Yeah I’d classify that as semi-gloss
Refinishing interior trim
- Thread starter 1997ThunderbirdLXV6
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1997ThunderbirdLXV6
PostWhore
...yeah. I need matte.
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
PostWhore
Tried a camouflage brown...which was way too flat. It seems difficult to find the sheen sweet spot. I know the Dupli-Color Vinyl/Fabric paints have that perfect sheen, but the selection of colors is so limited.
I'm starting to think that other than keeping what I have, Dupli-Color black is the only option - which would be =stock, so kind of boring as a mod.
I'm starting to think that other than keeping what I have, Dupli-Color black is the only option - which would be =stock, so kind of boring as a mod.
Just a thought but, have you considered something other than regular paint, like plasti dip? It has almost the exact finish as the factory and comes in all sorts of colors now. There are other brands of it too.
I had to fill two holes in the panel under the steering wheel after removing an aftermarket alarm. I used the gray to dust a few plugs for the holes and it was an almost perfect match.
6 PACK CAMO PLASTI DIP RUBBER COATING SPRAY PAINT - VARIOUS COLORS | eBay
Performix Plasti Dip Camo Rubber Coating Spray Paint. Plasti Dip Camo is a special collection of Plasti Dip colors designed to match the many shades of nature. Case of 6 cans. SKU: 771055Model: 11217-6.
www.ebay.com
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
PostWhore
Yes. In fact, I have recommended PlastiDip to a couple of people for the cluster surround. But for the cupholder and door release bezel, I think there's just too much hand traffic; I prefer something permanent here.
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
PostWhore
So we may have agreed that painting interior parts in body color is gaudy...but I think this piece can actually pull it off with some tastefulness. Final judgment once installed.
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- Sep 22, 2023
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- Seattle
- Vehicle Details
- 1997 Ford Thunderbird LX 4.6 24" Windshield Wiper
I don't hate it.
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
PostWhore
Dream car! Note the black steering wheel.
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
PostWhore
So to sum up this thread:
Some good came out of it. The new green cluster bezel has the potential to look good. At that opportunity, I'll replace the beige light switch bezel with a black one to match the climate control.
- One perfectly good door switch bezel destroyed (failed attempt to strip paint)
- One perfectly good cupholder destroyed (yup; Dupli-Color paint had a funny wrinkling reaction with Rustoleum primer, plus I didn't like the color (leftover Dupli-Color beige))
- Determined that really only two things make sense for the cockpit arch, i.e., black or dash color match, and I don't want to go to the stock look
- Unable to identify any other color I truly loved; very dark brown looked good, but I couldn't find one with the right amount of sheen
- Just the overall feeling that this is a lot of work without true benefit, just me trying to find some, any project
Some good came out of it. The new green cluster bezel has the potential to look good. At that opportunity, I'll replace the beige light switch bezel with a black one to match the climate control.
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
PostWhore
Yup...it may just provide the right touch of color. Remember how I used to have green/beige stitching on the headrests? I'm missing a little color.
Meanwhile, your username suffix ("O/D Off") always makes me think of this page in the Mark VIII brochure:
I think it's neat that in the brochure, they associate it with performance, whereas in the manual it's all about hilly terrain, etc.
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
PostWhore
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
PostWhore
It pops just enough.
Jae 'Bird
3rd Gear Poster
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- Edmonton, Canada
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- 1990 Ford Thunderbird Base with PEP 151A, 3.8L NA V-6
I really like that, I don't think thats gaudy. It ties in nice with the door jams that are visible in the photo
Looks good! Subtle; since the instrument surround bezel is smaller on the 97s and a bit more modern looking than the earlier style. Not sure if the earlier gauge pod could pull it off. I expect it would look out of place on the earlier gauges since they have more of an 80s style IMO.
Jae 'Bird
3rd Gear Poster
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2023
- Messages
- 172
- Age
- 19
- Location
- Edmonton, Canada
- Vehicle Details
- 1990 Ford Thunderbird Base with PEP 151A, 3.8L NA V-6
That might be, but now I'm seriously considering finding one at a junk yard to try that and then see if I like it, I feel like I might
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
PostWhore
I put the driver air vents back to tan; black looked too inconsistent with the passenger side.
The green matches the illumination, too!
The green matches the illumination, too!
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
PostWhore
Agreed. The silver bezel was too light a color.
That looks much nicer than I expected, the white needles helps a ton, I think I’d hate it if it still had the orange ones
Not to be an enabler but IF you wanted to find passenger vents in black the 94-98 Mustang center stack ones are the same as our passenger vents and if you stumble across a black interior one they’re of course black. Those are what I used when I converted my interior to black
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
PostWhore
Yeah, I wasn't sure about it until I saw it fully installed. I like how it makes the cluster darker, yet with more contrast.
Ha! Thanks for caring.
Right. They're hard to find, oddly enough. There are tons of Mustangs, but the center console trim is always gone.
That said, I actually prefer the color match vents, driver and passenger. Tried the black ones to match radio, etc., but didn't really care for it in my line of sight.
To take it even further this is a spot I think woodgrain would look awesome, and I know you like woodgrain lol
That was my impression as well, o used the contrasting vents and other factory black bits to do a two tone grey/black thing but I grew sick of it enough for me to go off the deep end and do the full on black conversion
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
PostWhore
Yes, but I only use real wood pieces. That would be beautiful - but very expensive to make custom.
That was my impression as well, o used the contrasting vents and other factory black bits to do a two tone grey/black thing but I grew sick of it enough for me to go off the deep end and do the full on black conversion
I mean, strictly speaking, replacing color match pieces with generic black pieces is a downgrade. Ford spent money on creating the color match parts: manufacture, warehousing, inventory...; they had the cost of five parts where one could have sufficed.
I’ve come very close to trying it with the 94-96 one, but I’d do the aborted Cougar door panel wood if I did anything first and that ain’t happening lol It would actually be easier to make a 97 one since there’s only about 1/8” depth consistently around the gauges/dummy lights vs the taper of the earlier clusters.
Agreed. One of the factory black pieces I have that is a correct fit is the glove box latch from a Windstar minivan with a grey interior. I was super happy to find it but my god did I think it was cheap and half assed in the doner vehicle!
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
PostWhore
I've been looking at these...but why do they come from Poland? Why not China for $1.99?
And how do they attach? They'd probably scratch my paint.
For Ford Taurus SHO 1996-2003 Polished Aluminium Trim Rings Instrument Cluster | eBay
FITS CAR MODEL: TAURUS incl. SHO model (1996-2003) only. POLISHED OR MATT ALUMINIUM SET OF 3 ALUMINIUM RINGS / SURROUNDS AVAILABLE COLOURS: POLISHED OR MATT - 100% ALUMINIUM. Standart version we send - POLISHED ALUMINIUM.
www.ebay.com
And how do they attach? They'd probably scratch my paint.
I really like those. Especially on all black, it defines the space. I guess they'd use a double sided adhesive because I'm not sure a friction fit would hold
I wish they made those for earlier clusters, I’d pick those up in a heartbeat
