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TR2/3/3A Dash Restoration

DornTRoriginal

Jedi Hopeful
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Anyone have some good recommendations for restoring the dash panel? I sprayed some glossy black paint on it and it was terrible so I quickly wiped it off. Is this painted or a sticky backed covering? Stripe and start over? Power coat? what to do? Anyone have a suggestion on how to make the panel look great? Restored instruments that are fabulous, newly covered dash and trim etc. the panel needs to look great! Ideas and suggestions please and thank you!

Dash original.jpg
 
The original finish for TR3A and B is to use black wrinkle paint. Available from TRF and I would expect Moss as well. I have also found it at local stores.
Follow directions and it can produce a very attractive result. I will admit that I have added the use of a heat gun to produce a better result.
 
I used Eastwood black wrinkle paint back in 2005, and it still looks fine. Using a heat gun did the trick.
 
There is also wrinkle black powder coat. I had Fred Thomas do mine about 15 years ago and it still looks great.
 
I used a black wrinkle (I'm pretty sure it was Rust-O-Leum) and cured it in my oven...while my wife was away! :glee:
 
+1 with Art for paint plus heat. There is a gent here on the forum that sells councours quality TR3 cluster rebuilds. He was kind enough to give me his recipe: Preheat oven to 225, Four light coats of wrinkle paint, bake in the oven for one hour, and let it dry for a week. Unfortunately my wife came home before I could get the odor out of the kitchen.........but the gauge cluster still looks "original" after 8 years !
Gordon
 
VHT wrinkle paint, available at most auto parts stores. I did the BGT dash several years ago, and heat is critical. My method was to hang it in front of the fireplace (winter project), and it came out perfect! Wife was happy, too... :wink: Did the valve covers and brake/clutch master cylinder housing as well.

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I, too, used the wrinkle paint out of the can. I believe I bought it at Advance Auto Parts. I just followed the directions on the can ( apparently a novel concept ) and it produced excellent results with even coating and texture.
 
I favor the VHT Wrinkle rattle can for my restorations. It only comes in 4 colors
but I discovered a trick to finish it in any color. Do the wrinkle in black or
gray, then, when it is fully cured, spray the finished product in a light coat
of enamel in whatever color you choose. I did a Morgan plus four panel in
black, then dark brown. So close to factory no one could tell.


 

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My TR3A came with what seems to be a TR2 dash panel: never painted and covered with leather(?). I have an unopened can of wrinkle paint (circa 1998) from Eastwood if any one wants it, as I like the look of what I have!
 
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