Hey everyone, I'm currently restoring my interior panels of my car since the prices for good fastback peices are through the roof. The fiberglass rear panels looked like someone took a few bites out of it, with misc cracks and chips along the endge. Well in short I bought a fiberglass repair kit and fixed it well with that and have done a skim coat of bondo and have it almost the way I want it. But after all the sanding, fiberglass, more sanding, bondo and more sanding there is little original texture left. So here's the question..

How can I replicate the grain of the interior so that it looks pretty good? It clearly doesn't need to be perfect or original, but somethign that will look good and blend nicely.

I was going to imprint the primer just before it is dry, but not runny, but don't know of what to use. I was thinking I could press my old headliner or my sailpanel peices on it to imprint it with those, but the grain is different and am looking for an alternative. My dad said maybe like a sponge or if they sell rollers that will imprint the grain on it. Anyone know?

If all else fails I'll just use my headliner or sail panel peices to give it a texture. I'm only doing this to two panels so the other ones won't match, but I just need it to blend well enough.

Thanks!

 

If the 'greenies' have left any around, try wrinkle paint. Eastwood may have some, probably in black only, that you can use for texture. A couple of VERY LIGHT coats will give some type of original look. I made it work on a friend's 65 Fastback that had 6x9 speaker holes.
Jim

 

I just looked at Eastwood's website and they have wrinkle paint but it says for metal only! Would it still work with fiberglass (with primer)? Its just paint right? What could possibly happen...

 

It will work. Make sure the surface is not oily and do it outside not in direct sunlight. You do get sunlight down there?
Jim

 

David,

I haven't had any problems painting interior panels with the same paint used for the metal dash and doors.

FWIW, if you ever do paint flexible items you can use Bulldog paint adhesive promoter prior to painting.

 

Haha we get PLENTY of sun light. Been hot lately. But i have shady areas under cannopy I can use. Thanks everyone for the info! Krinkle paint it is.

 

can you use this
http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?i...emType=PRODUCT
for kick panels?

 

Thats the stuff I was talking about a few post back, they said it will be fine for stuff besides metal. So yes you can.

 

I think that tolex might be the solution. It is the black leather like fabric that guitar amps are covered in. Go to guitar center or something and look at the grain on fener amps. If you like the pattern, you can buy a peice on ebay, or they may even have some hanging aroundand do the imprint thing in the primer and then light topcoats when dry. Hell, if you are handy with a razor, you could cover the panels in the tolex. It is pretty durable and looks ver similar to car interior panels.

I don't know how it will come out, just a thought. Good luck.