khans
01-01-2008, 11:25 PM
I apologize for the crappy photos, but this will probably help newbies do a cheap and pretty easy first mod. The total cost of this was less than $20 and it took me a couple of days. :up:
First I made a stop at Advanced Auto and picked up all of my paint. I used Dupli-Color: Self-Etching Primer (adhesion promoter), Sandable Primer, and Acrylic Enamel color and clear coat. I also got some 400, 800, and 1000 grit sandpaper.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00020.jpg
First I started out by removing all of the parts from my xD. I removed the top part (by the vents and head unit) first. I pulled up on the lower right and lower left corners until they popped out, then removed the plug from the clock.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00015.jpg
I removed the middle piece second (very hard to pop out, I actually had to use a small flat head screwdriver and slowly work my way around until I could pull it off. I then had to remove the plugs to the dials. I disconnected the wires first, the plastic pieces second.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00014.jpg
The third piece requires you to unscrew the shift knob. I removed that and unhooked the plastic piece. I found it easiest when removing and re-inserting this piece to put the car in a different gear than Park so the metal of the knob didn't cut into the plastic. I removed it from the shifter part and moved up towards the cupholders. There is a black plastic piece around where the shift knob goes. This piece is fairly flexible and can be removed from the main part fairly easily. Don't lose this.
I used blue painters tape to tape off around the dials, the vents, the hazard/clock display, clips on the back, anything that had wires or anything plugged into it. Make sure to cover these VERY WELL!!! I put a layer of water on a plate and wet the 400 grit sandpaper and took to the plastic. I sanded just enough to remove the shine and rough up the surface a little. Then I wiped off the surface with a dry paper towel to make sure all of the dust was off and it was dry. Then I used the Self-Etching Primer and sprayed a light coat over all of the pieces. I waited about 30 minutes and then sprayed another light coat. After that had time to dry, I used the 800 grit sandpaper and wet sanded it lightly until it felt smooth.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00001.jpg
I then used the Sandable Primer and sprayed 3 VERY light coats. After each had time to dry, I lightly wet sanded the surface with 800 grit sandpaper again, drying with a paper towel after each wet sanding.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00002.jpg
I then used the colored enamel (I used Gloss White) and sprayed a light coat completely over each part. You need to be sure to spray on the insides of the edges, corners, and the outer sides, NOT just the front. It's important to be thorough in order to get an even color and coating over the entire piece. I sprayed 5 light coats on each piece, lightly wet sanding with 1000 grit sandpaper after each coat.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00003.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00005.jpg
Then I sprayed 2 light coats of the clear enamel. After these dried, I lightly wet sanded it with 1000 grit sandpaper again. Finally I put on 1 medium coat of of clear enamel, allowing drying time for each. I did NOT sand this afterwards. It turned out to be pretty smooth and have a dull shine to it.
After it's had a couple of hours to dry, I carefully removed the painters tape. I actually had a few places where I hadn't covered enough with tape, so I used paint remover and a Q-tip to remove the paint from specific areas. Before re-inserting the pieces, be sure to put the black plastic piece on by the shifter area. Put these back in your car the same way you removed them.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00007.jpg
I decided to do some accent pinstriping on the pieces. I used 1/8" red ProStripe pinstriping tape. I cut off a long strip (it's a 40' strip, so I had plenty) and attached the piece with about 1" of hang over on edge of the painted piece. I pulled the tape slightly taught and removed the paper from the sticky side of the tape. I pulled it with my right hand and slowly moved my left fingers over the tape in the shape and distance from the edge as needed.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00009.jpg
Finished:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00016-1.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00018-1.jpg
There you go! :up:
First I made a stop at Advanced Auto and picked up all of my paint. I used Dupli-Color: Self-Etching Primer (adhesion promoter), Sandable Primer, and Acrylic Enamel color and clear coat. I also got some 400, 800, and 1000 grit sandpaper.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00020.jpg
First I started out by removing all of the parts from my xD. I removed the top part (by the vents and head unit) first. I pulled up on the lower right and lower left corners until they popped out, then removed the plug from the clock.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00015.jpg
I removed the middle piece second (very hard to pop out, I actually had to use a small flat head screwdriver and slowly work my way around until I could pull it off. I then had to remove the plugs to the dials. I disconnected the wires first, the plastic pieces second.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00014.jpg
The third piece requires you to unscrew the shift knob. I removed that and unhooked the plastic piece. I found it easiest when removing and re-inserting this piece to put the car in a different gear than Park so the metal of the knob didn't cut into the plastic. I removed it from the shifter part and moved up towards the cupholders. There is a black plastic piece around where the shift knob goes. This piece is fairly flexible and can be removed from the main part fairly easily. Don't lose this.
I used blue painters tape to tape off around the dials, the vents, the hazard/clock display, clips on the back, anything that had wires or anything plugged into it. Make sure to cover these VERY WELL!!! I put a layer of water on a plate and wet the 400 grit sandpaper and took to the plastic. I sanded just enough to remove the shine and rough up the surface a little. Then I wiped off the surface with a dry paper towel to make sure all of the dust was off and it was dry. Then I used the Self-Etching Primer and sprayed a light coat over all of the pieces. I waited about 30 minutes and then sprayed another light coat. After that had time to dry, I used the 800 grit sandpaper and wet sanded it lightly until it felt smooth.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00001.jpg
I then used the Sandable Primer and sprayed 3 VERY light coats. After each had time to dry, I lightly wet sanded the surface with 800 grit sandpaper again, drying with a paper towel after each wet sanding.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00002.jpg
I then used the colored enamel (I used Gloss White) and sprayed a light coat completely over each part. You need to be sure to spray on the insides of the edges, corners, and the outer sides, NOT just the front. It's important to be thorough in order to get an even color and coating over the entire piece. I sprayed 5 light coats on each piece, lightly wet sanding with 1000 grit sandpaper after each coat.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00003.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00005.jpg
Then I sprayed 2 light coats of the clear enamel. After these dried, I lightly wet sanded it with 1000 grit sandpaper again. Finally I put on 1 medium coat of of clear enamel, allowing drying time for each. I did NOT sand this afterwards. It turned out to be pretty smooth and have a dull shine to it.
After it's had a couple of hours to dry, I carefully removed the painters tape. I actually had a few places where I hadn't covered enough with tape, so I used paint remover and a Q-tip to remove the paint from specific areas. Before re-inserting the pieces, be sure to put the black plastic piece on by the shifter area. Put these back in your car the same way you removed them.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00007.jpg
I decided to do some accent pinstriping on the pieces. I used 1/8" red ProStripe pinstriping tape. I cut off a long strip (it's a 40' strip, so I had plenty) and attached the piece with about 1" of hang over on edge of the painted piece. I pulled the tape slightly taught and removed the paper from the sticky side of the tape. I pulled it with my right hand and slowly moved my left fingers over the tape in the shape and distance from the edge as needed.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00009.jpg
Finished:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00016-1.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd297/khansen2005/Mods/IMG00018-1.jpg
There you go! :up: