Greetings!

I have a few questions.
How do I go about posting pictures?
I have the heavy chrome 4 speed center console
and see where there was evidence of paint in the "fins" that
run cross-car throughout. How would you suggest I re-paint and
or remove the remains of the paint or discoloration?

Once I find out how to post pictures,
I will take some of the console to show you folks.

The "aluminum looking" dash panel - At some point I would also like to
re-paint as well. How would you suggest I clean it up - removing existing
bubbles from an older attempt to re-paint or just aging?

I was looking for the block casting number on the motor - 283.
I saw what appeared to be a short run of a letters and numbers.
I wrote them down but can't find the piece of paper. I have since put the
car back in storage for another couple of weeks. So, until I get back over to
see the old girl, it will be sometime before I can look again.

Thanks.

Rudy;)

The console is a valuable piece if its in good condition. I removed mine to storage years ago. I think paint stripper would do the job on removing the paint. Test it on the inside of the casting to be sure it doesn't damage the chrome. You'll need a picture of an original to see what the painted areas looked like.

The chromed plastic dash panel is tough. Just trying to clean it without damaging the finish is hard. There are expensive places that restore these. Otherwise its probably careful sanding and hobby store aluminum paint. I
m sure others will ahev some ideas or tips...

My $0.02

Hi Rudy,

I just did both parts on my '65.
For the console, I didn't have to strip off old paint luckily. But I did mask off all the chrome sides and top features first. I used a light spray of rattle-can primer in the top grooves. Then I used (someone here will put me down for this - but I did it anyway) A can of 'Argent Silver' wheel paint to re-paint the top. The color match was closer than anything else I had available and I am working on a tight budget. The final appearance was awesome as far as maintaining the groove depth, and for color match to original too. I used SEM Landau Black paint to fill in the black features. Used a Q-Tip to get in all the tight corners. I will spray all of the top with clearcoat when the weather gets warmer here. I'm gonna be happy with result and I didn't spend more than $10 total. I heavily waxed the chrome sides to preserve the shine. The metal in these consoles is of a low grade.
It started to oxidize at the base edges- I touched it up with the silver paint as best I could - the carpet will conceal most of it.
As for the dash, I did a similar thing to the entire bezel. With all the gauges removed, switches too, I thoroughly washed the bezel in the tub with dishwash soap. Then I air dried it. Cleaned it with 91% alcohol. Air dried again. Shot a light spray of primer over the whole thing. Masked off the finer features and 'Chevelle' logo first. Then I used more of the leftover can of 'Argent Silver' wheel paint to paint it. (Budget - remember?) I again used an artist fine paintbrush and Q-tip to get in all the corners and to touch it up. To do the 'Chevelle' logo, I masked around the black area and put the Landau Black spray to it. Then here is where I got clever....to re-paint the Chevelle letters, without getting the black messed up, I took a Chapstick and carefully ran it across the very top of the black section. This coating of nice smelling wax allowed me to completely fill in the white letters with a small fine paintbrush without worrying about staying within the lines. I then used a Q-tip after the paint dried to wipe off the wax and excess white paint. The dash bezel came out real nice. And I avoided having to spend $160 on a reproduction dash. The consoles are selling for over $500 so it pays to pretty up ours if we can.

Hope this helps....
Post pictures of your '65!
Tom

Wow, do you mean that the console stuff that came in the trunk of my 66, (which someone told me did not fit the 66) , is a 65, and worth $500?

It this my lucky day?

Seriously, I do have at least two large chrome pieces for a console. I was mostly annoyed to find that it was not a 66 unit that I could use. Just like finding out that I have 67 rocker moldings, and a bucket full of locks with no keys....

Have not gotten anywhere near working on the interior yet, but maybe I could trade for a 66 part?

Wow, do you mean that the console stuff that came in the trunk of my 66, (which someone told me did not fit the 66) , is a 65, and worth $500?

It this my lucky day?

Seriously, I do have at least two large chrome pieces for a console. I was mostly annoyed to find that it was not a 66 unit that I could use. Just like finding out that I have 67 rocker moldings, and a bucket full of locks with no keys....

Have not gotten anywhere near working on the interior yet, but maybe I could trade for a 66 part?

Yes, if a 4 speed console in good cond? easily sells on ebay for 4 or 5 hundred $s...If in great cond maybe more!

If its a Auto console with rear section, PM or Email me as I may be interested...


Thanks, Dan