1963 Dash Refurbish

[Jeff C.]

First let me say that removing the dash was a B****H and I don't even want to think about reinstalling it. My next surprise is that all of the bezels are permanently installed in the housing so all painting will have to painstakingly masked. So my question is where can I find "Silver Satin Paint" for the bezels that will look original? Also, any hints on the reinstallation?
Thanks
Jeff

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Dash Refurbish

Jeff, I went through the same pain a few years back. In the end I sent it to Corvette Specialties in MD, now MD west. For $100.00 plus shipping it was done perfect. The paint, the taping the time would have ended up being more.

Why not call them for an estimate to just do the face.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1963 Dash Refurbish

I did mine back in the mid 70's and it still looks like new. I don't recall what paints I used other than they were purchased as being for that exact use (cluster). I do know how I masked the silver from the black very carefully, and disregarded the chrome edge. I then went back with a rag, stick and some thinner to remove the paint from the chrome. It worked perfectly.

Relative to your other post; my odometer had stripped. After replacing it, I turned paranoid about it and have never touched the trip odometer for fear of causing it to go out again. I know it works, that's all that matters. Besides, I don't "drive on trips" anymore.

[Monte M.]

Re: 1963 Dash Refurbish

The cheaters way to paint the gauge bezel is to make cups to cover them after each is painted. I took PVC pipe and milled the inside diameter to the exact size of the outside of the gauge rings. After painting the silver I put the cups down over each gauge and then painted the black.
It did take about an hour to make the cups to go over the gauges, but after trying to tape it a few times the hour I invested in making the cups was well worth it.
Because of the different size gauges I use the white PVC for some and the black ABS for others. This was because they were closer to the diameter.
You can kind of think of it as if you had drinking glasses that fit perfect over the rings that stand up on the gauge bezel. After painting the silver, put your cup up-side-down over the ring, covering the silver you want to keep. After all your cups are in place, shoot the black. Lift up your cups and the silver is still perfect just on the rings that go around the gauges wile the flat part is now black.
If you want more information on how I did it, PM me and I will explain it in detail.
Best of luck

[John H.]

Re: 1963 Dash Refurbish

First let me say that removing the dash was a B****H and I don't even want to think about reinstalling it. My next surprise is that all of the bezels are permanently installed in the housing so all painting will have to painstakingly masked. So my question is where can I find "Silver Satin Paint" for the bezels that will look original? Also, any hints on the reinstallation?
Thanks
Jeff

Jeff -

I wrote two detailed separate feature articles on removal and installation of the midyear instrument cluster in "Corvette Enthusiast" magazine about ten years ago - you'll find them here:

Removal: http://www.lbfun.com/warehouse/tech_...ster%20pt1.pdf

Installation: http://www.lbfun.com/warehouse/tech_...ster%20pt2.pdf

[Jeff C.]

Re: 1963 Dash Refurbish

Thanks everyone for the info. John I printed both of your articles and will go ahead and pull the steering colum.
Thanks again,
Jeff

[Richard M.]

Re: 1963 Dash Refurbish

I went through the pain on our '63 a few years back. I masked the opposite way. I painted the black, then masked that and painted the Silver bezels. I felt that masking the silver painted over chrome would lift that paint too easily.

My mask line on the bezels was too straight for judging correctness as explained by some. Allegedly, when the cups were used originally to mask the bezels before black was applied, it left a rough edge around the bezels.

old thread here....
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...269#post388269

Rich