ok of all of the people who have custom painted their interiors who's actually is cracking or just looks like s**t? Reason for this is I painted my interior red a while back in the summer, but wanted it to look the same as the exterior. Recently some stupid mother fiznucker side swiped me dented my pass. side of the ride and put me on the median ($3000 damage got a bogus ass cavalier rental car). Anyways I brought it into the body shop where this guy Al does a lot of custom jobs, and asked if he would paint my interior with the exterior paint. Dude started flippin out like I shouldn't do it because it's gonna have stress cracks and will look like crap in a few weeks. I was pissed off! Turns out that he doesn't want any part in doing the interior of my ride! Ok I need to stop ramblin' and get to the point,has anyone had problems with their interiors painted with exterior automotive paint? What was the process you used when doing so? Holla back!

 

I recently talked to a guy about repainting my dash with exterior automotive paint and he told me the same thing that guy told you. That I would have to worry about stress cracks.

He said he would still do it, but that he could get some interior paint and still put it on with a spray gun to make it look good!!!!

 

I painted my interior with automotive paint last summer, as so did Bat Lord. Except with his..he had a shop do it. I did myself with a gun and compressor. If you get an experienced painter doing it, then you should be fine and go without any stress marks. It all depends on the prep work and the type of paint they use. If you do it the right way right from the beginning, then not only will your dash have that "Fiberglassed" look, but it will also last for years on end. You have to take care of it like it was your exterior as well. This means waxing and buffing and making sure that it stays strong and shiney.

If any shops tell you that they can't do interiors with automotive paint, then shop somewhere else. That just means they don't have all the experience to doing the right kind of paint jobs, and might screw your ride up. wink.gif Good luck!

 

Ok here is the deal. Like Low said you must take care of it like it was the outside of your car. The dash must be properly sanded down and sprayed with a primer that is made especially for problemed plastic (i.e. our dash) with this primer what it does is weakens the plastic just a bit for the primer to bond with the plastic and then you base coat clear coat like you would with any other part. If the proper primer is used and the right steps are taken for preping the paint will last forever also the paint,primer and clear coat all must have a flexible element in it to allow the paint to flex with the plastic or else it will crack but in no way shape or form should a body shop tell you it can't be done. Also you have to keep in mind that the dash is not exposed to the elements the outside is, the UV rays are cut down because of the factory tint on the windows no road salt or grime and no acid rain will bother it so don't worry and get it done mine has been done for almost 2 years and I did it myself and no chips, cracks or fading.

 

I went to 10+ different shops in the LA area. NONE of they would do my interior either. They all said the same thing. It would crack over time....

So I just did mine myself with normal Spray paint.

 

it's so weird why shops say this, that just means they don't know what they're doing... yes I had a shop do mine, and it's been almost 2 years now and no cracking or fading, you have to wax it or at least show and shine every time you wash it, that will keep it perfect... but if you truly want to match the exterior color I'm sorry but only thru a shop can you do this... (2lo is a different story cause he knows how to paint he's been doing it all his life, so he can match it), but not all of us have that expertise, I say just try another shop... it's weird here in MIAMI there's at least 5 of the top of my head that will do it...