1) can the grey plastic in the door cards (the two bars) be disassembled and later reinstalled? I'm wanting to paint mine, but not sure how to get the color on the back sides.

2) if I remove the speedo and tach assemblies from my steering column (nav dash), can I drive the car with the assembly unplugged without throwing any permanent codes? Same purpose-wanting to paint them (at least the chrome rings) and need to leave them uninstalled until we'll cured, but may need to drive the car while they are off.

 

1) Yes and No, you can remove the doorcards and diseasemble then BUT the grey plastic parts are melted to the doorcards. so you have to drill out those melted points and later glue it back together.

2) Can't help you with this one, sorry.

 

If you get any codes while driving without the instrument clusters, I can clear them for you

Bryan

 

The door panels will come apart, but you’ll have to grind the plastic welds and plastic “rivet” heads to separate them. If you leave the posts intact, you should be able to use screws and washers to reattach the trim after you paint it.

What part do you want to paint, and what color are they now? I’ve read a few threads where painting alloy patina trim ends up with lifting problems because that finish is a decal or coating and not regular paint.

A great idea someone recently posted was filling the silver door handle/armrest structure with expanding foam to get rid of the hollow feeling and sound.

 

I've got the alloy patina color. The threads you have read are correct. I haven't had a chance to write up my experience yet, but I discovered this when painting my dash panels. I had roughed up the finish with a soda blast, and had the coating lift off in most places. Where it held tight through the blasting, I hand sanded to feather the edges, thinking it could stay like well adhered old paint.

I was wrong. It would crack like glass when the paint dried. All of that finish needs to be completely removed.

On the doors, I'm planning to paint all that is silver/grey. Doing most in Hyper Blue, but may do the handle/armrest portion in red. Trying to bring the red accent color into the interior, but not sure if the armrests will be too much. I don't like the way the body color door cards still have the silver color handles. I'll decide what to do once I have time to pull the cards off. I'm not taking anything else off until I can reinstall what is already painted, so I have some more workspace.

I appreciate the info on the removal process. Thanks!

 

Thanks, Bryan. I was pretty sure you could, and I don't think it will cause any severe issues, since as I understand from all my research about getting rid of NAV, the odometer readings are kept elsewhere in the electronics. But I thought I would ask this time BEFORE I did something that created a code that I would need you to clear. 🤣

 

If your talking about door panels you can remove the colored trim, and reinstall. I have done it but I used glue to hold the colored parts back to the door panels. That was three years ago with no problems.

 

I like that idea....I might have to try it

Bryan

 

Here are pics from the original thread