I am in the process of doing a frame on resto on my 71 442 clone convertible my next step is the interior I know that orginal is the best way to go and all that BUT i WANT TO PUT WHAT EVER COLOR PAINT AND CLEAR ON THE DASH BOARD AND CONCOLE AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE INSIDE WILL BE ORGINAL WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PLAN FOR THE CAR IS EXTERIOR COLOR WILL BE MIDNIGHT BLUE (SO DARK PEOPLE WILL MISTAKE IT FOR BLACK) PEARL RALLY STRIPS AND PEARL 442 STRIPS DOWN THE SIDE WITH DARK BLUE CONVERTIBLE TOP AND FACTORY PEARL INTERIOR BUCKET SEATS BUT i WANT TO PAINT AND CLEAR COAT MY DASH AND CONSOLE PLEASE EXPERTS WHAT DO YOU THINK
THE CAR WILL BE A SHOW PIEACE DOKOTA DIGITAL DASH INSTRUCMENT AFTERMARKET WHEELS AND STEERING WHEEL BUT EVERY THING ELSE WILL 100% ORGINAL

 

Take a breath and puncuate. It's hard for us older guys to keep up...

 

Antweave,

I hope I speak for the majority of people here and that is we want to help you by providing feedback, advice, and suggestions to your posts. I would ask this of you! Please take time before you submit your post to remove the capitol letters. It will aid you in getting more responses to your posts, and show us that you understand proper etiquette. Thanks in advance! Your friend, Les.

 

I suspect that you do.

- Eric

 

Your plans sound pretty good as far as colors, but,
personally, I think clear coating the dash and console will look tacky.
I'd stay with the original vinyl texture.

Ditto on taking a breath and making your post more legible.

 

.

Antweave, the digital instruments caught my attn, do they make gauges that fit the stock dash, or does dash get cut/customized? Could you post a link?

BTW, when asking about tastes...well, it's all opinions & you know how that goes, although most Olds guys are fairly straight. Please yourself is best option. In long run a very stock (the more factory options the better) Olds worth (much) more than modified, but some folk feel that is not as much fun to play with. You'll spend too much money either way. Have fun, do what you want & bring it to shows so others can see your ideas.

 

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Oh, and leave the clear coat off the dash & console.

 

Totally agreed. See the signature. You own it, you do what you want to it.
Build the car to your desires.

"Paint and clearcoat the dash" ?? It's fine as long as you use SEM interior paints.
If you try to use something NOT designed for flexible materials, it will chip and crack.

"Dakota Digital Gauges"
Personally I'm all for customization, eh.....I'm on the fence with these I guess.
Usually I don't like them because they're so 80's. But options are pretty limited
for aftermarket Quad gauges that are 3 3/8".


I think I'd mix it up a bit with a Autometer set of Cobalts for the Speedo and Tach
And then use the Dakota Digitals quad gauge with it maybe.

 

You want opinions?

God that looks tacky!

I wouldn't be caught dead with cheezy, hard to read, eighties gauges like that.

But, hey, it's your car to wreck, as Aces says...

- Eric

 

I would not clearcoat the dash (or the console either.) That glossy wet look will cause excess glare and reflections. WOuld not look that great either. It should have a similar sheen as the seats.