, and you have a bit of trash in it, scuff the clear with a scotchbrite pad, blow it off and wipe it down with a rag slightly damp with water and follow up with a dry rag to take off all the moisture. Make sure your surface is dry and reclear it with 2 or 3 coats. Once dry, you should have a good clear coat on there to keep you from getting into the base color. I would think a dash would look better with a nice gloss on it which color sanding with 1500-2000 grit would do followed up by polishing it out. But that is just me. TR

Alan Mclennan · Post by **Alan Mclennan** » February 10, 2011, 12:37 am

Ours never had that option!, so I painted mine yellow!

Leeroy · Post by **Leeroy** » February 10, 2011, 5:30 am

If only Alan!

And a RHD firewall pad would be nice too!

BigMike · Post by **BigMike** » February 10, 2011, 7:59 am

Leeroy wrote:If only Alan!

And a RHD firewall pad would be nice too!

Just turn one inside out

macgiobuin · Post by **macgiobuin** » February 10, 2011, 8:13 am

I removed my dash pad this past summer and the paint underneath was in pretty good condition. Has a few scuff marks/rough spots, but it looks tons better than the old, cracked dash. The dried glue residue left on the dash is the tricky part...I used bumper sticker remover from Oreilly's/Auto Zone and it came off with little effort.

I'm not planning to re-paint my dash.....at least not for now.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » February 10, 2011, 8:41 am

Tippmann, mine also came with the pad and I removed it and painted.... I think it looks great... although I had to put the chrome strip back under the front windsheild or I would have had holes.....

Effie · Post by **Effie** » February 10, 2011, 3:32 pm

Another vote for less dash pad, more paint!

I love mine in semi-gloss black and red. Way better than the busted up dash pad.

stronger66ratfink · Post by **stronger66ratfink** » February 10, 2011, 3:56 pm

Before..!!!!

After...!!!

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » February 10, 2011, 6:27 pm

Ever get pics Dot??? I like the painted just because the dashes are usually cracked and broke and I can paint it to match the truck.... only color I have seen in the dash pads is black.... I like my Orange....

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » February 11, 2011, 5:57 pm

Mac, I have a dash pad that will fit this one. I have to admit that it is a little unconfortible driving it with the accelerator over by the kick pad.

Alan Mclennan · Post by **Alan Mclennan** » February 11, 2011, 6:20 pm

Michelle wrote:Mac, I have a dash pad that will fit this one. I have to admit that it is a little unconfortible driving it with the accelerator over by the kick pad.

I`d have to agree with that!, left foot acceleration may be a bit tricky!

Going on a road trip I hear Chelle!

, be nice to the towns folk!