Finally! Painted center console to match exterior. (Great DIY)
03-19-2009, 03:04 PM
#18
it looks great! You made the right call going with exterior color for the console - that one stretch of color really changes a gray interior. When people get in my car for the first time - I always notice that they look right at the center console... It makes the car seem more exclusive IMO.
For me I'd do the "911" logo, prob in black to be more subtle. Be careful how much color you add to the interior though - it can start to have the opposite effect and look more like the Fast&Furious
Well done though - lookin great so far!!!
For me I'd do the "911" logo, prob in black to be more subtle. Be careful how much color you add to the interior though - it can start to have the opposite effect and look more like the Fast&Furious
Well done though - lookin great so far!!!
How'd you know I was going for the Fast & Furious look? I'm actually doing everything, even the seats Cobalt Blue, adding strobe lights, 3 wings, & some sick Animae graphics on the side, haha... No, but in all seriousness, don't worry, I wouldn't ruin a P-car by going overboard. I think the center console, key surround, & batwing is a good, simple combo.
I'll take better pics when I get a chance, hopefully today.
Other than painting the batwing & lowering the car, I think I'm pretty much set. I mean when I bought the car it came with most of the main goodies I wanted anyway, such as Fabspeed exhaust, Evo intake, factory sideskirts, clear sidemarkers, 19" 2-piece wheels (they're cheap, but look pretty good). Since then I did the obligatory red caliper DIY, replaced the ugly center caps it had with 997 colored crest ones, got a new clutch & RMS, & now this paint job. I also had the car fully detailed last week & I'm getting my tips polished as we speak. So my car is pretty much the way I want it, unless you have any mod suggestions? Which I'm sure you do, lol.
Basically, I got the wet sandpaper, custom spray paint, primer, clearcoat, all from http://automotivetouchup.com/spray_paint.asp
I would definetely recommend them. They did an amazing job matching the color. Plus their 'plastic adhesion promoter' really does the job. Before even touching the center console, I tested the product & paint on a smaller piece of plastic first, & after a couple days, I bent it, tried peeling it, scratching it, etc. to see if it would crack, peel, lift, etc. & it held up amazingly well.
Well, the hardest & most important part is the prep. Salayc recommended a stripper called 3M Safest Stripper, but I wasn't able to find it ANYWHERE. I asked the guy at Home Depot if they had a stripper for plastic, & he gave me some orange one (can't remember the name). I tested it on the ashtray first & it completely melted the plastic & ruined it (This is why my ashtray is missing, lol). This meant I had to wetsand the original paint off (complete pain in the ****). I used 180 wet sandpaper. Once I got everything off, I was going to sand with a finer grit, but decided to leave it that way because I felt the paint would adhere better to the textured surface. Next I washed the entire center console as best I could with Palmolive dishwashing soap (dishwashing soap does a best job degreasing), & made sure to scrub hard with a brush & sponge to get all the sanding residue off. Once it was dry, I set up a painting area with 2 small boxes to place the center console on (I didn't want the bottom of the sides touching the floor, so the paint wouldn't lift when I picked it up). I then wet a towel with alcohol & cleaned the console again (just to make it was completely free of any oils). I then sprayed 3 coats of the plastic primer (very light coats, you don't want it smudging or looking clumpy), then about 5 light coats of paint, & 4 light coats of clearcoat. I then waited a couple of days to make sure the paint was cured, & then wet sanded it with a 1500 grit, then used rubbing compound to get the sandpaper scratches out. Finally after a month of letting the paint cure, yesterday I put about 5 coats of Rejex sealant on it to make it really smooth, shiney, & protect it.
Wow... talk about punching up the interior... that looks awesome. I've been looking into this myself - at first I wanted all carbon fiber, but now I'm thinking painted pieces with a few CF pieces to accent, maybe the console lid and the two door lids in CF, the the center console and hard parts of the door handle in Arctic Silver...
Do you have your DIY notes stashed somewhere? That is really a fantastic look!
Rudy
Do you have your DIY notes stashed somewhere? That is really a fantastic look!
Rudy
For the DIY, look at my response to 'imdrew,' although I might do a pic by pic DIY on this when I paint the batwing & handbrake cover.
Thanks for all the compliments guys.
03-19-2009, 03:20 PM
#19
03-19-2009, 05:56 PM
#22
Burning Brakes
I posted a thread about half a year ago asking what color I should paint my center console. Mostly everyone said to do it the same as exterior color, & I'm glad I listened. Let me know what you guys think! The pictures suck as I always take them with my phone & at night which is when I have a chance, lol. I'll try taking some better ones in the sun tomorrow though.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
I know the handbrake cover is missing, I accidentally sanded too much when I finished, so I have to redo it. Oh, & I also painted the key surround but it isn't on yet in the picture.
... I NEED EVERYONE'S OPINION ON SOMETHING ELSE! I'm going to be painting the batwing (small little piece of plastic under the cubby on the upper console) soon as well, but I want to add a decal before I put the clear coat. I'm having trouble deciding between 'PORSCHE,' 'Carrera,' & '911.' Also, I'm having trouble deciding between ordering the decal in white or black.
If you scroll down to exactly the middle of the page, you'll see what I'm talking about: http://xenonmods.com/xenonmods_porsche_items.htm
BEFORE:
AFTER:
I know the handbrake cover is missing, I accidentally sanded too much when I finished, so I have to redo it. Oh, & I also painted the key surround but it isn't on yet in the picture.
... I NEED EVERYONE'S OPINION ON SOMETHING ELSE! I'm going to be painting the batwing (small little piece of plastic under the cubby on the upper console) soon as well, but I want to add a decal before I put the clear coat. I'm having trouble deciding between 'PORSCHE,' 'Carrera,' & '911.' Also, I'm having trouble deciding between ordering the decal in white or black.
If you scroll down to exactly the middle of the page, you'll see what I'm talking about: http://xenonmods.com/xenonmods_porsche_items.htm
All you need now is some nice Silver Carbon Fiber interior trim to complete the look.
Check our my FS link
https://rennlist.com/forums/for-sale...brand-new.html
03-19-2009, 06:40 PM
#23
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03-21-2009, 09:14 AM
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I don't think the ashtray looks too bad in gray, but if it was my car, I would paint it to match the console. You could give the ashtray a couple of additional coats of clear coat to help protect it.
I got a second shelf to replace the CD holder and that is where I used to keep my cell phone. The shelf is available at the dealer for about $30 +/- and takes 8.42 seconds to swap out the CD holder.
I got a second shelf to replace the CD holder and that is where I used to keep my cell phone. The shelf is available at the dealer for about $30 +/- and takes 8.42 seconds to swap out the CD holder.
- Open all of the CD drawers,
- Grab all of them like a sandwich and give them a sharp pull
- Insert new shelf.
03-21-2009, 01:51 PM
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03-21-2009, 02:20 PM
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Plus, unlike Porsche, I feel guilty about charging more labor than the part costs. I do have scruples!
03-21-2009, 08:04 PM
#29
Tell me about it! I've been wanting to lower my car, but it seems kind of unfair to pay about $200 for H&R springs off eBay, & then over $800 for installation & alignment.
03-21-2009, 09:11 PM
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You guys are right, it will look cleaner & flow better if I paint it. I'm going to do it, but does anyone know how to remove the black switches? I can't figure out how to take those out. Thanks
Tell me about it! I've been wanting to lower my car, but it seems kind of unfair to pay about $200 for H&R springs off eBay, & then over $800 for installation & alignment.
Tell me about it! I've been wanting to lower my car, but it seems kind of unfair to pay about $200 for H&R springs off eBay, & then over $800 for installation & alignment.