Painting Interior - How to remove panels?

[everythingzen017]

I painted my interior parts that go over the AC vents and the center with the radio, but i still want to paint the piece that goes over the speedometer area, and i want to paint the piece on the doors that is over the door handles and stuff. not the part on the door that has the window switch and side view mirror switch (i know alot of people do that one)but i want to do the piece right after it, the next one that has the door handle through it, and i can't seem to figure out how to get it all off!!! all input would be appreciated, and pictures would be great too! thanks!

[97chevycamaro]

dont paint it, give me your old pieces and paint my old pieces ;) :cool:

[EternalVertigo]

the door handle piece is really easy. you gotta take the screw out in the middle of the panel. then have the door unlocked and slide the piece with the orange sticker out. pop the control panel out and dettach it. the just slide the door handle panel out. i dont think you should have a problem.

[TrixTeR]

i've taken mine out about 3 times but i'm not sure if i can remember all the steps to taking out the door piece (for cars with power locks/windows anyway):

1. unscrew the middle screw (should be above the handle i think)
2. there should be a screw that goes up verticle into the piece, so check below the door handle area for it... not sure how else to describe it.
3. pop out the window/door lock switch deally and unplug all of that stuff.
4. pop out the door lock piece.
5. unplug the little light at the top and you should be golden.

[AlienInv8r]

The part around the speedo takes a bit of twisting to get out. You hafta take out those two screws at the top first. Then I would suggest lowering the steering column to give you some more room up top there to get it loose. There are, I believe, two friction clips along the bottom near the corners you will hafta yank out some. Then it's just a matter of twisting and contorting it to get it out. I moved it bit by bit, and would adjust the steering wheel in different ways trying to see which let it slide the easiest. The steering column adjuster lever is hard to get around, I scratched my paint some when I put the piece back in because of that thing. It just takes a lot of twisting and a lil patience to get it in and out.

[everythingzen017]

alright, thanks guys, i really appreciate the input, it sounds like you pull the pieces off like i thought, but i didn't wanna pull off all my pieces and come to find out i ripped my car apart, lol... i'll be taken them out prolly this weekend, so thanks for all the input!

[silvachris1]

The one around the steering column is actually pretty easy. You could lower the column, like sugguested above, but there's another way. Take the two 7mm bolts out of the top, then pull the lower part of the trim toward you, until the plastic hits the steering column and the clips have let go of the dash. Then you can look down behind it and see the 4 clips that go on the plastic. They are about 1 inch long, and here's the kicker, they just screw onto a stud on the back of that trim. Unscrew all 4 of them and the trim should pull right up with little resistance. Then when the paintwork is done, slide it back in place, screw the clips back on carefully, and push the trim back in place. The clips will lock in place like it was when you started, then just put the two 7mm bolts back in. That's how I do it. I've taken that thing out now aobut 5 times. Hehehe. What all are you going to paint. I painted the radio bezel, the gauge cluster trim, driver and passenger side vent trim, the driver and passenger window/lock control trim, and the tiny box under the heat/ac control (like 1"x2" wide). Good luck man.