Restoring center console plate on 65

[Ron H.]

Any suggestion on a vendor who can restore the center console shifter plate on a 65 ? The metal trim is acceptible, but the color insert needs to be redone ?

[Russ S.]

Re: Restoring center console plate on 65

mask it off and spray paint it.It's not that bad to do.

[Enzo C.]

Re: Restoring center console plate on 65

Hi Ron, I just did mine this past winter... It was a tedious job but I was very satisfied when complete.... Be care ful not to get paint in the raceways as I was deducted at a regional for paint in that area. All in all its about a 5 hour job.

[Ron H.]

Re: Restoring center console plate on 65

Where did you find the correct paint to use ?

[Enzo C.]

Re: Restoring center console plate on 65

Ron, the place where I bought my paint is Vinyl Industrial paints..734-284-3536... Great products and nice people

[Ed S.]

Re: Restoring center console plate on 65

Any suggestion on a vendor who can restore the center console shifter plate on a 65 ? The metal trim is acceptible, but the color insert needs to be redone ?

Ron - are you asking about restoring just the shift pattern plate or the entire console? I understand your question to be just about the plate - it appears some replies are addressing the entire painted area of the console.

I did my entire console in my 64, fresh chrome, painted insert area, ash tray & shift pattern. I can tell you this - vendor repro shift patterns do not look like the originals - for one, the font on the numbers is different and skinnier. I refurbished and reused my original. It was in good condition - meaning no scratches. After heating it with a blow dryer I carefully peeled it off with a long thin exacto blade. Have to be careful here - it is thin and will bend easy. Removing the old glue and black paint was easy - mineral spirits. To get the pattern & numbers back I sprayed it with semi gloss black and then used a plastic kitchen pot scraper and used it as a squeegee - it got the black over-spray off and left the paint in the recessed areas. After it dried I had to do a bit of final cleaning up of black paint with a cue tip dipped in mineral spirits.

[Alan D.]

Re: Restoring center console plate on 65

And what did you use for the clear top covering?
Here are some examples;

[Ed S.]

Re: Restoring center console plate on 65

Alan -
Your pics illustrate exactly what I was referring to -- regarding font (and thickness of lines).

As for your question, "what do you use to clean the top cover" - not sure I know what you mean or what the issue is. I will admit that the original in you pics look yellowed from age (or nicotine). I didn't have that problem. The brushed aluminum cleans up easily with Windex. Do note that repros have a plastic film protective cover on them that should be removed.

[Ron H.]

Re: Restoring center console plate on 65

I am looking to redo the entire plate, not just the shift pattern. My interior is red, and the red portion of the console is scratched and pitted. The outside rails are in decent condition. The shift pattern is just OK, and will probably be replaced.

[Ron H.]

Re: Restoring center console plate on 65

And what did you use for the clear top covering?
Here are some examples;

Here is my pattern.

[Alan D.]

Re: Restoring center console plate on 65

Ed, the one on marked original has a clear coat over it. A little thicker then just a rattle can clear. Now none of my NOS or service replacement plates have any coating on them, so suspect what everyone is seeing are service replacements. The original on my car has a clear top coat, however that is only one example. It's on a Mar64 car which I have owned since 67 and the original member is an NCRS member.
Interested to hear from others on subject.

[Gary B.]

Re: Restoring center console plate on 65

Alan,

And just to warn others, NOS plates have four tabs on the back and I think the edge is curve back on all sides. Original plates were not like that. So no point in paying $$$ for an NOS in my opinion. Not to mention the font not matching originals.

Gary

[Enzo C.]

Re: Restoring center console plate on 65

Hi Gary, just a note that the shift plates with 4 tabs are for 63 only... I was taught a leason on that when I purchased one for my 67

[Gary B.]

Re: Restoring center console plate on 65

Enzo,

Now I remember that. About 10 years ago I purchased an NOS example to use on my '66. As soon as I saw the tabs and the font, I knew it wasn't going to work and I resold it. At a loss.

Gary

[R N.]

Re: Restoring center console plate on 65

Richard Fortier has these on his list and from what he told me he will make them if he has enough interest. He has made a few of samples and they will be 100% spot on and should pass judging. The reproductions are not "imbossed" like the originals are. Richard's will be.