Interior painting question

[Mbump00]

Ok here is my question..........What is the best way to take the interior pieces off to paint them. I really dont want to mess anything up. Anyone that has done this already please tell me how you got all the pieces off and didnt mess anything up.
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[TheV6Bird]

Some people don't like to type up the instructions for interior painting because it takes too long, but if you're like me, you're smart enough to type and then SAVE it to use later [img]smile.gif[/img]

In order to take the pieces from my Firebird off, I used a flathead screwdriver to pry up the PW/PL panel. Just use a flathead screwdriver to pry up the stuff, but pry gently. Now for the instructions:

Supplies: Light-grit sandpaper (I used 800-1000 grit), Plastikote Flexible Bumper & Trim Primer (Sandable), Plastikote Bumper & Trim Color (mine was Silver Metallic, FYI), Plastikote Ultimate Enamel, rubbing alcohol, paper towels.

Make sure you do this inside. If you paint outside, you risk bugs and crap getting stuck to the paint, which means you’d have to sand the paint off, and repaint.

1) Take all of the pieces you wish to paint out of the car. Disconnect any switches on those pieces, such as power window/lock switches. You don’t want to paint those.
2) Clean all parts with rubbing alcohol to get all of the crap and Armor-All off of it.
3) Sand the parts down so the surface is rough. It doesn’t have to be really rough, but rough enough so the paint adheres.
4) Wash off sanding dust from parts, dry them, and use alcohol again. You can never get these parts TOO clean.
5) Finally, the spraying begins: When the parts are dry, spray an even coat of primer on all of the parts. Wait 30 minutes to dry. Reapply another coat and wait 30 min for that to dry. I used 3 coats of primer on all of my parts, so I recommend multiple coats to cover all the little nooks and crannies. Wait for 1 hour after final primer coat before going on to step 6.
6) After you’ve waited 1 hour (or longer) for primer to dry, spray on the color layer. I sprayed on 1 coat, waited 30 minutes, and repeated 3 or 4 more times. I used 5 coats of color. Wait 1 hour before going to step 7.
7) After you’ve waited 1 hour (or longer), it’s time for the enamel to protect. Spray on coat, wait 30 minutes, repeat. I used 4 coats of enamel.
8) Now that you are all done painting, just wait overnight (24 hours is recommend, but I was impatient :D ) for your parts to dry off.
9) Once you’re sure all parts are dry, reinstall them.
10) Drive around with tops down so everyone will notice your fly paint job.
11) If ladies ask how you painted it, give props to the author of these instructions, David aka TheV6Bird. This is highly recommended :cool:

NOTE: Some people use enamel, some use clear coat. I used enamel because the guy at Pep-Boys said so, but I forget his reasons. I have no regrets with the enamel.

[Houston F-Body]

The interior pieces are very easy to take out. Just be careful. The power window surround just pops off, I popped them off without even using a tool. The radio surround I took a thin but wide flat head, and in each of the corners, carefully popped it out. The rear speaker grille was extremely simple. I have not yet figured out how to remove the front speaker grilles. Any sugguestions to this would be great!

Post pics when done. I dont have a dig cam or I'd have my pics up.