Keep it up. Nice work !!

 

Well, after I got back from the hospital to visit my wife, I managed to get this done in about 30 minutes:

Removed black faceplate from replacement stereo (4 screws -- 3/16" socket), 4 slide clipss (used small jewelers screwdrive to assist in clearing slide clips, then went outside and removed my stock stereo from the dash but left the wires connected (4 bolts, 9/32 socket) -- The stock silver stereo with faceplate removed looked like this:



This is what the backside of the faceplate looks like:



I then installed the black face onto the stock stereo (3/16 socket, 4 slide clips), and reinstalled it into the dash (4 bolts, 9/32 socket). Pay careful attention to the wire positions when you reinstall it. The little white plastic piece in the back has to slide into a metal mount, so make sure antenna wire or wiring harness isn't blocking it.



I then had to once again remove my DIC trim panel to be able to put the stereo bezel back on (before you do this is a good time to check the condition of the clips on your trim--I had to bend a few back into place with a pair of needlenose pliers)--and reattached the stereo bezel and DIC trim panel.

I then installed my 'Black Bettie' custom-sized badge to fit just under the radio buttons, which was spectacularly made by 24Designs.



Then took a quick photo of the progress I've made so far (used to have silver trim and stereo/climate control)



Going to work on the passenger side piece + shift knob and remove the pedals tomorrow. I noticed though that the replacement faceplate doesn't have the 'MP3' logo on it like the silver one did: no big deal. I don't need a sticker to tell me my stereo can play MP3's. I also noticed that the 3-4 button doesn't have the folder symbols on it for cruising MP3 CD's. My hindsight suggestion would be to try to find one that was also MP3-compatible if you're concerned about those little details like I am. Who knows, I just may switch it out once more one of these days just to have it 100% right. Not sure if the black-faced stereos came with MP3 capability, though.

Thank you, I appreciate it! It's been a lot of fun and I'm glad I chose the shade of red that I did because it looks like different kinds of red in different kinds of lighting. With windows up and doors closed, it's dark red--with sunlight on it, it's a very bright red--and with sunlight on it on camera; it's almost a magenta color. I'm very satisfied. I'm looking forward to doing the passenger side piece and starting on the door trim and shift knob.

 

same same! i like it so far...

 

LOL yeah--they're definitely coming off tomorrow. Only thing I'm unsure of is if I"m going to put the 'SS' and black/red G85 badges back on the trim. I think I might, just to tie the dash to the seats color-wise with the SS logo. My seats are black leather/gray mesh with SS and Recaro logos in white.

 

do they have other colors besides red? Are sure you bought the paint al Wal-Mart, because I went the other day and they didn't have any.

 

Yep they had all kinds of pearl colors, color shift (color flip) colors like copper to blue, green to blue, etc--yup I got them at my local Wal-Mart, but I'll do a google and ebay search to see if I can find you some.

EDIT: here's a link to the Kustom Kolor website, where they have all kinds of paint color samples and a Stores directory at the top. Good luck!

http://www.kustomkolorpaints.com/kus...or/aerosol.jsp

 

It looks like you chipped and scratched your steering wheel while trying to get out the old badge. Time to get a quick release wheel .hahaha

 

hehe yeah i did, i was pretty pissed about it when I did it. i even used a layered cloth to try to prevent that when I was prying, but it didn't help--the rubber around that stock badge is just way too soft. I'll probably scope ebay out for a new airbag once my warranty runs out and try to find a better, non-destructive way to get the stock one off (dremel?). CSS.net search button didn't give me much help LOL.

 

dude so far your progress looks amazing wish i had the time to do something like this!

 

Why, thank you for your compliment! I don't really have the time actually--I have a 6-month-old son to take care of, my wife is in the hospital, and I'm in the military. I just do little by little--what i've done so far has taken me two weeks at about a half hour a day (with a LOT of waiting time for the paint to dry/set). today I'm going to try to brush some kandy apple red on the passenger side piece to touch the top edge up a bit, let it dry for 24 hours, and throw some clearcoat on it tomorrow.

