Painting interior. ...Help please.

[levey]

Ok...I'm starting to paint my interior (01 GA)
I finished the first part yesterday. It went smooth...except for a slight stereo problem...which I have corrected.
Anyway...since I am not familiar with the GA interior....I was hoping I could get some direction from another GAOC member.

I've seen many painted interiors on this forum...So I know somebody will be able to walk me through this.
The second stage of my painting will be the rings around the heater ducts. You know....the round ones on the dash.
Anyway...How the heck do you get them out?
I don't see any screws, and I don't want to break anything.
Any help would be appreciated.
Do you have to tape them up...rather than remove them?
Just remember....If ya tell me how to get these things out (if it's possible) I will be looking for your coaching on phase three. So if you are not willing to help through the full project......I'll understand.

Thanks..Levey.


PS....Exuse the bad spelling. I've had a few beers. :lol:

Just help an idiot ...damn it. You will be given full credit for the transformation when it's complete. lol.

[nice96gt]

There are 3 tabs on the inside on the vent holding it in. Get a flashlight and shine it in there, you'll see what I mean. I used 2 pieces of wire (smaller the better), or some use coat hangers, and bend whatever you decide to use so it wraps around the tab. Do this on 2 of the tabs, pull the tabs in slightly and towards you. The vent should pop right out. If you happen to break a tab in the process, don't worry, the vent will still stay in place. :)

Maybe you should let the beer wear off a bit and then attempt this, or you will brak a few tabs :drunk: :D

[tgussie666]

:toast:

[levey]

lol.
I won't attempt..... until sober. Thanks for the help, and reply. I'll try tomorrow.
Again....thanks for giving me a starting point.

PS...you are right...never try a mod while drinking.

[RickHigginsHtbr]

Modding..... while sober? Never.... j/k. Maybe thats why I when I set up the design for my switch plate in illustrator, it was a 1/4" off center... then again, no one else noticed it.
:toast:

[GT2002]

Use the search button it has been covered many many times!

[levey]

I figured that. But I was gonna use this thread to post pics as I go along. Plus use it for interior specific questions and help.

Anyway...I've finished the rings, (didn't break any clips) and a few other little things to start things off. I'll post some pics, very soon.

[nice96gt]

:)

[levey]

Here is one pic.
In case you are wondering...I didn't paint the inside of the cup holders. I prefered to keep them black. I was going to tape them up, but it turned out that the cover on spray can was a perfect fit.

http://www.boomspeed.com/kentan/265.jpg

[1999grandamse]

I'm painting my interior also.
Have you been able to remove the power outlet from the center piece?
If anyone knows, please help!
Here's a picture of my armrest, still a work in progress.

[neomnj]

yea im going to start doing my interior soon, anyone have vinyl dye suggestions dubli color, sem ?

[levey]

Have you been able to remove the power outlet from the center piece?

Not exactley sure what ya mean?

[levey]

Originally posted by neomnj
yea im going to start doing my interior soon, anyone have vinyl dye suggestions dubli color, sem ?


I'm using two different kinds. Krylon and Plasti-coat.

I'm using two kinds because I find the Krylon to be a bit too shinny for some pieces. The plasti-coat offers a much lower sheen, but is 5 times as hard to apply. Well...not hard..just time consuming. Like 8 or ten thin coats. Plus the plasti-coat takes much longer to dry.

[levey]

It's a start. What do ya think so far?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Levey/Picture265.jpg

[Brken123]

Looks good bro.....how long did it take for the paint to dry? And did you have to do any prep work before painting? I mean yeah I know to wash the pieces to remove any armor all and everything, but wasn't sure if there's anything else to do besides that. Also....did you just paint them with spray paint and that's it? Or did you like paint them, sand them (for bubbles and runs and such) paint them again, and then clear coat them?

