E-Bodies.org Cuda Challenger Forum

This is mine. Not 100% correct but pretty close. Maybe you can get some ideas for yours from these pics to help you decide what you might like.

Thanks I have some rally silver from Eastwood that I'll use for the bottom shaft.  Thanks

Steering columns where painted with a suede paint in the early years. It had a slight texture to it. I think they did away with that by 73. My column didn't show any texture. I used SEM Trim black to repainted it. The attaching plate on the bottom and the attaching bracket on the upper end should be gloss black. The coupler and shaft were typically painted black.

The brake pedal was sprayed black on the bottom. The upper part was left bare. 4-speed pedals have a distinct paint line. The auto brake pedal just fades from black to bare metal.

You don't have to go crazy with all the other parts but I wouldn't leave them grungy looking. Just buy a couple gallons of EvapoRust and soak that e-brake mechanism. It will get all the rust off of it and you won't have to lift a finger.

You can spray a lot of the small brackets black, however it can easily start looking like you took a black spray bomb to the entire car. That will look cheap IMO. Try some different paint finishes. Contrast between parts looks better. Just my opinion.

Yes, normally you only see the lower section of the pedal. 

So I'm debating whether or not I should paint my seat belt buckles and covers?

I have everything cleaned up the best I can with sem soap.  I have some black Laundo sem paint...so what do you think?

The covers for the front seat belts are almost like a rubberized surface.  I'm not sure if sem Paint is the best idea. Maybe I should just be content and move on?

The actual seat belt buckle looks pretty good but again I'm pretty uptight so I was thinking I should just paint it but maybe I should leave this alone too?

Any advice?

Thanks

Neil

Sorry I have more questions. Just to confirm it's okay to use the plastic adhesion promoter and sem paint on trim such as the ones in this picture?

I was also planning to use it on the door panels, kick panels, console, steering wheel cover and seat trim shown in the pictures.  I was just reading that SEM adhesion promoter cannot be used on ABS plastic so I wasn't certain.

Thanks

Clean, clean and more clean.  That is the real ticket to getting paint to work well.  I clean my stuff with a high alkaline dish soap like Dawn but I think SEM makes a soap too.  Wash and blow dry everything really well.  Then do not touch it with your bare hands.

I think I would go with vinyl paint, A parts store that mixes paint can mix some up and put it in A rattle can if they don't already have it on the shelf.  :alan2cents:

Thanks guys. I'm going to go and wash everything a couple more times as I only washed the pieces thoroughly once.  I'll use gloves as I heard that adhesion promoter will cling to oil.

Thanks again.

Neil

Both will work....  SEM Black Landua on plastic or rubber parts and the SEM Trim black on the metal parts is the norm.  So I would use Trim Black if using rattle car to paint those interior metal trim parts.  But really, they both look really good and will work.

I paint mine with a custom mix automotive paint that I made (over black epoxy).  But it's way overkill for an interior piece.

 :bradsthumb: Cody!

 :iagree:  Landau on plastic and Trim Black on metal/rubber and exterior stuff.  They are really close in color.  The Trim Black is designed for exterior use. 

The trim paint turned out excellent. As for the panels with the black Landau I did run into some issues with the rattle can spattering.  But I was able to make it happen.

I did get it to look pretty good even though I do see imperfections here and there. So my question is can I use some 600 grit and try to lightly clean up areas or should I just be content with what I got?  I've never used this paint before.

Thanks

I've tried fixing small imperfections before only to make the issue worse. Then you end up trying to redo the part three times because something else happens. I haven't seen the issue so I can't say what I'd do for sure.

I used the sem prep soap and my steering wheel literally looks brand new.

The more I think about it I'm not going to mess with the imperfections cuz I'm worried that I will have problems like you did Darren which is not fun.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to try that clear though because it will wipe up so easily.

Thanks again for everything.

Neil

Only 1970 got the lock out tube arm if you were a floor shift column.  1971 and up do not have the lock out tube arm on the floor shift columns.

Thanks Cody.  Really appreciate the help.

I bought this piece of foam to keep dust and heat out of the column.  Should I just tuck it up in there?  I can tuck it more, I just started it to show you.

Thanks

Dust boot goes above the lower bearing.

Yes, the dust boot goes inside the column above the bearing.  But since you are doing a later column there might be some small difference that I'm not aware of yet.  I've not a seen a dust boot like that either.  But it should work perfectly.

Yes, shove the foam in and then put the plastic back on.