 

Nice job, looks really good. I tried painting the trim pieces on my 2.2 cobalt b4 the ss/sc and I couldnt get it to come out even at all.. errr. But i recently used the Krylon Fusion paint and its way easier to use. U def spent a lot of time doing that... and a lot of patients... something i dont have.. lol. Ill leave u some + rep... maxed out right now.. lol

later

 

hey thanks, I appreciate it! Yep, it's taken a couple of weeks and I"m still not done. That passenger side piece with the pearl black skulls--I think I"m going to have to sand back down, put a new base coat, repaint, and restencil. Just would not come out even at all. I tried handbrushing it today, but it looked terrible. I'm going to have to pull out the part with the dimmer switch--it won't light up for some reason. Some minor repainting and troubleshooting--no big deal. Hopefully by the end of next week it'll be 100% complete. After that, it'll be on to the silver door trim. I was even thinking about doing the entire console, but that would be a bit much. I think I'll just tie it together under the hood with a red valve cover, and some custom spark plug and injector covers that I've already painted but are just sitting waiting to be installed.

And I've got to pull of those ghey blue pedal covers one of these days. Still haven't decided yet if I"m going to replace them with red ones since the wiring is already there.

 

just making a quick update: I've started to sand the passenger side piece back down in a quest for more even paint coverage.

 

Raven I need help taking off my trim on dash and steering wheel, get my number from Tyler or Connor. Or talk here whatever works.

 

I'd be glad to help you broseph--I just PM'd you my cell number to text me.

Edit: Sport Red Tintcoat is the ****.

 

does everything with the radio still work like it should? I mean with regards to Mp3 and such? I know the old radio is still there, but didn't know if there was anything "important" with the face plate. Thanks

 

sorry to hear about the wife but thats good even putting 30 mins in a night.

 

thanks

 

Btw Raven I loved my negative rep, blah on you.

 

I've never negative repped anyone to the best of my knowledge--unless I clicked the wrong one on accident; I'll hit you up with some green next time around Sorry 'bout that bro

no prob!

I'm sure it could be better if I tried harder--I've got a half-sanded piece I haven't touched in days LOL

yup--the only real difference is that the symbols for the folders aren't on the buttons, really. it works just like it used to

EDIT: after driving my friend's oldass Infiniti G20 all day, I fixed my headlight and drove mine to pick my boy up from babysitter--and I realized how nice my car really is, and how fun to drive it is. Especially when those two cars are like night and day. Chevy did a good job on an affordable, yet somewhat luxurious FWD.

 

Ide like to see some one paint the deck and AC controls to match too, might be a bit too much. (?)


Looks awsome btw, great inexpensive visual mod!!

 

I actually thought about doing that, but I thought that might be a bit too much red for as dark as my interior is--and I was pretty intimidated looking at the deck and AC control labels: I didn't think there was any way in the world I could tape everything off just perfectly. Good Idea though! Glad you like it.

Got a question: the passenger side piece with the skulls is now sanded back down to bare plastic so I can hopefully get the paint more even on it. Should I leave them off or put them back on? I was starting to think that with the skull on my steering wheel, some on the passenger side might be a bit too much or too busy once I get my G85 and SS emblems back on--and just visually distracting from the rest of the interior. Maybe I"ll just keep the center one with the wings.

 

No I mean I had negative rep till you potived me. Now people think im a nice guy or something. ;D

 

ohhhhhh haha, i was like wtf? I gave you negative? LOL how's your project coming?

 

Got some of the materials, too lazy to start today, cause of the cold. Im just gonna do it sunday. After I get me the 1200 grit and 2000 grit emory cloth for my engine. Plus the colormatched paint. Blah I was it was just a bit warmer. I would be done by now.