Working on my 62

jim P · Veteran Member

Working on my 62

dcneric · Poncho Master!

Nice restoration of the dash and the steering wheel looks spectacular. Can't wait to see the finished product with the new carpet.

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

dcneric wrote:
Nice restoration of the dash and the steering wheel looks spectacular. Can't wait to see the finished product with the new carpet.

x2 ... great winter project!

jim P · Veteran Member

Thanks guys, Sorry about the pictures, one day I will figure out how to reduce them.

Greaser · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

jim P wrote:
Thanks guys, Sorry about the pictures, one day I will figure out how to reduce them.

Don't do that......For me, it's better to see everything.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Looks fantastic!

Could you tell us a little more about the steps taken, and materials you used to finish the dash and restore the wheel?

jim P · Veteran Member

I thought I would try removing the black with laquer thinner rather than sanding because it looked like cheap spray bomb paint. It wiped right off but the original maroon color also came off. The original primer stayed. I found out from Tom @ " Colors" in Beausejour, Mb. that the original factory paint was laquer but the primer was an epoxy type. I scuffed the panel with a fine scoth brite pad and then sprayed Pro Form primer/filler(spray bomb recommended by "Colors"). I again scuffed this with scoth brite, wiped it with Treme final wipe, and then lightly ran a tack rag over it. Before doing this I took a sample of the original color ( taken from the side of the ash tray housing) to Tom @ Colors for a paint match. He determined that it was about a 70 percent gloss. Because of concerns of a lot of overspray using my paint gun I went with the spray bomb. It was mixed with the gloss reducer and a hardener to make the paint tough. There is only a 24 hour window to apply it once it is mixed. Because the gloss reducer is fast drying and the fact that it is a spray bomb the paint finish is not as perfect as if a spray gun was used but I think quite acceptable.
I repaired the steering wheel using a product called PC-7. This is the same product that Eastwood uses in their Steering Wheel Restoration kit, however it is available in most hardware stores. I purchased it at Home Hardware and for about $19 you get way more than you need. It is similar to JB-weld. I wet sanded to try to avoid scratching the plastic too much (its tough but sands easily) and had to re-apply the PC-7 a few times to make it right. I then used SEM 77723 adhesion promoter (critical to make the paint adhere to the plastic). (I didn't use primer and painted right over the wheel and PC-7). The window to paint the wheel after this is after 15 minutes and no later than 30 minutes. I used the same paint that I used on the dash.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

jim P wrote:
I thought I would try removing the black with laquer thinner rather than sanding because it looked like cheap spray bomb paint.
It wiped right off, but the original maroon color also came off. The original primer stayed.
I found out from Tom @ " Colors" in Beausejour, Mb. that the original factory paint was laquer but the primer was an epoxy type.
I scuffed the panel with a fine scoth brite pad and then sprayed Pro Form primer/filler(spray bomb recommended by "Colors").
I again scuffed this with scoth brite, wiped it with Treme final wipe, and then lightly ran a tack rag over it.
Before doing this I took a sample of the original color ( taken from the side of the ash tray housing) to Tom @ Colors for a paint match.
He determined that it was about a 70 percent gloss.
Because of concerns of a lot of overspray using my paint gun I went with the spray bomb.
It was mixed with the gloss reducer and a hardener to make the paint tough.
There is only a 24 hour window to apply it once it is mixed.
Because the gloss reducer is fast drying, and the fact that it is a spray bomb, the paint finish is not as perfect as if a spray gun was used but I think quite acceptable.

I repaired the steering wheel using a product called PC-7.
This is the same product that Eastwood uses in their Steering Wheel Restoration kit, however it is available in most hardware stores.
I purchased it at Home Hardware and for about $19 you get way more than you need.
It is similar to JB-weld.
I wet sanded to try to avoid scratching the plastic too much (its tough but sands easily) and had to re-apply the PC-7 a few times to make it right.
I then used SEM 77723 adhesion promoter (critical to make the paint adhere to the plastic). (I didn't use primer and painted right over the wheel and PC-7).
The window to paint the wheel after this is after 15 minutes and no later than 30 minutes.
I used the same paint that I used on the dash.

jim_ss409 · Guru

Looks great!

Lad820 · Addicted!

Nice work Jim. I look forward to more updates.

Jennifer and Wayne · Addicted!

Thanks for the info Jim P. I guess with all the other things that have to be done with Fannie(my wagon) I never noticed until just the other day, that the steering wheel has a crack in it. I was wondering if it was repairable because I really didn't want to replace it, so god news...thanks.

Your touch up look great. Keep us in the loop.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Thanks for the info Jim. I have a spot to build up and repair on my 66 console , and the PC-7 might just fit the bill perfectly.

And it's amazing what products you can get custom in a spray bomb these days, I had no idea.

66 Grande guy · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Good practical info.

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Nice clean job, will try this on my wheel.Thx for the Tips.

jim P · Veteran Member

Here is a picture of the completed job.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

and your Grade A +

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

427carl wrote:

and your Grade A +

What he said ^^^^^

You'll have to bring it to Robin's for coffee this summer some time.

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

jim p said

IMG_1554.JPG
Here is a picture of the completed job.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Must say Jim " JOB WELL DONE " what was your shipping address again? I have a steering wheel that needs a gallon of pc-7.

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

Very nice Jim!

jim P · Veteran Member

Thanks guys. And for you,hawkeye, sorry, but my project list around here has just gotten longer while doing the pontiac this winter. However, the steering wheel restoration is really not that difficult. You just have to dive into it . Mine was my first one and I surprised myself in how well it turned out. Hey Carl, I am looking forward to bringing her out to Robyn's this summer (If it ever comes). Anyway, back to cleaning her up for the World of Wheels next weekend. It will be part of the special ruby red car display for their 40th anniversary.