Re: Dash Resto Work Today

["amc74hornet" <amc74hornet@xxxx>]

--- In BaadAssGremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Plumpy72@xxxx wrote:
> In a message dated 3/26/2004 6:10:11 PM Central Standard Time, 
> amc74hornet@xxxx writes:
> I have yet to test to see if the portion of the dash between the crash pad 
> and the windshield has been also painted. It dosen't appear to have been but I 
> will not know till I test it. If it has due to the vinal grain molded into the 
> plastic it will be a real pain to strip and prep 
> To the best of my knowledge, that dash has never been painted.....at least 
> the top anyway. It came out of my 72 and I know the car has sat since 78. I 
> removed the dash about three or four years ago and I am anxious to see how it 
> turns out. 
> 
> The Hornet instrument cluster that will be going in the Gremlin originally 
> had the "spun aluminum" around the guages. When it was pulled off, the aluminum 
> separated from its plastic backing. The backing will be used as a pattern to 
> make a new insert using a burled walnut vaneer. The vaneer is pressed between 
> two pieces of plywood right know in an effort to get it to lay flat. The old 
> plastic backing can also be flipped over and used to trace an outline for the 
> glove box door and surround. Not sure what stain to use (no too light, not too 
> dark) but the pieces will get several coats of polyurethane. When finished, it 
> should give the dash a nice custom look.
> 
> Later all.........
> 
> Rick


Man that car sure had a short life? a 72 parked in 78. Was it wrecked? Well anyhow some where in it's short life some one painted the lower part of the dash. If the factory did it the whole thing would have been painted I would assume. It has overspray on the underside of the dash. Did the center dash panel you sent come from that car? because it wasen't painted. The dash frames in both of my cars have the plastic molded in the interior color, the yellow car has a black one and the orange car has a tan one. It dosen't appear that the top portion of the dash has been painted, but I will have to make sure. I still have one small piece of plexi bar to glue in today and all the repairs will be done. I spent 1 1/2 hours blocking out the repair I made on the crack above the steering post to the dash panel. I used a piece of sheet plastic from my model supply's to make a large reinforcement patch on the back of the dash. On the outside I beveled the area out from the crack on both sides and used the epoxy as a filler to strenghten it. What a pain it was blocking it out around the steering columns flair. I had to cut me a special angled piece of wood to use as a sanding block. The painted areas are being sanded with 220# sandpaper and then I will go to 320# and then 400# and then it is time to prime it. The top if it hasent been painted will just get cleaned real good and painted with SEM and then with semi gloss clear. The lower portions will be painted with gloss black enamel. I have barely 3 weeks to finish this job to meet my projected installation date. It's not so much the amount of work to be done but the time needed for the paint to cure/shrink properly and gas out. The smaller parts I put in my dehydrator and bake them for 3 days and it is as if they were air dried for a month when they come out after the 3 days. I could cut down drying time if I used laquer but it dries brittle and chips easier than enamel does so I am useing enamel like I used in the other car.
"Doc"