Restore (Heater Control Panel, Radio Faceplate & Dash Bezel)?

[filmsurgeon]

Can anyone help me on how best to DIY "restore" these components?  First photo is a restored (or repop, not sure) heater control panel; second is mine as it came out of the car; third is prepped for restoration.  I know I can do the lettering with a white paint marker/pen, but what can I do to get the correct textured/crinkle finish paint (what paint/what process).  Also, was the raised boarder surrounding the lettering originally chrome?  How can I best do this?  I don't need concourse restoration, just something that looks "close enough" to factory.  I also need to do the same textured/crinkle finish for the radio dash bezel (4th & 5th photos).  For the radio faceplate (6th photo):  I am fairly certain the rectangular raised boarder (surrounding the knobs, chrome push-buttons, and station lens) was also chrome like the heater control panel.  I would need to do this as well.  Any advice on any aspect of restoring these pieces is greatly appreciated.  I wish I could send these to a professional for "correct restoration", but I simply can't afford it.  These are all for a '70 Challenger w/Rallye Dash.  Thanks.

[larry4406]

Here is a picture I saved a long time ago, shamlessly stolen from Jules

[burdar]

There seems to be a lot of inconsistancy in those face plates.  Mine was wrinkle paint.  Others have said there's was NOT.  Yours looks like it was fairly rough in texture.  THis is how I did mine...

Spray SEM Trim Black in the center rectangle...no need to mask anything off to spray that.

Mask off center rectangle and spray VHT wrinkle paint.

Let dry for two weeks.

Mask off inside and outside of raised rectangle and spray chrome paint.(you could also use a chrome or silver paint pen)

Use a white paint pen with medium tip to recolor the letters.

before


after

[filmsurgeon]

There seems to be a lot of inconsistancy in those face plates.  Mine was wrinkle paint.  Others have said there's was NOT.  Yours looks like it was fairly rough in texture.  THis is how I did mine...

Spray SEM Trim Black in the center rectangle...no need to mask anything off to spray that.

Mask off center rectangle and spray VHT wrinkle paint.

Let dry for two weeks.

Mask off inside and outside of raised rectangle and spray chrome paint.(you could also use a chrome or silver paint pen)

Use a white paint pen with medium tip to recolor the letters.

before


after

WOW !!  That looks fantastic !!  That's exactly the advice I needed.  Perfect instructions.  I hope mine comes out looking as good as yours.  I don't know the history of my pieces, other than they came from various sources, and have probably been worked over before I did anything to them.  Regarding the radio dash bezel:  I bought this recently from a 'Cuda owner, who said the 'Cuda bezels were smooth.  It looks to me like it originally had the textured finish, but at some time was sanded smooth as much as possible.  There is still evidence of the original finish in the tighter corner areas.

For the radio faceplate, I'll spray the entire piece SEM Trim Black, let dry, mask off inside and outside of raised rectangle and use a chrome paint pen"

For the radio dash bezel, I'll spray VHT wrinkle paint.  Let dry for two weeks.  (So, you didn't do any heating/baking for the wrinkle texture on your heater control panel?)

I have recently read elsewhere that some folks feel there's no big difference between the VHT and Krylon wrinkle paints.  Any opinions here on these two products?  Thanks everyone.

[JayBee]

I've used this Harley Davidson Wrinkle Finish Spray paint with great results. Pricey can though. The important element was using it in an over 70 degree environment. Sorry, no close-ups pics available.

[burdar]

VHT was the only brand I could find in town.  I sprayed it very heavy and let the pieces sit in the sun for at least an hour.  It wrinkled really nice but stayed tacky for over a week. I wasn't in a huge hurry so I just let it sit.

Make sure you sand off all the original paint.  It may lift when the wrinkle paint is sprayed.

[shoooter]

 :wow:are the heater trims the same texture on a cuda?

[burdar]

Look at your original pieces to determine how much wrinkle(if any) is present. Parts of my radio bezel weren't wrinkled much. It just depended on how much paint was sprayed at the factory. Some people have said their entire bezel was more of a sand finish then a wrinkled one.

[filmsurgeon]

Turns out I won't be "restoring" my heater control panel after all.  I discovered a couple of things upon further inspection and comparison against photos of other's panels.  Don't know how this happened, or why it was done, but the section on the backside where the support bracket attaches is completely gone (see 1st photo).  Aso, the mounting tab on the left side is broken (see 2nd photo).  I just went ahead and ordered a repop panel instead.  I hope I'll be satisfied with it.  Regarding the lower back support bracket (see 3rd photo with red circle): Does anyone know where I can get one of these?  I could possibly make one if someone could share photos and/or measurements.  Also, In my search of photos, I found this (see last photo).  Did the fan/blower switch have a knob as seen/circled in the photo?  Any/all other fan/blower switches I've seen, look like mine w/o the knob.  Thanks.

[filmsurgeon]

Just got the new reproduction heater control panel.  It's beautiful.  Whoever is making these, should also make the radio dash bezel.  That way the textures will match.  I do still need help with the rear lower support bracket.  Can anyone share photos using a tape measure against the bracket to show dimensions, so I can make one?  Or even better, if someone has an extra they don't need.  Thanks.

[filmsurgeon]

Here are photos of the repop heater control panel with all the original components installed.  I am very satisfied with the end result.

[filmsurgeon]

Does anyone know if the same lower support bracket was used for the control panel on A/C and non-A/C cars? The picture with the bracket circled in red is slightly different (where it mounts to the back of the panel) than the bracket in the 2nd photo which is from an A/C equipped car. Thanks.

[filmsurgeon]

Anybody?  I have a couple of offers to buy a bracket, but have been told they are from A/C equipped cars, and they all look like the one pictured on the grid paper.  Will it work on a non-A/C heater control panel?  Thanks.