[levey]

how long did it take for the paint to dry

I'm guessing here. So don't quote me on the time. I woke up this morning at around 6am... so I started painting around 8am. It took about 5 hours to dry. I should have let it dry a bit longer though. Some pieces were still tacky....But I have no patience.

did you have to do any prep work before painting

I cleaned the pieces with goo-gone, then washed them with warm, soapy water. I then dried them with a lint free towel.
Some people use paint thinner to clean the parts, but the store where I bought the paint said I shouldn't use paint thinner to clean the parts. So I didn't. BTW. If you are planning on doing this...the pieces have to be as clean as you can possibly get them. Even the sweat from my hands on certain pieces, caused fish eyes/paint separation.

did you just paint them with spray paint and that's it

I sprayed them. However....I started with a few quick coats of krylon since it has very good coverage, and dries fast.(but I don't like how shiny it is)
I then top coated the pieces with Plasti-coat.(lower sheen)
The Plasti-coat has almost no coverage, and took between 8 and 10 coats on the test piece, and I noticed that it ran a bit... So using the krylon for my first few coats was a very good idea. It eliminated the runs...since I didn't have to put the Plasti-coat on so thick. There was only one piece that caused me a bit of a headache. It bubbled a bit, so I am waiting until tomorrow to wet sand it a bit. Other than that...no problems.
Hope that helps.

[Dave C]

I used dupli-color vinyl dye for some stuff... works well. I'd suggest testing it on a scrap piece of material before you try it on your car though. I've heard that the SEM stuff works good, too.

[Brken123]

Cool....thanks for the info.....I came across someone at another meet that used this paint that was kind of metallic looking....can't remember her s/n though......she had a red gt.....and her boyfriend/husband (not sure on that one) had a supercharged grand prix with a sweet ass exhaust on it.....anyone know who that is?

[1999grandamse]

Originally posted by levey
Not exactley sure what ya mean?
I was talking about this thing. I cant get it out so I can paint the center piece. I dont want to leave the ring around it charcoal when the rest of it is black and red.

[1999grandamse]

I also see that you painted the shifter button. Did you take it out, and if so, was it easy? How did you do it?

BTW I have been using Krylon Fusion paint for my interior and it looks great so far. I also use Dupli-Color's adhesion promoter so that I can use paints not made specifically for plastics, such as their Chrome Enamel which Iam using for the rings around the vents.

[levey]

I wasn't able to get that out either...so I taped it up. As for the shifter button...Well that's not something I planned on doing. But when I was taking my dash apart...I hit it kinda hard (by accident) and it just kinda fell out. So I painted that too. I've read some threads that talked about the shifter button in some Grand Ams. I guess they are a design flaw, and are known to pop out from time to time..so I don't think the button would be too hard to remove. I can get mine out with a slight pull. But I wouldn't recommend it. There is a chance you might break the clip.

Oh....I added some more paint around my shifter, some floor Matt's and a steering wheel cover. Not sure if I'll keep them though.
Anyway...Next weekend is the door panels. (If I don't have to work)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Levey/Picture269.jpg

[RickHigginsHtbr]

1999grandamse - I think what I did when I did my center was put tape inside of the cig lighter, just enough to cover up the metal ring, then painted it.

Brken123 - Do you mean Jen?

[GrimeyGrandAM]

So there is no sanding involved at all in this project??

[Dave C]

doesn't have to be...

so levey, is there a way that you would suggest to remove the shifter/e-brake buttons?

[gir]

that looks so tight! i'm planning on doing something similar when the weather warms up

[cjmeyers]

i got my little power outlet out after about half a dozen beers and alot of determination haha... not an easy task tho...


http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k315/codyjames2006/PICT0082.jpg

[Ryan625]

ahh...man that red looks killer! When it warms up im painting my interior, but i was going to go with black for all the trim pieces. I'm actually debating on doing red now, since i am trying to do a red theme anyway just didn't know how it would turn out.

[Gooman18]

I've painted my interior and I had fantastic luck using the Krylon Fusion. I did the trim pieces (door bezels, HVAC trim rings, domelight surround, defroster vents) in gloss white and changed the everything that was "charcoal" colored (pillar posts, coat hangers, and sunvisor clips) to gloss black. I also rewrapped the headliner in super black suede. Im happy with it considering im in an apartment and have no garage.

Id be happy to help with any questions anyone might have.