I'm seriously considering peeling off the HVAC and Radio plates when I go to paint my dash, obviously my concern in painting the HVAC panel is that I'll lose the indicators for vent positions and all that. Now, I know where the settings are so that doesn't really concern me TOO much. However, does anyone know where I might find little stickers or something I can do that might save losing that?

 

I thought about this. The problem is stickers wont light up like they do. they are back lit. you would need to tape and exacto knife the designs. It would be extremely labor intensive, but probably the only way.

This is what I was gonna do, but I settled into the contrast of the orange and silver and have kinda make a theme of it.

 

i think it would look kinda cool without any of the labels but i wouldn't really want to lose the lighting at night. still, you know, how can you not know the controls and if you leave the knobs alone you can still see that one little dot on it so you can still find where it's at. and it would be funny seeing passengers trying to figure out ur ac.

edit: i think i might do this if i do i'll post pics of what it looks like

 

Okay, well unless someone comes up with a great idea...I think I'll just black it out (or use the nightshades maybe...hmm) and let you know how it goes, pics as soon as I get the time.

 

I saw a car on Ebay and they painted they HVAC controls by taping off the indicators. Go to a place that does vinyl and have them take a picture of the HVAC control and they can mark off the indicators a lot easier and cleaner.

 

Why black it out? Base models have the HVAC controls in black anyway. I just traded an SS owner my black faceplate for their silver one. You could buy or trade and get a black one and go from there. Would probably be easier painting the black one anyway because they aren't painted.

 

I'm looking to get a complete, matching finish on all my dash trim. If I have all the surrounding trim, including the radio faceplate factory black with clear coat, I don't want the HVAC to be a dull black plastic finish.

 

Im not sure if this would work but I got the idea from my paintjob when my car was painted in a tri-coat..In a tricoat the top layer of paint before clear is translucent..If you put it on a mixing stick you can see straight through it..Maybe painting the trim in translucent paint you will still be able to see the controls..Dont know if this would work but its and idea

 

If u dont mind spending some money , you could go to a shop that makes vinyl signs and stickers ect ect . . Give them your HVAC panel ....have them make u a sticker to replicate all the indicators . Get the type of sticker that has the graphic arranged correctly on a adhesive sheet . That way u can overlay it perfectly then peel the adhesive sheet off . Paint it .....then remove the little overay stickers after paint .

 

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Some good ideas, just looking for anyone with any others...

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I just had to read this like 16 times... but i finally got what you mean... good idea.

 

i painted mine, i taped off some of the logos with small squares of tape, not all of it, also, i hust used one coat of paint so the you can still sort of see through it when they are lit up. it looks pretty good cause i only taped of a few parts,

 

pics?

 

X2...

 

x3...

 

X4...

 

guess were never getting pics

 

any new ideas or pictures?

 

Yeah, what I was thinking was that I might take off all the coloring on the inside face of the panel so light will come clear on through, and then just nightshade the hell out of it, and hope that it'll somewhat match the black on the rest of the dash but still allow some light through. I gotta wait for warmer weather around here to tackle that, though.

 

I heard that, its like 15 degrees out where I am.... sucks I hope the night shade works for you.

 

im in the middle of painting my interior and have the same problem. it looks soooooo bad.... I think ill be trying to cut out the indicators with an exacto knife... this is going to suck... pics later... hopefully

 

Well, I got it all apart and ended up painting the whole HVAC faceplate, only had to put a couple pieces of tape down for the A/C, Rear Def. and Recirc. indicator lights. All in all it came out pretty nice looking but I didn't properly scuff up the HVAC faceplate, nor did I wait long enough for it to properly cure so when I peeled the tape back up I kinda smudged it. Nothing another bit of sanding and some new paint/clear can't fix. I'll try to get pictures up ASAP

 

looking to do the same thing...subcribed and can't wait to see some pics ^^^^^

 

i too am looking to do the same thing. get pics up NOW!!!

 

Why doesn't anyone follow up on pics man geeze