squintz

i echo what everyone said about how sweet it looks, and i think its a really cool idea for a little custom aesthetic mod. but, as you all know from my countless post on my interior dilemmas, i am stuck with a black/ tan interior. i DO have a silver kenwood deck however. i thought maybe i would try to pick that up in other areas if possible. do you think this would look too terrible or should i go for it?

also, has anyone tried to get the cluster off on a 95? im having some trouble there are no visible screws accept if you look in the steering column area, but im a little hesitant to just go digging in there.

any response is appreciated. thanks in advance

Mazdaboy42

Hihoslva, BlProtege, and Rider69

All three of y'alls setups look so good. I was actually thinking about doing that before i saw the pics, but now that i saw it i have to do it, i also plan on painting all the silver around the radio and around the cupholders and all so eveything matchs, similar to HH (hope you don't mind, but mine is standard so it will look a little different anyway) The main reason i am doing it is so everything matches my aluminum sparco pedals, greddy shift ****, and new e-brake handle that i will be installing soon. When i get it all in i'll post the pics, it will probaby be without the paint cause i need to find some real time to do all that but it shouldnot be too far away. thanks again for the beautiful pics and the inspiration

BL_Protege

i suggest using that SEM bumper stuff that hihoslva used. it may b a lil more pricey, but its bumper stuff so it probably has sum kind of a scratch coating on it. while cheaper spray paint doesn't.

hihoslva

King - I actually didn't prime at all - just a light sanding with 400 grit or something like that, and then cleaned it off pretty good with a little alcohol.

Do yourself a favor, and use the SEM stuff - it is really kick ***, and I'm amazed at the durability. I have had no chips or scratches as of yet. In fact, I even put some thinner on my exterior badges (after I painted them with the same paint, gunmetal color), and the SEM did not budge at all. This stuff really lasts.

~HH

azrakain

I haven't had any scratches yet either




HH is right, if you don't want to take the route I did with the paint, then use SEM. Its the best spray paint on the market. I sell the trim and bumper coat paints to body shops all day long. I think soon we'll have the 5th or 6th person with some painted interior. I am gonna paint litlrays stuff sometime in the future. Don't forget who the originator of the paint was HH!!!

hihoslva

How did I know it would only be a matter of time before azra chimed in here?

Yep - I suppose you ARE the originator. And your method of doing straight OEM color is damn sweet, too.

Maybe I could be considered the originator of the "budget-minded" technique? Oh, please, please, please?

~HH

Witchdoktor

what's P5 Long IL'
just got home, typing with my left hand and taking apart the cluster with my right, got the SEM spray and a little alchoho (plus a little weed). Here goes nothing.

hihoslva

Yeah! You go boy - you're gonna love the SEM stuff.

Plus - I'm post whoring (just a little ) - Almost at 1000.

~HH

Witchdoktor

ok, so I fucked up a bit. A little bit of a run in the left corner, not to worry, I have a second cluster unit thanx in part to APC and their wonderful indiglo gauges. We'll see how it dries.

HI HO - will the run dry as is or improve?

hihoslva

Probably will dry as-is, unfortunately. Go EASY with the paint! There is no reason to put it on so heavy.

Just do very light, dusting coats - don't worry if it's not covering fully - it dries so fast, you can dust it again in like 5 minutes. After 3 or 4 coats like that, you'll have a sweet-*** finish, and you can keep going if you want - just don't put it on so thick! It really should never look wet.

Try the second cluster - and you can always sand the run out o the oter one tomorrow once it dries real well. But start on the new one, and go REALLY light, and repeat every 5 or 10 minutes until it's covered and lookin' good.

Patience, young Skywalker!

~HH

Witchdoktor

Hi Ho, what would I do without you? Drive around with a bootlegged looking cluster gauge. Strong Island Respresent!

azrakain

HH: You knew I'd be reading this thread. you can be the originator of the high-end-budget-minded-technique. SEM is the greatest spray paint around. Keep on using it guys, and head HH instructions on just dusting the panels. They will look even and it will cover better than you think.

mazdaspeedwest

good job guys! they all look great. here's mine, but i've had it as my avatar for some time now....

squintz

im sorry for being repetitive, but i think maybe my question got skipped over.

does anyone know how to get into the cluster of a 2nd gen?

vkyolv

I think I am going to follow your color scheme....but I am going to use Duplicolor Red Metalcast instead (at least it would match my emblems). Tips and tricks would be appriciated.