So, I've searched and searched and read and read previous threads about prepping interior panels for paint and I see so many different options and ways to go about it that it's left me pretty much just as confused as I was when I started off. This may be in part because of the many different results people are trying to achieve (keep the grain/ditch the grain, strip all the paint/prep existing paint, etc). That said, maybe my best bet would be to let you all know where I'm starting, what I'm wanting to achieve and so on. So here goes...

I'm going from parchment (tan) to black. I'm wanting to keep the grain on the doors for the most part but don't mind sacrificing it a little because I'm not interested in chemically stripping it (too messy and time consuming considering I don't mind losing a little bit of the grain).

For the plastic panels (rear panels), dash and doors, my plan is to clean them to get rid of 40 years of grime and armor all, lightly scuff them with a scotchbrite pad, clean them again to remove any remaining dust and paint them black. I wasn't planning on priming these since it'll be paint on paint but if if you guys think it's manditory to primer the plastic panels I definitely will however I don't think I can prime the doors since I don't want to lose the grain completely. Does this sound like a good approach? Will lacquer thinner work to clean/prep the doors, dash and panels?

Thanks for your suggestions!

 

wash with dishsoap to cut the oil etc....sand with scotch brite wash again...wax and grease remove the parts...use a tack rag paint


now for the plastic parts i suggest an adhesion promoter such as bulldog before applying paint

 

Very nice Fastback!

 

I would recommend replacing the plastic parts with repro black ones. They painting or dying never turns out right and looks bad in short amount of time. The metal is the only thing I would paint.