DIY for Painting Dash

[bulld0g]

Just completed my first Mod on the Versa........ I thought that the interior needed some color so I decided to paint some of my dash pieces.....Starting with stock dashpop the dash top above the stereo...here is what it looks like underneathremove two screws holding front stereo dash piece inremoved front pieceundo four screws on back of front piece.use flat head to release tabs on side vent airbag light and unplug hazard switch...release tabs hold hazard switch and remove it....next remove the lower cover underneith the center stack and two screws will be exposed that hold on the A/C cover...remove two screws and remove A/C cover

next prep pieces by lightly sanding with 400 sand paper and clean with paint prep......

paint....

after paint is dry colorsand to remove orange peel and and clean with tack cloth and then apply clear coat ( I did threee coats of clear on mine

reinstall be reversing the take off procedures and here is the finished product...
Modified by bulld0g at 10:35 AM 5/3/2007

[JPack]

Looks pretty good. Reminds me of the Caliber.

You have to do the shifter cover now.

[Clipsed]

looks ok, I like painted interiors, but only for show cars, because for daily use, the paint starts to get nasty after awhile. You will find this out later down the road, but looks good. Orange peel? Or did you color sand?

[KimberKenobi]

I like it... I was trying to decide if I wanted to do that to my V (I did it to my 'Kik) Looks sweet! For a daily driver it works really well if you use a spray triple clear coat.

p.s. what is the white thing under your dash in that last pic??

[bulld0g]

I like it... I was trying to decide if I wanted to do that to my V (I did it to my 'Kik) Looks sweet! For a daily driver it works really well if you use a spray triple clear coat.

p.s. what is the white thing under your dash in that last pic??

My Sirius , the car came with XM but I prefer sirius so that is my temporary solution until I can switch out the factory unit

[Ever Victorious]

My Sirius , the car came with XM but I prefer sirius so that is my temporary solution until I can switch out the factory unit

Why go to that expense? If you've got the Sirius solution you like for now, I'd just wait until the merger is complete and they change the system over so that you can receive both bands on the original radio.

[seay1b1]

looks good. i like it. i would have sanded it smooth and cleared it for protection.i can see this catching on

[Jemdawg]

I think I may do mine too now, but in blue. I'd definitely apply some clear.

[bulld0g]

Why go to that expense? If you've got the Sirius solution you like for now, I'd just wait until the merger is complete and they change the system over so that you can receive both bands on the original radio.

I already had the Sirius from my other car...and I do plan on waiting until the merger to see what they come up with......the XM didn't cost me anything in the deal because I wanted Sirius and they couldn't locate one with it so they took it off the price....

[bulld0g]

looks good. i like it. i would have sanded it smooth and cleared it for protection.i can see this catching on

I did sand and applied three coats of clear on it......I realized I left that out of the DIY...I just edited it to include that step....

[KimberKenobi]

...

Can I get directions on colorsanding?

(I can totally admit when I really don't know something and with this car I'm determined to do everything to a high quality level...)

[bulld0g]

...

Can I get directions on colorsanding?

(I can totally admit when I really don't know something and with this car I'm determined to do everything to a high quality level...)

here is an artical that kinda sums it up...."The Cure We provided some practical tips on prepping and painting in previous articles, but there are still some extra steps involved to get the most out of the new hues. As pro painter Mike Face points out, "Paints require more work today. If you look closely at the reflections in the surface, you can see that the edges of, say, tree branches or a stop sign, don't look quite as crisp as with those lacquer finishes." Face believes that the best way to get that old-time shine is to first let the initial clearcoats cure in the sun for a couple days so the solvents air out. Next, block-sand the clearcoated surface with 1,000-grit paper and water, then apply two more coats (in addition to the two or more previously applied). These last applications are sometimes called "flow coats." Face then sands yet again with 800 and 1,500 grit paper and water, and proceeds to buffing the finish. Sanding Tips Face shared some tips and tricks he uses during color-sanding, such as adding a bit of dish soap to the water. "That avoids paper clogging," he says. "It's also good to let the paper soak, and have a wet rag in the other hand to wipe off the residue." One paint flaw that requires correction is orange peel, that bumpy surface caused by contaminants (see previous article for details). It may not be immediately evident (unless it's a severe case), but when you begin sanding and buffing, the residue reveals the raised areas of the paint. Like color-sanding, buffing can be a tedious and time-consuming process. Face starts with a white foam pad and a coarse polishing compound, working a small section at a time. After a couple of passes, you can actually feel the difference in the smoothness of the paint with your hand. Then he goes over the surface with a softer, black foam pad and a finer polishing compound. When it's all done, Face discourages waxing new paint for at least two months in order to let it cure properly. He actually prefers using the fine polishing compound instead of wax, but he likes the thinner detailing sprays as well. "

[KimberKenobi]

O.O wow...

Thanks!!

[c5neb]

I like it!! Nice job!! Good clear photos too.

[reyes1212]

i was also wondering about the door handle things.how come you didn tdo the other pieces red?

[frankoV]

Is there a prize for bumping up the earliest thread?

[reyes1212]

nopei just had the stroke of genius when i found this that i had to add to the profoundness.

[Great White Versa]

How has the paint held up?

[bulld0g]

the paint has held up quite well.....

[reyes1212]

i know you took the orange peel off but has it been dull or glossy?

[bulld0g]

still glossy...I used the Wheel clear in the door handle parts and they look like the factory paint

[PIMPnifico]

how did you do the door handles and CVT cover. please advise.. <--just thought this was awesome

[bulld0g]

just pry them up slowly with a small flat tip screwdriver and paint as above....

[PIMPnifico]

I don't know if anyone will get this but..

as Hughl Howser would say, "THAT'S AMAZING!!"

[Great White Versa]

Hughl Howser

Who?

[PIMPnifico]

...yeah...it's a california. This guy hosts a show called California's Gold. Annoying voice and is constantly suprised by EVERYTHING....oh well...