That's what I was thinking too... Maybe he used some sort of epoxy or filler or something to attach it. If I can find a panel like that, I'll do the same thing to mine. Right now, I have that blank panel under the stereo, it looks like crap... I'm either going to fab a gauge panel out of a piece of mdf and cover the mdf and stereo panel with a piece of painted ABS, or go with the heater section off another cover piece.

 

That is some nice work. I always like to see work that stays close to the original but with that little something extra to make it unique.

 

Well after having this idea for 4 years I did it.

I took the upper 3 hole part and blended a spare I had into the lower deck area so the gauges are set back in the dash and kind of give a factory look, I then molded in the CD Player surround also, plastic cement some bondo and sanded it all, then shot it with primer and the gun metal I did the rest of the console in.

This is just a trail run to see if every thing works before I spend the time to make a better looking one. This one has some imperfections and blemishes.

 

Here's the after pic:

Yes, that is a $9.99 ricer shift ****... Just until my other one arrives. I gave my dogs the tan/red one to chew on.

 

Man that look really good. Can't even tell that you painted it. I understand what you mean about the black block plate. Why don't you take that out and paint it too? I don't know if it would give your car a rice look though.

Any ways nice job!

 

That's why I'm going to go with Max's gauges using the heater panel... It just looks so clean. I realized today that my radio doesn't have the trim panel, which is also an eyesore. Here's today's project...

From this:



To this:



I have the interior about 1/2 stripped now. Once I get the dash out as well as the headliner, I'm masking everything off on the inside, cleaning the **** out of it, and painting it black. I also found a spot of rust that I need to repair, so that will be a good time to try out my bondo skills, especially because it will be hidden under the carpet.

I already have black replacement pieces for the big speaker covers/wheel covers, so I am going to try out that vinyl paint on 'em. I'm also thinking about going two-tone on the interior, black on the lower stuff, grey on the top... It's how my Audi's interior is, and it looks very classy.

 

Here's another shot of the painted center panel:

 

I like it alot! Are you willing to make them and sell them?
Or when you make your new onw will you sell me this one?

THis is what I am looking for so I can add guages so when the factory ones decide to act up I know I am still good.

 

i did the same thing recently but i painted mine black, also i painted up a spare center console black.... figure i'll paint the dash too.

 

100 if you are taking the dash out make sure it is what you really want to do...it is a little pain in the butt. Are you switching colors? If so what color? There is a great write up that felixwankel did a while ago. If you do a search in the archives I am sure that you can find it...I did. The pictures will not show up but the explanations are pretty good.

Paradox that looks pretty good. I would fab my own but I am just going to have one made. Is it falling in towards the center though?

 

100, use krylon fusion, its specifically made for plastics and sticks like no other with no prepping i painted my a pillar trims gloss black on my old black interiro conversion gsl-se and it was so clean i contemplated doing the rest with the fusion paint

 

Here's how I painted the switches and gauge surround. I went with a satin black for the switches, and did the gauge surround in the same dark metallic silver as the center console... I am going with a black and gray interior, and wanted the dark metallic silver to break up the black a little bit.

Start with masking off the buttons. I used blue painters tape. It's important to wrap all the way around, so you don't paint anything you don't want to paint:



Spray with the plastic adhesion promoter:



Next up, paint!



And, here's the gauge surround. Again, 2 to 3 coats of adhesion promoter, followed by the dark mettalic silver.



I'll put up the finished pics tomorrow.

 

Here's the after pics now:



That's still with the masking tape on.

Here's with the tape off:



A nice close-up for you. Dig it!

 

A couple more for ya:

 

same color I used for mine!