Vinyl paint for LJ dash pads

I picked up a light brown dash pad in excellent condition for my LJ XU1 as my original black one currently fitted to the car has a crack in the middle that is quite deep (5mm). I'm fishing around for advice as to the process to paint it black. Do I use the pressure pack vinyl spray from autobarn or is there an industrial version used by upholsterers which is more durable as want it done right.

I hear a lot of people using VHT vinyl spray can black with good results

Ok thanks mate. 

I hear a lot of people using VHT vinyl spray can black with good results

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Just make sure you prep it right get it clean

Hey mate I just painted my dash and used product called SEM color coat I got from a paintshop. Code is 15016 LANDAU BLACK. I painted my all the dash console door handles parcel shelf and it all turned out awesome. Its pricey at around $150 litre but the finish was worth it. Also repaired my dash where rats had chewed a hole with Q bond. Hope this helps

I used VHT on my hood lining & visors 20 years ago, still looks as good as the day I sprayed it.

I've had great success using the cheap Bunnings primer ($3) & their slightly dearer ($8.30) satin black.

Scrub thoroughly with soapy water to remove all traces of Armourall, put it in the sun & apply the paint in light (dust) coats.

Satin black looks really close to the original finish . Gloss black looks like shite.

VHT for me used it plenty of times lasts well, great stuff.

got my dash  and glove box pad recovered..$450 and my dash was rooted with 4 large cracks in it

that armourall is hard to remove ..you going to spray your glove box pad to?

I've been advised that this is the wise thing to do when I paint the dash however I had someone provide me with an unusual alternative suggestion yesterday and said to leave my dash alone as the car is an unmolsted LJ XU1 (apart from paint colour change in 1978) everything else is original including original carpets, boot/engine bay has never been painted. Reckons it will be worth more if left alone. I'm so confused by this 'To restore or not to restore' driving me crazy.

Its had a colour change
Restore your crash pad its your car

I've been advised that this is the wise thing to do when I paint the dash however I had someone provide me with an unusual alternative suggestion yesterday and said to leave my dash alone as the car is an unmolsted LJ XU1 (apart from paint colour change in 1978) everything else is original including original carpets, boot/engine bay has never been painted. Reckons it will be worth more if left alone. I'm so confused by this 'To restore or not to restore' driving me crazy.

It's only a dash pad. Change it out for a better one but wrap up the original pad and store it somewhere cool and dry. Take before and after pics for future reference.

I'm with Dave above.

I agree. Who wants to look at an ugly crack in a dash and be impressed by its originality. I agree with leaving things alone to a certain point and that point is the debatable area amongst certain classic car owners (us). There must be a crowd out there that likes the original 'used not abused' look otherwise they wouldn't be displaying and promoting the 'Barn Find' concept and showing these cars with all the grime still on them. This topic has been flogged before but if you were spending up to 100k for an XU1, which one would grab your interest more. A mint restored one or a barn find one. 

Both, providing the mint restored 1, had original restored parts on it. There comes a time when cars, or their parts need restoration & I'm saying "correct" restoration ! I've been working on my own parts restoration business for a while now, & trust me, you can spend a lot of time restoring parts correctly. So the factory finnish zincing, hydroblasting & a few little things to come, are the specialty. In the next few weeks, i could either post some pictures, have to get Dave to help me to figure out how to do it, or i can preferably text them, via the work mobile. I have a number of parts to photograph still. Always plenty to do. I'm in Sunny Queensland by the way. Sorry about the thread steal MFM, Gary.

Ps, sorry Dave surprise, you get the job mate.

No worries mate. I don't get offender by sh...t like that. Good to see someone else making the parts we need.

A bit off track but I saw the results of some trim surround panels that were, I think, vinyl dipped, for internal trim on a hotrod.  Looked just like timber and came up a treat.  Cheers Ron

Edited by Cook, 10 December 2019 - 01:37 PM.