How to: Painting Interior Trim
How to: Painting Interior Trim
What you will need:
2-3 cans of paint of your color choice (I did mine in matte black)
1 can of gloss or matte clear coat
320 & 400 grit sand paper
Phillips head screwdriver
Flat head screw driver or knife
Time
1. We'll start with the easy one, the main dash piece. Open your glove box and you will see a screw holding a piece of the dash on. Remove this screw and piece, you will expose another screw attached to the trim piece. Take this one out as well. Then the trim piece will simply pop off.
2. Move over to the drivers side now. On the lower part of the dash there are two screws holding the panel on that the knee air bag goes into. Take these out and then grip the dash through the hole where the steering wheel goes into the dash. Pull firmly and at a downward angle. You will expose yet another screw, undo this and the small piece on the drivers side should pop right out.
4. Depending on how dedicated you are and how much work you're willing to put in to make it look good you can either paint it now and just leave it or you can sand it with the 320 and hit it with a light coat of paint. Either way if you just take a few seconds while painting it will come out decent.
5. Smoke a cig, make a sandwich, play with the dog. Doesn't really matter what you do, you have to wait for the pieces to dry now, if you're a really exciting person you can sit there and watch the paint dry and ponder the meaning of life, the universe, and everything.
6. Once the paint is dry sand it down with the 400 grit lightly. Once you have done this take it and wash it with dish soap and let it dry. Take care not to touch the surfaces you just sanded and washed.
*The soap is to remove any dirt or oils that are on there and will cause problems.*
7. When everything is dry hit it with another coat of paint. Wait.
8. After its dry again, you can go further and do more coats or you can clear coat. I opted only for 2 coats before I clear coated it.
9. Reverse steps 2 & 1.
Congratulations you've just painted your dash trim.
Now for the doors, have patience when you do these, it's needed. Plus an additional set of hands won't hurt either.
1. Start by removing the 3 screws holding the door panel to the door. Also disconnect the tweeter housing from the door.
2. Grip the door firmly and pull towards you, you'll have to use a good bit of force. But take care not to get overzealous and rip out your speaker wire.
3. Once you have the door panel off, there is a screw about 1/2-1/4 of the way down the trim piece. You will be able to tell which one it is when you look at it. Undo this. and you will be able to start undoing the tabs that hold the piece in the door. At the front there are 2 tabs, one on the top and one on the bottom. Whoever figures out how to get these off without breaking the top tab let me know. I was trying to be gentle and both snapped off. Once you have the front end out the tab on the back end will come out.
4. Now just repeat steps 4-9 for the dash pieces and then reverse the removal process.
2-3 cans of paint of your color choice (I did mine in matte black)
1 can of gloss or matte clear coat
320 & 400 grit sand paper
Phillips head screwdriver
Flat head screw driver or knife
Time
1. We'll start with the easy one, the main dash piece. Open your glove box and you will see a screw holding a piece of the dash on. Remove this screw and piece, you will expose another screw attached to the trim piece. Take this one out as well. Then the trim piece will simply pop off.
2. Move over to the drivers side now. On the lower part of the dash there are two screws holding the panel on that the knee air bag goes into. Take these out and then grip the dash through the hole where the steering wheel goes into the dash. Pull firmly and at a downward angle. You will expose yet another screw, undo this and the small piece on the drivers side should pop right out.
4. Depending on how dedicated you are and how much work you're willing to put in to make it look good you can either paint it now and just leave it or you can sand it with the 320 and hit it with a light coat of paint. Either way if you just take a few seconds while painting it will come out decent.
5. Smoke a cig, make a sandwich, play with the dog. Doesn't really matter what you do, you have to wait for the pieces to dry now, if you're a really exciting person you can sit there and watch the paint dry and ponder the meaning of life, the universe, and everything.
6. Once the paint is dry sand it down with the 400 grit lightly. Once you have done this take it and wash it with dish soap and let it dry. Take care not to touch the surfaces you just sanded and washed.
*The soap is to remove any dirt or oils that are on there and will cause problems.*
7. When everything is dry hit it with another coat of paint. Wait.
8. After its dry again, you can go further and do more coats or you can clear coat. I opted only for 2 coats before I clear coated it.
9. Reverse steps 2 & 1.
Congratulations you've just painted your dash trim.
Now for the doors, have patience when you do these, it's needed. Plus an additional set of hands won't hurt either.
1. Start by removing the 3 screws holding the door panel to the door. Also disconnect the tweeter housing from the door.
2. Grip the door firmly and pull towards you, you'll have to use a good bit of force. But take care not to get overzealous and rip out your speaker wire.
3. Once you have the door panel off, there is a screw about 1/2-1/4 of the way down the trim piece. You will be able to tell which one it is when you look at it. Undo this. and you will be able to start undoing the tabs that hold the piece in the door. At the front there are 2 tabs, one on the top and one on the bottom. Whoever figures out how to get these off without breaking the top tab let me know. I was trying to be gentle and both snapped off. Once you have the front end out the tab on the back end will come out.
4. Now just repeat steps 4-9 for the dash pieces and then reverse the removal process.
Last edited by d.stocks; Dec 6, 2018 at 06:12 PM.
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