[dschribs]

Hi All:
I picked up my car yesterday from a body shop which painted the lower dash (black). The paint has dust and small bubbles in it. It looks like crap. A two year old could have done it better with a crayon. Before I go there and rip the guy a new one, I'm just wondering something..... Even if he offers to repaint it, can you get a smooth, no blemish finish without wet sanding? I have a feeling that he is going to tell me that is what they are going to have to do. The car has new carpet, radio, kickpanels, seats and all. Basically I'm just wondering for those that have painted the lower portion of your dash, did anyone wet sand after painting? If so, how the heck can you do this with the interior in the car without making a total mess? I know I should have done this before getting the dash painted but.........
Anyone that's in the market for a '68 convertible, keep an eye out on E bay...this thing is becoming less fun every day...
D. Schribert
'68 Convertible

[PDQUICK]

You can definitely get a nice smooth finish w/o sanding. Dashes are hard to paint w/o getting dust in them b/c there's always 35 years worth of grime behind the dashboard!

I would guess that the guy didn't consider this before he sprayed and just masked and shot it. you really need to spend some time blowing out the interior and especially behind the dash before you spray it.

Paul D

[Judd]

I shot my dash with the (OER paints) Eggshell black and then clearcoated it with a satin/semi-gloss and it turned out nice. Just in case you are wondering, I bought both in a rattle can.

[ 07-02-2003, 07:05 PM: Message edited by: Judd ]

[68rs406]

last winter i shot the dash on my 68 as well. it had been painted by who knows who, (maybe the same guy that did yours), but it was really crappy looking and needed to be sanded smooth, and it was a very long tedious job. i then primed it, and hit it with some of oer's dash paint, all rattle can i might add, and it turned out very nice. no wet sanding at all. if it is properly prepped, it should look good when done. heck, i'll bet if you looked at my dash you'd never know it was done with a bomb can. i'd take it back, if it were me. don't get discouraged with your car either, when it's all done, it'll be worth every minute of lost sleep [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[MY FIRST 69]

I just stripped my dash to bare metal and used some all purpose rattle can primer I let dry over night, then I rubbed it a paper towel (the kind with scrubbing circles) then I used a Krylon semi-flat black on it. Looks great, really smooth, and no dust or bubbles.

Justin

[dschribs]

Thanks for the replies:
I talked to the guy that owns the shop and he basically admitted he had a "helper" do it. He said I could bring it back and he would do it personally and guarantees the results. Didn't see any reason why I should put up with dust on a brand new paint job.
D. Schribert
'68 Convertible

[CFunK]

Glad you got some satisfaction out of the ordeal. To many people would "let it go" or the body shop would make "you live with it".

Sounds like you got some good service in this day and age.

My question to those of you who shot it yourself. How much of the interior did you remove and what all did you tape off? I am doing mine in the fall.

[68rs406]

good deal, sounds like you got a decent shop, although it makes you wonder why he didn't check out his "helpers" work. oh well, as long as he makes it good. C Funk, i actually had nearly everything but the harness out of my dash, no rug, and no trim in the dash area around the doors, and no kick panels. i then wrapped all my harness in plastic bags and taped them up, and covered anything else i didn't want to get overspray that was within the dash itself. then i masked and papered up all the openings in the dash, but made sure all areas of the facing edge under the dash, and rolled areas around the instrument panel and glove box could be reached. then masked all around the outside edge of the dash with paper, almost totally surounding the dash itself. i really went overkill on the taping, it took awhile, but the result was well worth it, you really can't tell it wasn't done with the car disassembled . i actually left my seats in, so i could park my butt somewhere during the tedious job of sanding, then covered them with sheets for painting. i even put sheets on the floor though the rug was out. my heater box was out, as was the steering column, if yours are in, i'd tape them off as well. actually, as easy to remove as the column is, just take it out too. i' am really pleased with how mine came out, and i'm a major picky @ss. good luck with yours, it's nice when done [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[CFunK]

Oh, God, I was hoping not to have to tear it down that much before spraying.

[68rs406]

you may not, but mine was painted body color by a mo-ron and i wanted it to look right when i was done, and since the interior is med. blue, i wanted to cover every possible area. i also had the heater box out for repair anyway, as well as the column for repainting. if your going with the same color, and its not bad, you very well may get away with much less disassembly. by the way, i checked out your car, and it looks darn nice, and the interior looks pretty good from the photos too. you should have seen mine when i started good luck [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]