I decided to repaint my rear kick panels in my 1972 Grabber. I didn't think the original ones looked too bad...as they were just a little faded and scratched up. Not brittle at all....considering this is an Arkansas car. Maybe the factory tinted windows helped preserve them??? Painted them with SEM Color Coat Flexible Coating #15243 (Satin Black). On the can it says: Changes or renews color on most flexible & rigid plastics, carpet, vinyl, & velour. Got this at an Auto Body Supply store. It is a spray can product. Below are the before and after pictures. Turned out real nice. Just the right "sheen" in my opinion to look absolutley original....not the "just painted" look. I can tell you...one can was only enough to do both panels and the two little panels on either side of the speaker tray. If you were changing colors....better get at least 2 cans...maybe 3.
The SEM paint is great ... My Grabber has it on ... Front Kick panels .. Rear Kick Panels Plastic Seat Backs (Green panels painted black) Door Panels (Blue panels painted Black)
?????? Anyway of fixing brittle plastic? My rear panels have a dusty feel to them? No sure paint would fix that?
Craig, The results looks really great. Like you said, just enough "sheen" to look original. I would also like to hear discussion on Don's question. I have seen some sun baked panels that look pretty rough at car shows, and wondered if they could be "brought back" to look decent. Nice work Craig, I need to keep a log so I know what to do when I finally find a Maverick of my own to restore.... Thanks for the info! Art
Do a search for side panels, kick panels etc. Someone posted very detailed pics about how they restored theirs a while back. They turned out pretty nice compared to the before pics. Honestly, if they are too deteriorated, I don't think you can bring them back if they are dry and flaky. Seth
my panels are out of the car sitting under a tarp on the side of my house...i never even thought that they would get brittle... i better check on them..... but if they are good still i will fix them up and paint them "Painted them with SEM Color Coat Flexible Coating #15243 (Satin Black). On the can it says: Changes or renews color on most flexible & rigid plastics, carpet, vinyl, & velour. Got this at an Auto Body Supply store. It is a spray can product." where did you get this stuff at? checker..autozone..pepboys? thanks
Eastwood carries SEM too ....tried to post a link but it wouldn't work. JCS Toolshed has it online too http://www.jcsonlinetoolshed.com/product.php/11711/0 .
I bought some stuff from my paint supplier. It was great. Didnt have to add anything to it. Just pour it in the gun and spray. I had to paint mine white and it covered extremely well.
I did the same thing Dennis did with my medium poly blue. Worked out very well also. There's less chance of runs and sags with using a small gun and professional pre-mixed dyes. It's very important with plastic redying to make absolutely sure that the part is prepped well prior to shooting it. Clean it well with a brush and a good cleaner that leaves no residue. Go to your local body shop supply and get a product called VINYL PREP to use prior to shooting. It not only gets any imbedded dirt left after cleaning, but conditions the plastic/vinyl to accept the dye better and with much less chance of peeling down the road. All the surfaces in the PoliceMav I did last year look like they were just done yesterday, even the seat covers that get wear from sitting on them.
after prep do you have to primer the pieces first and or would it hurt to do so...maybe the primer would fill small scratchs etc?????
