VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Gauge Panel 1929 Chevrolet

General question about the panel that holds the gauges in the dash. This panel looks as if it is coated (painted) with a type of wrinkle finish (light gray or silver). Anyone out there have any idea's of how to redo this panel to look as new. Like to hear from someone that has done this....Thank You

JIM G,Good question!  The Filling Station lists wrinkle grey paint in its catalog, but last time I checked, a couple of days ago, they were out of stock.  Anybody know who else might carry it?  Or could you use wrinkle black, pretty common they even carry it in the local auto parts store, and place a light coat of regular grey paint over it?  I'm just thinking out loud it will be a while before I redo the panel on my '29 coach.  
1929 Chevrolet: The Most Outstanding Chevrolet In Chevrolet History

Hello.
On my 28 Pick-up and my 29 pheaton I have used black wrinke spray and a coat of regular gray spray over it.
It works very well.
Pictures are from a spare 28 panel





Regards

Arvid

I agree with Bluezone, I have done just what he states.

My experience lies with the '28 vehicles. I've seen gauge panels with a light beige or cream colored base and I've seen others with a light gray or egg shell base color. Both had a random shapped silver/gray flexed (spotted) surface over the base color. Your choice as to which is correct for your usage. I don't believe that a wrinkle or crackle finish is correct and I think what you are seeing as a wrinkle finish is caused by ageing.

Here is how I've restored two such gauge panels for 1928 usage. I painted the base coat with a light cream color and allowed it to dry. (Take the panel out of doors) Next I took a large clean paint brush and dipped it into the thinnest watery silver color paint I could find. Stand away from the panel some distance and shake the paint brush towards the panel until you obtain the spatter effect you're after. It may take a few times of cleaning and repainting the panel to obtain what you want. Once you get the spatter effect like you want it, allow it to dry completely. Finally, paint the entire panel with a clear lacquer.

The panels I restored are not totally like the originals since the silver flex spots do not have the sharp/square shapes that were visible on the original panels. My salvation is that one needs to hold the original against the restored to see the difference and from two feet away they appear identical or at least simular.