Paited some items yesterday...
 

First Item makes a very big impact on the looks of the dash/instrument panel:
Dash1:
http://www.thegawliks.com/protege/images/dash1_sm.jpg

Dash2:
http://www.thegawliks.com/protege/images/dash_sm.jpg

And one to help us figure out which keys are which around the house. (We also have an MPV) Protege5 on left and MPV on right
http://www.thegawliks.com/protege/images/fobs_sm.jpg

I could have did a better job on the key fobs, but they actually look pretty good. Used a couple of coats of paint and couple of coats of clear. Let me know what you think.

Oh, and thanks to Hihosilva and azrakain for their ideas in painting the parts of the interior. I plan on doing the other silver parts to match the instrument bezel and the outside silver color this week.

No pics, here, man.

And I couldn't get them by copy/paste, either.

~HH

That is an awesome job. Did you buy a kit and paint it, or did you make it yourself, and then paint it? I wonder if I can get the same thing done on my 2nd gen? Thanks

I got the pix now - think my internet connection was all phucked up for while there.

Looks good man! Kinda familiar, too....;)

What kind of paint did you use?

looks awesome. i plan on trying to paint that stuff soon.

Thanks, It was your job that gave me the gumption to do it.
I used Plasti-Kote FM8140 for the silver. It matches the Sunlight Silver pretty well. I am going to do the rest of the parts like you did so that they will all match. Just put a few coats of clear over it.
It dried pretty quick too. The fobs a little longer, but want that finish to get nice and hard. The dash bezel is covered so it can dry more whne it is back in the dash.

Thanks, no kit. Just removed the pieces, scuffed them up with some 400grit wet/dry sandpaper and then painted with a couple of coats of paint, then a couple of coats of clear. Nothing to it. In the words of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers..."The waiting is the hardest part"

Nice! Look forward to seeing it in person in August. After we all meet (Orlando club thing), I can get ideas on how
to spend the money I am saving for mods. Using the right paint is SO important. Patience is just as important. Looks like you used the right amount of both.:)

That looks really good!!

How hard is it to remove all the pieces? Does the part that you painted separate from the guages?

Thanks
Greg

Yes, the gauges have to be pulled out slightly to release a couple of tabs, but they do not have to be removed. There are a total of 2 screws for the dash piece, take those out and pop off the front cover. Then there is two more screw at the base of the cluster. remove those and the gauges will be able to be pulled out slightly. Undo the tabs to pop out the clear plastic piece adn the cluster bezel. Once the clear cover/bezel are out of car, you can detach the cover from the bezel by releasing the tabs. I will try to take some pics later of how it all comes apart.

Small Instruction guide
 

Check it out HERE!