Removal/Refurbishment of Center Gage Plate

[76okievette]

Hey, I am going to remove the black face plate for the center gage cluster tonight and was wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom about this removal. I just finished redoing the center consel shifter plate, repainted it and cleaned up the chrome edges, it looks real good so now I want to do the same thing to the gage plate. On my car its not installed correctly. The left side screws are missing, don't know it the nut plates are missing or not, so it does not fit in to stright. I hope to fix that at the same time as I repaint it. I found that repainting is a lot cheaper than buying new replacements. Well if anyone has recently removed the gages please let me know of any suggestions, tricks.
OHHHHHHH yeah I have a 1976. Thanks
PC

 

[BeaterShark]

I don't know of any tricks; it's pretty straight forward. I will warn you, thought, that if your bezel is not already broken, be REAL carefull getting it out. It is very common for them to break about 1/4 down from the top (just below where the wiper switch is).

 

[76okievette]

Thanks, I will watch for that.

 

[Bill75]

Refinishing

I just did mine this past winter, several times in fact. I kept stripping the paint until I got the finish I liked. I view my refinshing job as a temporary fix, I had so many things to work on I wasen't sure which way I was going with the car. I think the best refinishing job would be to have it powder coated, which I will probably do in the future, but I am very pleased with the final appearance for now. (5 year from now it'll probably be the same as it is now!!)
I stripped all the finish with a chemical stripper, then washed it in hot water and detergent. I used several types of paint but liked the finish of Krylon the best. Primer, then 2 coats of flat black, then 2 coats of clear flat finish. You'll have to mask off the chrome edges. The lettering is the toughest part because you need to paint between the letters. I chose to paint over the letters, then using a magnifying glass (eye loupe) and an exacto knife after it's dried, gently remove the paint from the letters. Do this after every coat of paint. I applied the clear flat over the letters and left it there, it dulls the letters only very slightly. I'll try to remember to take a picture when I get home and post it

Bill

 

[76okievette]

Thanks Bill, I just finished the center consul plate and did tape over the chrome edges. I used a Satin Finish Black spray and did not put any clear over, I guess I should have to help protect the paint. I like the way mine came out and I hope I can get the gage cluster one as nice. Thanks for the input and I would love to see any pic's you have. PC

 

[Robin7TFour]

hello all, chris is definately right.i broke mine last weekend. did a temp repair which will last me till i buy all new interior parts.


robin

 

[Bill75]

Bezel

PC,

Here's a picture, hope it comes across OK. I had to reduce it to get it too upload.

Good luck

Bill

 

[joe1975]

Alot of vette owners seem to have a problem realigning the top of benzel under the dash, mine included. I also had trouble lining up the a/c vents. It looked like mine had been out a few times screw holes in pads were pretty worn.

 

[sofast4u]

hey guys
how hard is it to get the face plate off... how messy is all the wiring in the back
and worst... how difficult is it to put it back in....

I now i know carefully....... any other tips
i need to replace some of the gauges to the correct color (green)


I need to do do the speedo also

thanks
jeff

 

[Robin7TFour]

Howdy, for those pesky little letters and some trim pieces, i use a silver calligraphy pen. it's basically a paint stick in pen form. any good art supply store will have them.
it will take appx two passes to get full coverage ,but works well.try it you'll like it!!

robin

 

[76okievette]

Well I got it all apart with nothing broken, thanks for the pic it really looks good. I was using a Semi Gloss Enamel but I think I need to get some Lacqure because I think the paint on there now is Lacqure, sorry for the spelling. I did not realize you have to take the whole center consule apart to get that brace off the bottom, well I am now going to dye the parking break housing adn the shifter housing since I have them off. What I did with the shift plate was tape the inside chrome strips but on the outside edge you can just take some lacqure thinner on a rag and wipe it off so the chrome shows again. Thanks for all the ideas it really is not that tough to get off and does not look like it will be to hard to put back together, I will let you know about Saturday or Sunday. I thought about fixing the clock but thought that to be like all the other C3's I would just leave it broken, don't want to be to orginal. Well I will update tomorrow. PC

 

[76okievette]

Alot of vette owners seem to have a problem realigning the top of benzel under the dash, mine included. I also had trouble lining up the a/c vents. It looked like mine had been out a few times screw holes in pads were pretty worn.

I know mine was not aligned when I took it apart and that is one of the areas I am going to work hard is getting the top back in all the way and stright. It looks like all the nut plates are there so I hope if I get new screws I can get it in right. PC

 

[76okievette]

PC,

Here's a picture, hope it comes across OK. I had to reduce it to get it too upload.

Good luck

Bill

Bill it looks great, I hope mine looks this good.

 

[joe1975]

Hey 76Okie while your center console is out do you think you could check out some wire locations for me concerning the A/C control It would help me out a whole lot. Please get back to me

 

[76okievette]

I would be Happy to Joe let me know what you want.

 

[mvftw]

What 'type' of black is the ashtray cover?

 

[76okievette]

If you mean lacquer or enamel, I am not sure I painted mine with enamel but not 100% sure that was the best, I have asked that question in the General Discussion Forum and we will see. If you mean the color, I used a black satin and it matches real good. I know some people use flat but I like the little bit of shine the satin gives.

 

[mvftw]

Sorry, I meant semi or flat or satin finish.

 

[76okievette]

I went with the Satin and I think that is the way to go. I would recommend a clear polyurathene on top of the satin you can get the clear in satin also.

 

[joe1975]

Sent you a P.M.