I know this is a very common occurance for 93 FD's. I'm planning on repainting mine. I'm curious on what is the best way to strip off all of the rubber like material on the panels? I'm sure many of you have already done this so I'm hoping for some experience. I'm not to excited about the idea of having to sand them all down. I think I remember a sight that talked about using mineral oil or something like that to strip it. If anybody has any info on this or a better idea I would greatly appreciate it.

 

search the interior/exterior forum ... great info in there

 

I think there is a carbonfiber kits that will cover those peeling on the dash and especially around the shifter.

 

I just repainted the center console and the driver side door insert. To remove the paint, I used a product called "Body Wash" made by BOLINK. It is use to clean lexan bodies of RC Cars. The guys at the hobby shop said that it would be the safest thing to use and they were right. It was not quick, but it did the job. Sand paper did not work for me, the paint was too soft for the sand paper to work. The way the product work is by dissolving/melting the paint. It took alot of rubbing, paper towels, and a scrubbing pad to remove all the paint. I was also able find a paint ("semi gloss black" paint by TAMIYA) at the hobby shop that matches the stock color. Good luck.

 

I bought my 93 with a unique alternative to repainting. The previous owner had all the matte finish removed and then just left it as the shiny black plastic. I think it looks better than anything else I've seen, people comment on it all the time. I had to do some work on the door panels, I used my thumbnail to etch the surface, sprayed on WD40, and let it soak, then rubbed with a terry cloth rag. IT TAKES TIME, there's no easy way that I've heard of, but it works and will probably not damage the surface. I suppose you could use a plastic razor blade or someother plastic edge, but the thumbnail works. You can get the feel of it with the ash tray. A friend of mine in the plastics industry told me to try Ronson lighter fluid (NOT BUTANE). He uses it to clean smaller parts on his machinery. I haven't tried this.

 

I used rubbing alcohol on mine. Believe it or not, my peeling was so bad, most of it came off just by peeling it with my hands. The rest I used rubbing alcohol and a rag. I agree that the shiny plastic finish looks surprisingly good.

 

Rubbing alcohol, hmmm. I have to replace the driver's side door arm rest, maybe I'll try that. The peeling must have been exceptionally bad for you to be able to pull it off by hand.

 

sand em with a really fine ritt and re paint em. maybe even do some customising and color changing..