OK, before anybody flames me. I searched and went through a 175 results. All I need to know is How to make the dash look fiberglassed without fiberglassing the dash.
2004 Ecotec Cavalier 9.9 in the 1/8th mile. 15.7 in the 1/4 mile.
What kind of paint and clear coat?
2004 Ecotec Cavalier 9.9 in the 1/8th mile. 15.7 in the 1/4 mile.
Interior FAQ
I know you searched but here is the first topic on the interior forum, it is a sticky everything you want to know is in here
04 Cav 2.2 Ecotec
honeslty if you dont know what your doing, dont start on something like your dash. go to a junkyard and get something small and try it on that first
I know what I'm doing just need to know if I can use filler primer and then regular paint? Or if I can use filler primer on the dash. Or can I just use vinyl paint. I'm wanting the lines to be gone.
2004 Ecotec Cavalier 9.9 in the 1/8th mile. 15.7 in the 1/4 mile.
bump*
2004 Ecotec Cavalier 9.9 in the 1/8th mile. 15.7 in the 1/4 mile.
Can somebody please answer my question? I want to do this tonight.
2004 Ecotec Cavalier 9.9 in the 1/8th mile. 15.7 in the 1/4 mile.
Hmmm...
If you must start with the dash, I think its a bad idea, but alas, I guess I'll tell ya?
You will have to take the whole dash out of the car. Take out the vent on the right side, possible take off the airbag cover unless you want to paint that too. The fun part, you will have to take off ALL the vinyl on the dash. Rip it off, get the glue or whatever else off it, etc. Then you'll have to sand. Sand like crazy. usually you want to tend to start with a lower grit, like 60-80 to get any texture out of the plastic. Then resand with something like 100-150. Then resand with something like 200-250. What this does is make sure the base is ridiculously smooth. I also went over mine with a 300 just to finalize. Now when it comes to painting, make sure you clean the area and that no sanding-dust is left on at all. Most people tend to paint using the Krylon series "Fusion" paint. It comes to red, blue, black, etc. There are a lot of colors and it is SPECICICALLY for plastic to and claims that you need no primer. Me personally, I use Primer anyways just incase. Again, Kyrlon makes a primer called "H2O" that works pretty good. You'll want to primer the dash first off and allow that to dry (which is usually an hour). Then sand that down with the 300+ grit paper to keep that smooth. If you want to reput another primer coat & resand or if you think its good enough to your liking, either redo it, or continue. After all is well, you can apply paint coats. Same thing like the primer, make a good layer, wait for usually about an hour, sand and recoat. Now some people do wetsanding as well, I don't really know all that much about it, so i can't go ito detail. Anyways, when it comes to the clearcoat, I use this brand . . . can't remember the name off hand but its a "Triple Gloss glaze". It works really well. Generally most spraypaint clearcoats will work just fine. You'll want to coat, sand with a high grit like 300+ in about an hour, recoat, etc. usually you'll want about 3 coats of clear, and it should be good to go . . .
Now after my hand hurts from typing, this should make your dash look awesome. As always, you'll want to wait atleast 24 hours before seriously handling and putting everything back together.
If I missed anything, feel free to add people
you can start it tonight but i wouldnt expect on having it finished tonight, not unless you want it to bad.
I know I've answered it 20+ times myself as well. So I did it again, and didn't even get a thanks. bastards . . . .
Exodus 259 wrote:I know I've answered it 20+ times myself as well. So I did it again, and didn't even get a thanks. bastards . . . .
Well if it's any consolation to you, after reading all those other dash painting posts this is the first time I've learned of having to remove the vinyl etc. I always thought it was just primering right after removing it from the car. So thank you for that.
Well you only have to remove the vinyl on the dash. If you do the bezel, center console, glove box, etc, thats just straight plastic so you can go right to primer if you don't want to remove the texture.
You're welcome by the way
o_O Not on mine? Mine is the same plastic as the rest of the console?
Yea, cause I took my center console out when I installed my new e-brake boot & shift boot. Mine is all plastic.
So the pieces with vinyl, (my center console lid is vinyl as well) how do you remove it? Will it peel off the same as say your climate control nobs? Or is there something more to do? And is it just a layer of vinyl, layer of something softish underneath the vinyl and than a hard plastic? After you've removed all the vinyl and whatnot from your dash, will the defrost panel still fit flush, or will it be raised now? Same with the piece between the window and the dash, will it still fit like normal?
So many questions now!
Like I said, this is the first I've heard of having to do that part, so not sure exactly how to go about it.
