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| BillH | Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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The Stig Moderator
 
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I pulled the instrument panel oft of a box that was in the living room closet for years.
It looks pretty damn good. Already have 2 hours in it just trying to get the 3 switches and cigar lighter out. Have to replace 2 knobs, the headlight switch knob alone is $29.00. I did really luck out though, the bezels on the gauges are in great shape and don't need painting which is a boatload of work. And the silver lettering on the switched was almost brown but Simple green brought them back. That lettering and the bezels are part of the whole panel, cast in one piece, can't remove them to restore. Taping tomorrow will take an hour and a half plus time to clean the panel before shooting paint. Then lighly hit the thin chrome around the bezels with mother's Mag Wheel polish Attach file:  IMG_1360.JPG (622.06 KB) IMG_1357.JPG (599.75 KB) IMG_1361.JPG (546.54 KB) |
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Posted on: 2016/9/12 23:11
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| Matatk | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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I can't imagine what it would cost to buy a replacement. Nice work.
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Posted on: 2016/9/13 2:40
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| BillH | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Yea huge.
Say nice maybe when you see the results in the next day or so.  |
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Posted on: 2016/9/13 2:53
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| Ultraman | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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2015 Memorial Day Car Show Winner!
 
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I was not so lucky on my 63. I had to send it to someone who did those restorations. 63 was a unique year for the C2 in a lot of ways. Anyway I remember it cost a lot but when I opened up the box to look at it I was real impressed with the work........looked like a brand new one.......
That is one of the reasons I like my C6....the dash gauges are laid out to resemble the C2's........looking forward to seeing the restored gauge set.... |
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Posted on: 2016/9/13 10:48
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| BillH | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Quote:
Never have figured out which I like better, 63/64 or 67. Even I guess. |
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Posted on: 2016/9/13 13:02
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| bogus | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
 
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That will clean up nicely.
Repairing a broken instrument is a rather fixed cost, really. But restoring that cluster via a third party would be super pricey. The charm is you keep more originality! Can't wait to see the finished product. As an aside, the mid-year has the nicest IP of all Vette's until the C7. The late C4 is third. |
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Posted on: 2016/9/13 15:39
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| teebee | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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2014 Memorial Day Car Show Winner!
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Nice work Bill, I'm sure it will be top notch when you ar finished, just like everything you have done o far.
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Posted on: 2016/9/13 16:41
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| BillH | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Surprising condition of the back of the panel, many are rusted.
Attach file: IMG_1362.JPG (593.24 KB) IMG_1366.JPG (515.02 KB) IMG_1367.JPG (522.17 KB) IMG_1377.JPG (509.59 KB) |
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Posted on: 2016/9/14 21:16
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| BillH | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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The usual, 3 hours of very tedious taping, 10 minutes of painting , 2 VERY thin coats with a 7 minute flash in-between.
The original paint scratched easily but you can't take it off, can't sand because it's grained. Interesting how they made these, the entire piece including the instrument bezels and the lettering for the switched is a one piece die cast. Then the entire thing was chromed which is another reason to not take it to bare metal, getting paint to stick to chrome is almost impossible. After chroming the factory shot 3 different coats of paint AND they baked the paint on in-between each coat. You have to be extremely careful shooting the paint because a wet coat will start to fill in the graining. Still have to give the chrome a touch of Mother's polish and clean up the switches. Attach file: IMG_1368.JPG (626.53 KB) IMG_1370.JPG (664.08 KB) IMG_1373.JPG (770.59 KB) |
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Posted on: 2016/9/14 21:28
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| joeld | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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Guru
 
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That looks good!
This would be a perfect example of the old saying "the more you screw with the worse it looks". Have you tried Nu-Finish Polish to clean the bezels? It's a gentle polish that works good. Joel |
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Posted on: 2016/9/14 23:45
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| BillH | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Quote:
Nope, Joel, haven't tried it. I will say the nothing I used in many years compares to Mother's Mag Wheel and Aluminum Polish (and I use a boatload of Maguire's Professional products (not the Maguire's that you buy at Walmart). I used it on the 67 grill and it had the little spots that stand up away from the chrome (not pits down into the chrome). The Mother's brought it back to perfect (I was blown away). I used it on the horn button and the cad plating on the gas cap (Cad is almost impossible to restore). See pics My next purchase will be Mother's Billet Polish which is a bit less abrasive. Nu-Finish is probably good stuff but nothing I've used compares to this Mother's polish. Attach file: IMG_1100.JPG (475.61 KB) IMG_1139.JPG (648.92 KB) |
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Posted on: 2016/9/15 0:48
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| joeld | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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Guru
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Yea, I understand about sticking with a tried and true product. That gas cap took some serious effort to look that good, just a regular polish would have been a waste of time. I use the Nu-Finish on "delicate" surfaces first before the more aggressive cleaners.
Joel |
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Posted on: 2016/9/15 2:37
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| Ultraman | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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2015 Memorial Day Car Show Winner!
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Nice work Bill.......great taping job.......takes patience.........
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Posted on: 2016/9/15 11:26
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| BillH | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Quote:
And an Xacto knife and a little screwdriver with a dulled blade. Thanks It's tedious. Taping up custom graphics like pin stripes, flames is even harder (for me anyways). |
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Posted on: 2016/9/15 13:41
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| bogus | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
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Where is the "like" button when you need it!
Looks GREAT! |
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Posted on: 2016/9/15 16:30
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| pianoguy | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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Guru Emeritus
 
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Yeah, get on that! Looks terrific, Bill! |
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Posted on: 2016/9/15 17:41
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| teebee | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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2014 Memorial Day Car Show Winner!
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Super job Bill.
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Posted on: 2016/9/15 19:13
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2007 Atomic Orange 3LT coupe. Borla Exhaust One of Americas' proud Deplorable
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| BillH | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Thanks guys.
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Posted on: 2016/9/15 19:54
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| j3studio | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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Elite Guru
 
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Amazing! |
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Posted on: 2016/9/15 22:52
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| Ultraman | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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2015 Memorial Day Car Show Winner!
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Quote:
.....so you have seen whats in my tool box....... |
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Posted on: 2016/9/15 23:01
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2010 Grand Sport Coupe Gone but not forgotten... Vote DeSantis in 2024.... Make the IRS go away... |
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| BillH | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Quote:
A list of Honda Parts??? |
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Posted on: 2016/9/16 0:17
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Every man dies but not every man lives. |
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| Matatk | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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Webmaster
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Outstanding, Bill.
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Posted on: 2016/9/16 1:58
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2002 EBM convertible, Magnusson supercharger, cam, headers, etc. 1989 Corvette...RIP |
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| Ultraman | Re: Instrument Panel Resto | ||
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2015 Memorial Day Car Show Winner!
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....holy moly.....there IS a Honda out there under that pile of stuff......I need to get on that this winter......Ya....... |
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Posted on: 2016/9/17 3:26
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