Repainted dash and console black

I had posted in a few other threads about the odd problem a few of our generation Rivieras seem to exhibit; where the flexible paint coating on some of the plastic panels has deteriorated to the point where the coating was soft, easily damaged with something as soft as a fingernail, and at times becoming even so soft and gooey that one's fingers would leave an impression and stick.

These panels include the "swooshes" on the doors, the instrument panel, and console top.

To correct the problem, I could have spent time getting someone like SEM to color match the "teal" of my interior to repaint the panels, but not only is that paint a bit expensive, but I've found it to not be as durable as I'd like. It's also hard to match these old finishes as they fade or even darken over time.

But black is easy to match

However, I ran across a Rustoleum product, which is a textured plastic paint that has proven to be nearly indestructible.  It is meant to be used on things like exterior plastic furniture, and as such comes in green, white and black.  The green and white of course weren't very helpful, but the black seemed like a good option.

I had tested this 'paint' (which is clearly more of a colored solvent and adhesive) on several panels over the last year, and it has held up perfectly.  It also is very tough.  I took several of the sample panels I had painted and subjected it to reasonable chemical and physical abuse, and it never even showed damage other than dents in the underlying ABS itself.  It really is amazing stuff.

Its texture is less of a 'crinkle' or satin like some textured paints, and is more of a 'sanded' finish which some may not like, but it hides defects and blemishes really well and has a really interesting sheen.

The product is:

http://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/specialty/textured-paint-for-plastic-spray/





I also found that in prepping for the paint, the following was a great way to strip off the old flexible coating:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t10195-stripping-paint-from-interior-painted-plastic-castrol-super-clean?highlight=black+interior


Following are some photos of the finished work.  I also installed the 1996 real wood (only year it was real wood from what I understand) shifter surround.

I think it turned out really well, and reminds me of the transition to the black instrument dash face Buick did in 1965.

Also removed the "CD storage" pop out drawer module in the console and replaced it with a storage cubby.

I used the following, which is supposedly a converter to single DIN for a 2002-2008 Audi A4 and S4 Models.  I had to rig up some rods in the rear and JB-Weld the heck out of it, but the size is an exact fit. So if you are thinking of adding a storage cubby, I'd recommend this one.

Model: BKAU2


The kit is about $10, and you only need the cubby itself.  The frame isn't necessary.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220724189733?item=220724189733&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME:L:OC:US:3160&vxp=mtr

Very nice. I'm thinking of doing something similar to break up the monotony of my tan interior. Did you remove the swooshes from the doors or are they not removable?

I removed all the pieces to paint them.  The "swooshes" are removable, but you have to be very careful because the plastic pins will easily break off when you try to remove the push on metal nuts, and often already are broken. I ended up with a stack of them from wrecking yards to cobble together two good ones.


Four years and about 50k miles later, the paint has held up completely and looks just as it did when I first painted it.

Nice. I'm planning to repaint my dash also and I might use Rustoleum.

Looks good, Al. I kind of wonder what that might look like in "brushed nickel" finish instead of black.

Those push on nuts, I found that if you can get a pair of electronic nippers under an edge you can cut them in 2 places and then they are off. Need a good set of cheap nippers, they are intended for copper so cutting those steel nuts can do them in if you have enough of them to cut. Example, see https://www.amazon.co.uk/Piergiacomi-PG-TRE03NB-Flush-Cutter-138mm/dp/B003UQWJAA