[BruceG]

For a number of months I've seen the Testors Paint Marker recommended to recondition dash bezels (I've got a '67 SS). The marker numbers quoted have been 2546C (metallic chrome silver), and 2632 (silver argent).

Today I just tried both, as well as Dupli-Color's chrome spray paint. And if like me you've installed two new radio and glove box bezels - you'll be furious! No previous post has mentioned that the resulting color is SILVER, not chrome, and contrasts dramatically with new bezels.

Application was difficult and poor. The marker is gravity fed, and at best you work horizontally. The marker is so long it won't fit into the speedo recess at more than a 45 deg. angle to paint the lower inside bezel edge. And the paint streaks, so two coats are necessary. Dupli-Color's spray is also silver, though they advertise it as "chrome" (its an excellent match for Testors paint!) So if you're willing to do all three bezels, at least the color will match. And mask off well, or the paint will wick under your tape and wind up on the speedo lens.

Don't be like me, and wind up having to pull the dash to replace a mismatched painted bezel. Plan ahead.

 

[dsolomon]

BruceG,

I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination but I have been following the posts about the Testor pens with great intrest as I am restoring the dash in my 70 Chevelle. I don't belive that the pen was intended for the 65-67 dashes as they are all chromed plastic. It was my understanding that it was for the silver trim lines on the 70-72 and quite possibly the 68-69 which also has the thin lines that border some of the controls.
As for chrome paint... It doesn't exist. They are all some shade of silver. I used a duplicolor brand on my rear light bezels and obtained the best match to factory but none of the ones that I tried came any where close to chrome. To get a factory match you must either locate a plastic rechroming outfit which can cost quite a few bucks, find a NOS part, something in reproduction or start to like the silver.
Sorry you had so much trouble and good luck with the final outcome.

Dan Solomon
70 Chevelle

 

[Big James 4XL]

No, it doesn't look like chrome, but I did my 72 with it and it looks fine, and if I ever need to use it again I will.


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Elcaminos are special!
I'd rather walk around with a Chevrolet hubcap in my hand than drive a Ford


work in progress
Big James Elky(AKA Ol Paint)
www.chevelles.com/showroom/workgoeson1.jpg

 

[RC 70]

Tried the testors paint pen and new it wasn't for me, so I sprung and had my dash rechromed.

dsolomon...just so you know the 70-72 dashes were also chromed plastic, and like BruceG said if you have other shiny new parts, your dash won't look that great.

 

[Swamp68Elky327]

I just finished my bezel. Granted, it's not perfect, and the paint pen is no where near chrome, but it sure looks a heck of a lot better than the $20 that I paid for it. And WAY better than the one that was melted in a dash fire that came with the car. There are a couple pics on my web page.

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SWAMP

'68 El Camino Malibu ???
'95 Silverado
'90 Harley FXRP
http://angelfire.lycos.com/my/ElCamino

 

[rocks66ss]

I used the paint pen to redo the outline on my 66 dash strip, no it is not chrome, but I was please with the results, but preparation is manditory befor you paint,First you must wipe it off with silicone and wax remover, if you don't the paint will run and seep like first posted, then lightly hit it with
0000 steel wool, the pen is gravity fed, but they are primed by pushing down on the tip, with the pen in the upright position, with a little prep, you should have very good results, but one should never expect paint to match chrome.

Rocky Hill

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A Man And His Chevelle!
It's A Beautiful Thing.

My66SS