ren

I started my re-wiring project yesterday. As part of this, I wanted to re-paint the gauge cluster and the steering column. I checked some posts from this forum and krylon #1613 was recommended. I tried it yesterday on some of the steering column hardware and it seems too dull. Would another coat help? My prep included sanding, wet sanding and one coat of krylon grey primer. The parts do look alot better than they did before I started, but thought that it should have alittle gloss to the finish. Any suggestions?

65 Hardnoks

I used the Krylon satin black and like it that way but if I wanted a little more shine I suppose I could put a coat of wax over it.

JohnZ

I prefer SEM Trim Black #39143 for those applications - still a satin finish, but not as flat as Krylon #1613.

ren

Where can I get SEM trim paint? Would krylon glossy be too shiny?

65 Hardnoks

I forgot to mention that I used the SEM on my dash. It is a tad glossier and the nozzle was better. I discovered the SEM paint a couple of weeks after doing the column and gauge cluster.

Ren, you can get the SEM stuff at most pro auto paint stores.

Here's a pic of my non-NCRS dash. You can even see some reflection from the grain in the dash pad.



Just remember....NO DUST. One spec of dust on satin black and It'll look like hell.

66jack

Who Is the vendor of this product??

Jack

DansYellow66

I've found that applying a second coat of #1613 over the first within 5 or 10 minutes or so, will result in a glossier finish than the first coat. However, SEM seems to be the favorite. Check at Auto Parts stores that also sell auto painting products. It can also be ordered through Eastwood.

Dan

ren

65 Hardnoks, Thanks for the reply--your dash looks great. I'll try to find SEM. I encountered another problem. A previous owner had removed the clock and replaced it with a c-4 logo. It really looked stupid. I bought a clock at Carlise and couldn't wait to see how it looked. When I removed the logo, I discovered that they had drilled a hole outside of the clock hole to mount the c-4 logo. The clock fits perfect, looks great, but I have to find a way to fill the hole. It is located about 1/2 inch from the 3 o'clock position. It's about as big as an eraser on a pencil. I'll try to put something behind it and fill the hole with thin layers of bondo. Hope it works. The frustrating part is that it's too cold and damp to try it tonight.

JAMES69

Ren,

I repaired my 63 gauge cluster with several layers of bondo, a nice sanding, black primer then Krylon1613 (8 coats) and it looks great. It had a hole cut out to fit a 64. I think it will work fine on the dash, just need to make sure you don't lose the grain texture if any is there.

Jim

ren

Thanks for all of the replies. I'll try to do some prep work this week and start the bondo on Sat. The center part of my dash doesn't have any grain to it. I never saw that before. I just recently read that some early 63's had a smooth center dash.

DansYellow66

An option to bondo is JB Weld epoxy. It sticks well and won't shrink later and fall out. It sands down easily enough, skim it with spot filler, and paint it.

Dan

ren

Bought the SEM paint today. It was pretty hard to find. I've been testing the Krylon on parts of the steering column collar. I sprayed two light coats of SEM on one of the pieces. What a difference!!! The color looks perfect. Now if I can only muster the patience to properly prepare and mask the gauge cluster, it should look like new.

JAMES69

Ren,

Be very careful with taping the gauge cluster. I used the paint tape from an auto store (3M blue tape). The dull aluminum on the bezels tends to come off pretty easy. The Krylon 1613 looks very nice on the cluster itself (I did use primer). You need to wait awhile before masking the fresh black paint off if your going to do the bezels as well. Since mine was a 63, I used the dull Aluminum spray from LI Corvettes. Still took many times to get it right!!!

Jim

mrh12000

The cluster "background" on my 65, black interior looks like it was flat black and the instrument bezels semi gloss, does that make sense? What would that mean to the glove box door? I've done the dash itself in semi gloss, as well as the shifter console and the steering column. Its a driver long ways from NCRS, but would like to get approximately right. Suggestions?

crw41

Eastwood sells SEM paint.

Paint + nozzel seems to be higher quality than most.