Painting dash installed

[panteramatt]

Has anyone painted their dash without removing it? Our dash is in need of paint and I have back issues so it looks like it might be easier to just remove the stereo, dash pad, and speedo cluster and tape off everything else but if its a bad idea Ill remove it. Also what paint do you recommend? I need white. And should I clear?

 

[73azbronco]

Might just consider leaving it original patina. I'd think your asking for a lot of taping which may work, and result in a so so finish. White would be very unforgiving.

My body is original paint warts and all. Been told by numerous pros to leave it that way.

 

[Yooper74]

I cant speak to the idea of painting it in place but I just removed mine to have it painted and I've reinstalled it. It seems to me by the time you take enough stuff off like the bezels to have it painted in place etc you are halfway to having the dash removed and may as well just pull it.

 

[Rustytruck]

Yes I painted my dash in place as I was doing a color change. if you have back problems the 2 hours masking off and metal prep will still hurt you especially since you have to have perfect masking you have to do it over about 3 times. make sure you clean everything well before you mask get in the crevices with a tooth brush. I used a small harbor freight touch up gun. I sprayed mine the same outside color as my Bronco. Take your time a hasty job makes a wastey job. My dash was trapped behind my roll cage so taking it out wasn't an option for me. If I had to I would do it again.

 

[reamer]

Just painted mine today

 

[panteramatt]

That looks great amd the same color im going with. What paint did u use and did you like it? How hard was getting the dash out?

 

[reamer]

Getting the dash out was super easy, BUT windshield must be either removed, or folded down to the hood to get to the screws, color is 1973 Ford "WHITE" Ford offered 2-whites,... "Pearl white" and "white" which is the (wimbeldon) local PPG paint shop mixed it for me..

 

[njy229]

I did not remove my dash to paint. If I had to do over I probably would. Hard to get at some areas with the paint gun. Would have been easier if I removed the steering wheel and column. If you have a roll bar it might need to be moved away from the dash too. I probably would've wet sanded the orange peel out if the dash was on a set of saw horses instead of installed.

 

[hyghlndr]

Imho it will never come out right and usually looks pretty bad.