CUSTOM PAINTED 5th Gen Bose Stereo and console.

[lightsout]

when you just want to fix something small...IT ALMOST ALWAYS TURNS INTO A BIGGER PROJECT THAN EXPECTED here are the B4 and AFTERS!!

BEFORE...





DURING...

scotch bright your dash parts under water till smooth. then scotch bright it when dry(wear NITRILE gloves to keep hand oils off parts).

PPG DP50 EPOXY PRIMER...use professional 2 Stage Paint Gun to apply. Apply 5 coats of very very thin Primer...then finish with one solid coat.



PPG DCC35183 SILVER PAINT...mix: 2 : 1 : 1mix: DCC : DCX HARDENTER : DT870 REDUCERLET DRY IN WARM ROOM B/C DRY TIME IS FASTER, AND COATS SPREAD SMOOTHER.

AFTER INSTALLATION...











Please post up pictures of what you have done with your dashes, consoles, and window switches!!

[Darktide]

that looks awesome man. My skill/space/equipment(none) restricts me to spray cans. Unfortunately one of my rear passanger trim panels snapped in half when I was pulling on it so I'm thinking I'm going to have to fiberglass over it. I tried using gorilla glue but its not helping.

Anyway, you did a fantastic job. How did you get the vents out of the top most piece?

[D_roc]

looks nasty

[audtatious]

Wow, very nice.

That's a whole lotta effort and it came out very clean

[ZGadson]

looks nasty

lmao.

[D_roc]

lmao.

meant it in a good way lol, i thought of doing the same but with the paint that change color but then i'm not a good painter

[MinisterofDOOM]

Wow, very nice.

That's a whole lotta effort and it came out very clean

Looks great!

[lightsout]

thanks everyone!!! it was a lot of work, but totally worth all the time and effort!! I'd really encourage everyone to do their dash, it was a blast learning the inside guts of the Bose Stereo

[lightsout]

that looks awesome man. My skill/space/equipment(none) restricts me to spray cans. Unfortunately one of my rear passanger trim panels snapped in half when I was pulling on it so I'm thinking I'm going to have to fiberglass over it. I tried using gorilla glue but its not helping.

Anyway, you did a fantastic job. How did you get the vents out of the top most piece?

to get the upper vents off, use a paint can opener. The paint can openter looks like a flat screw driver with a bent/rounded tip. Put the tip on the left or right side of the vent, then pull slowly.

<p>

[lightsout]

btw darktide...you can fiberglass a small bit inside where it broke, then fill the inside of the piece that broke with Marglass...it's a spreadable fiberglass, then let dry for 2 days.

if you don't want to do all that work you could try JB Weld, or a clear resin the a few small pieces of a metal hanger strung across the inside to add strenght

does that help?

[Darktide]

Lightsout, I mean the actual blades of the vent. In your preparation picture you have them taken out of the top piece. The whole piece itself I can get out pretty easily.

As for the trim piece. Those things are so thin. I'm probably just going to go check a junk yard. There are a few junkyards in the area that have no idea what anything is worth. I'm just afraid that any repair will break because of how thin the part is.

[lightsout]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ...the blades are separate from the silver part. it's a 2 part piece. there are little clips on the top and bottom of the unit. purchase 8 very very small flathead screw drivers(or something equivalent), and push up all the clips, while keeping the small screw drivers in place with tape.

look at the pic:

[Trav1s]

Looks really nice! Quite impressive and a clear reminded that the right tools and supplies add to the quality of work. Have you considered selling these as finished products?

[DragonMaxima]

That looks great, super clean!!!

good job!!

[danielekfuj]

Was gonna do something similar, but worried about paint chipping later on. Update us on how that goes.

[lightsout]

to keep the paint from chipping you MUST use PPG Epoxy Primer:DP40(white)DP48(light grey)DP50(darker grey)DP60(blue)DP90(blackthe DP Epoxy Primers need to be painted in suuuuper thin layers with low air speed throught the paint gun. 5 very thin coats of DP, then one good coat just before you Shoot the paint. When you shoot the paint, use the same steps as the DP primer(5 very thin coats, 1-2 good coats at the end)...following these steps will prevent your dash from chipping or cracking. Most paints today dont crack b/c they have become more and more flexible. I used a Single Stage PPG DCC paint...it is a paint that has the clear coat built in to the formula. You can use a 2 Stage paint also. 2 Stage paints are applied by first shooting the color, then layering the clear separately. More experience is needed to used 2 Stage paints b/c the painter must have great vision to watch for sagging in the clear coat. Sagging and improper paint reducing can lead to that nasty orange peal look in your clear coat.

i would not recommend using ANY rattle can products if you want the paint to last, and not chip.

as far as selling the extra parts...right now i don't plan on selling them b/c i would like to have the security of having a back up....BUT i will for sure put up a post if I change my mind

anyone know what the bulb code is for this bulb?? Its the bulb that shines from under the AC controls onto the coin tray&hazard button. I want to replace it with an LED...but don't know what kind of bulb it is


Modified by lightsout at 12:54 PM 3/24/2008

[Rellik27]

damn looks awsome

[Darktide]

Lightsout, that should be a #74 bulb with a stupid little 'condom' cover. It's the same ones as behind the instrument cluster.

As for the rattle can products... I've gotta say that the few pieces that I've done with mine have worked well.. But then again I've kinda cheated. I've been using the wheel paint which is a little more durable but it's got a kind of metal flake so I like the look of it. I haven't gotten around to doing the setup like Lightsout but I'm getting there. Though to be honest it's barely a shade lighter than what it already was. But I have to say, though I think the rattle can works ok for me, there is no replacement for doing the job right.

[tigersharkdude]

checkout my link below. rip max. custom painted dash.

[lightsout]

that was a smart move going with the wheel paint b/c of the durability!!!

FYI everyone...i bought my 2 stage trigger paint gun from HOME DEPOT. it wasn't tooo much b/c it's a HUSKY product. Go check it out...if you get one, also get the air filter!!

[lightsout]

checkout my link below. rip max. custom painted dash.

that is very niiice tigersharkdude!!

[Darktide]

HOLY CRAP!Tigersharkdude that is one rediculously sick dash paint job. That's amazing. I wish I had something that good. I also wish I was 1) as artistically skilled as your uncle, 2) had that kind of skill with a paint gun as him and lightsout.I admire people like that.

[tigersharkdude]

i want to do that to my new max but dont know what colors to go with. he told me when im ready bring it to him and he would do it. by the way thanks for the mad props!!

[davskins97]

Nice job man. It looks good and the color you chose is tasteful. That's the kind of completed project that puts that stupid grin on your face every time you get into the car. You know, the same one you had when you first bought your max. Or was that just me? Anyway, very cool.

[lightsout]

it's not just you...i had that same grin when i bought mine, and now i get to grin everyday at my car b/c it's becoming more and more like me!!

[maxhopper]

Awesome job, looks very clean!