Dash panel prep for decals

[Wheelamatic 2]

I searched and came up blank. What are you guys doing to the printed dash panels and console plates as far as prepping them for vinyl decals? Painting them? Bare metal?

Thanks

[TT-(Moderator) 1,129]

Give this a whirl:

[Wheelamatic 2]

Money!

So, do the mods have a super search feature??

Thanks a bunch TT

[TT-(Moderator) 1,129]

So, do the mods have a super search feature??

Thanks a bunch TT

Super search?........... Nope - just a great memory.

Glad to assist! :handgestures-thumbup:

[sorekiwi 761]

I did one last year for my 1276.

You need the dash panel as smooth as possible, rust pits will telegraph through the very thin vinyl. I sanded mine as smooth as I could to start with. It wasnt as bad as some I have seen, but there was some pitting.

I sprayed it with high build primer (rattlecan from NAPA) sanded again, and repeated until it was smooth. Probably 3 or 4 coats of primer in all, but most of it was sanded off again. Once I couldnt see or feel any of the pits I called it good.

Dont seem to be able to find a pic of the finished article, but it turned out well.

[Wheelamatic 2]

Thanks Mike

I was leaning toward paint already. I think I will blast, etch prime, glaze, paint, wet sand, then apply decals and see what I get.

[Wheelamatic 2]

Going on with the decals

Before

After

[sorekiwi 761]

Looks good! :thumbs:

[Rollerman 290]

Looks great, I need to do this yet with my 1055 dash.

[71_Bronco 1,072]

Lookin' good guys, definitely not as hard as I thought it was gonna be.

Here's a pic of my current dash-plate for my Bronco. Not too bad, but the new vinal I bought for it will spruce it up nicely.

BTW, that's on the hood of a Kabota, that's what the orange is.

[Wheelamatic 2]

Thanks Guys

They were very easy to apply but if I do another one with a raised rib I think I will order a one piece decal. I'd rather spend a little extra time working the vinyl into the creases than to trim and align the upper and lower sections. I used a guitar pick and a plastic tool that my wife uses for clay throwing to get the rib area to lay down..

As mentioned above, spend a little more time on the prep to get the surface as smooth as possible! The decals will show imperfections that are under them.