Powder coating dashboard ....thoughts ?

[fozzy280472]

Hi all , dash is coming out tomorrow for refurb , reveneer etc . I've been giving some serious thought though to Powder coating both dash pieces and door strips in that nice crinkly Matt finish you see on Ferrari rocker covers ( and phillpots rocker covers I believe ) .
Has anyone tried this or had thoughts about trying this ?

[GreenV8S]

Sounds a bit agricultural for an interior finish, but it's your car so your opinion is the only one that matters.

[Steve_D]

Why would you bother with a fancy finish on the back of the dash where nobody will see it. Also most of the TVR dash backs I've seen had no finish at all likewise most production car dash panels have no finish.

Steve

ETA just had a horrible thought that you may actually be thinking of crackle powder coat for the face of the dash. Naaa must be having a bad dream.

[fozzy280472]

Fair comments , don't really know what to do with the dash , the dark wood veneer looks ste and I'm just about fed up with it ...........

[v8s4me]

It really comes down to how much you want to spend. You've got real wood veneer at one end of the scale and a rattle can spray job at the other. Remember the metal plate is slightly curved so whatever finish you go for it has to be able to flex a bit. Have you considered using a LAMINATE?

Here's an instrument panel I made for another project...



This one has brushed aluminium in the laminate and looks very effective.

[phillpot]

Looked good on early MGB's? Go for it, I reckon it'll look good on an S

[chiefyo]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VHT-Black-Wrinkle-Finis...f:0

Cheap enough to try if you don't like it nothing lost

[mentall]

Did mine with a contrasting vinyl fabric (same colour as the carpets). Cheap as chips, and it'll do until the dash has to come out again!

[chiefyo]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...

Dashboard refurb less than 20 quid

[Kitchski]

Crinkle paint works pretty well. It'd be hit & miss as to whether it'd work in an S, IMO. If you've got a cream/beige/old school colour interior then it's risky business. If you've got dark grey, or black etc, then it might work.

I think padded leather/vinyl would look best, personally. In something like a darker/lighter shade of what the interior already is.

[Fefeu52]

Hi,

The main difficulty with the wrinckle paint, is to obtain something regular. I have done the job on my Mini.... and it's not so easy. For the S dashboard, you need a big enough oven.




Maybe a professional can do a perfect job with powder coating.

My father (cabinet-maker) is working on mine (1992 S3C).... the real zebrano veneer came on Saturday. If you are interested in refurbishing with real wood (any variety), you just have to send me an e-mail.

[fozzy280472]

Wow !! Well I did ask for thoughts and ideas . Some very interesting stuff . You're right Mike , i saw the crinkle effect on an MG a while back and thought it looked good .
I'm just not too sure I want wood effect anymore. I don't mind spending money to get professional powder coating done or proper veneering .
Just took the dash out .....first time it's ever been out .....that was fun .
TVR .... they're idea of build quality was , how can I put it .....interesting .

[Spanish S2]

Keep it original. Just my two penneth.

[themee]

Heres mine............

Edited by themee on Tuesday 12th February 19:14

[fozzy280472]

Themee.... That's just how I thought the finish would look . I like that a lot .
Cheers for posting those photos , I think I might give it a go with the powder coating.

[fozzy280472]

By the way cheers to everyone who gave their opinion , just goes to show we all have different tastes .

[themee]

Cheers, needs to come out again to replace coloured plastic at the back of heater which fell off and maybe do something about the instrument light cover....... but at least I can see when the indicators are on now. I prefer it to the wood and think it suits the dark blue, plus only cost a few quid to have done. what colour is your leather?

[fozzy280472]

Lightish grey leather seats and dash fascia and blue leather dash top . I think I might go for a slightly lighter shade of grey for the dash than yours and I want to do the door strips in the same .
I think it may look nice . If it doesn't it's no major issue to get it changed.

[v8s4me]

themee said:

....needs to come out again to replace coloured plastic at the back of heater which fell off....

THIS is the sort of thing I used to do this..





They can't drop down because the mounting screw goes through them.

[phillpot]

Fefeu52 said:

The main difficulty with the wrinckle paint, is to obtain something regular. I have done the job on my Mini.... and it's not so easy. For the S dashboard, you need a big enough oven.

Many years ago I did an MGB dashboard, I can't remember the details of it, I certainly didn't have a big enough oven, but I do recall "helping along" any areas that weren't crinkling very much with a hot air gun.