Experience Painting a Black Padded Dash to Brown?

[SyncroHead]

I'd like to get people's experience in painting or dying a black fully padded Vanagon dash to brown.

I've read numerous threads here and also in FB groups with people advising painting the padded dash is a bad idea. What lacks is ANYONE actually doing it. I'd love to hear people's actual experiences instead of expectations. My expectations are actually this is likely a bad idea, but again, I'd rather hear someone's experience rather than go by even my own conjecture.

So, has anyone painted or dyed a black dash to brown? How did that work out?


Thanks!

Jim Davis
(For the record the brown dash is in a 1985 Westy and is deeply cracked well beyond salvation.)
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[ALIKA T3]

I`m sure it can be done with vinyl paint.
I have seen it done with car paint and it holds up well but looks shitty.

Some of the brown plastic trim was painted by VW anyway... The rear upper vent in the Westy too. Don`t feel bad, just use good paint.
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[speedster]

Did the headliner and visors in a Volvo p1800. I used pro vinyl paint in a hvlp gun. Looked awesome and held up well. Biggest thing is getting the vinyl really clean and give plenty of time to dry after cleaning.

Also had a friend that did the seats and door cards in a squareback. Worked well there too but he didn't change the color.

[markswagen]

change the whole lot out for black, the van will look a LOT better for it, trust me.
been there done that, also putting a black pad on a brown dash, doesn't look as bad as i thought it would.

i had everything i needed that day, customer decided he wanted to try a black pad on top of the brown dash, he was unhappy with the idea of my changing the VIN number from one dash to the other.
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[djkeev]

Most who have painted their dash have done so along with an attempted crack repair.

Usually the crack repair is poor and the paint job is poor.
The paint is often the wrong color and glossy, the visual is poor at best.

There is a product available called SEM Color Coat .....

https://www.semproducts.com/product/color-coattm-aerosols

This is a very good product but can you find the brown you want?

Good luck, keep us updated.

Dave
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[DuncanS]

I personally much prefer the brown and want to do the same thing.

The top portion of the door is real brown leather along with the shift and e brake boot. Clock, heater duct cover is also brown as well as DS map tray. PS will get painted at same time.

Duncan

[Tbob]

I have painted both a dash and motorcycle backrest. Used the SEM paint, purchased at a local auto paint and supply store. I painted both black, so unfortunately I cannot answer exactly the question you asked. I painted the dash in less than ideal circumstances, 20 years ago, and it has been peeling for about the last 10 years, but I painted it when I felt it was too cold, about 40 degrees. And the truck lives outside every day of it's life. So I felt it worked well for the circumstances. I painted a special motorcycle backrest for a BMW K100 black, also. It was a champagne color. Used the same brand, SEM. Did it about 10 years ago. It looks great, I even had a small section of my paint job that was too thick, and bordered on a run. Even that still looks great. The motorcycle doesn't sit outside, tho.
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[felixbobcat]

I've done the color change.

Here's my write up on how to do it and some photos of how it turned out.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=735299&highlight=

[Jake de Villiers]

How does it look five or ten years later?
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[IdahoDoug]

I used the SEM vinyl dye and posted a thread here somewhere on it. My van sat out in the Georgia sun for 20 years and the black had dulled and faded. The product went on beautifully, it strikes a factory balance between satin/low brightness, and literally looks like a new padded dash. I also used it on my headliner to paint over the glue from the backing coming through to look like tobacco staining (van never smoked in - knew the original owner) and the white SEM easily covered.

My van sits outside year round and there is absolutely no sign of it aging, - still looks as fresh as the day I did it.

Based on that experience, I have no doubt the SEM would make a black dash brown, or any color you choose. It's specifically designed to do that and they designed it to be so durable you can change vinyl seat colors. Considering the abrasion, stretching, spills, and such that are part of certifying for that use, it is no wonder my headliner and dash were child's play for the product.
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[felixbobcat]

I did use SEM Paints and Prep. Looks great after 10 months.

[SyncroHead]

[SyncroHead]

[felixbobcat]

[CanStan]

I can't help with dye or paint suggestions, but it might be cheaper and easier to find a dash the colour you want. I parted out a few Vanagons over the years, and I couldn't even give away nice dashes. I tried for several years. Then they went to the dump. Most people aren't willing to put in the work to completely remove theirs just to put a nicer one in, so I suspect there are a lot from junked vans kicking around. Just a thought.

[SyncroHead]