How to Paint GMC Gauge Bezel

[badpeanut]

The face of GMC gauge bezels are painted a contrasting color to the interior (instead of black like on the Chevys). What is the best way to replicate this? Find a close rattle can color? Buy a chrome bezel (don't have to worry about fully covering the black)? Use blue painters tape for masking?

I'd like to hear from anybody who has done this before I risk a $50 bezel.

[71blksuper4x4]

I would first try a close rattle can first depending on your color. It is not hard to paint the black area. What I do when I paint 67-68 bezels is paint the silver first, then I use masking tape and cover all of the silver areas, then I use an exacto knife around all the gauges. Make sure you have new razor blades for the knife, and cut with not a lot of pressure around them. Then it's time to shoot. I usually spray Krylon fusion, because it's made for plastics, but the chances of you finding a really close color in fusion is slim. What I would do in your case is get some Bulldog adhesion promoter once you mask off everything and mist coat where you want paint, then wait 10-15 min. and spray your color in mist coats. You don't want to rush the color as you can make the grain disappear. Trevor

[71blksuper4x4]

If you use blue painter's tape, make sure you get 3m. The cheaper stuff doesn't stick very good at all, and you don't want paint to get under it. Trevor

[71blksuper4x4]

Here's an example of a painted dash I did:

[badpeanut]

71blksuper4x4, that looks really nice! Is the silver Krylon fusion also?

Attached is a picture of my dash and how the chrome looks tired. I wonder how it would look if I just painted my chrome areas with silver like the '67-'68 you pictured?

[kelsfine69]

I did this on my 69 GMC bezel (green). The old one was starting to show its age. I took a "All Chrome" bezel and started to mask of the chrome. Unfortunately it is almost impossible to do the little chrome lip but do the best you can. I then sprayed with the closest rattle can color green I could find and it was a 99% match. 5 min after spraying I took the masking tape off and wiped the paint off the chrome rings with solvent(Brake Clean or Varsol) carefully before the paint dries and is still soft. Using a nice lint free rag(t-shirt). It takes time but I was picky(OK I'm very picky) and I think it turned out great. I can post pics if you want when I get home

[71blksuper4x4]

I didn't have an old silver painted bezel to go from until I had go my NOS Cheyenne Super woodgrain bezel to compare to. This was painted before that, Krylon fusion doesn't make a close match to that color but it was the closest I could find in fusion to paint it. I have since painted another bezel that matches the silver perfect. It is SEM silver. When you spray it though, mist coat it until it reaches a good uniform color, then pull back from the bezel (after dry) and spray almost a foot away. This will create the slight texture the original silver bezels have. I will try and get pics of it to compare the colors to. Trevor

[71blksuper4x4]

I forgot to mention, the letters on the lights and wiper are redone with a silver paint pen/marker. Trevor

[71blksuper4x4]

Oh, and I didn't use blue painter's tape, I used 2" 3m masking tape on the ones I have painted. Trevor

[kelsfine69]

Here ya go.... the last one is the factory original

[special-K]

The bezel color matches the interior and contrasts the exterior,right?I get paint mixed to match made up in a spray can.If you mask over the openings,then cut tape outside the lip it works pretty well.I`ve wiped a light amount of Vaseline across the lettering then wipe it off immediately after painting.