psbjames1970

Wondering if there is a way to DIY cover and/or paint the dash.

I want to carry the red/back two tone to the dash (make the lower part of the dash red.

Any ideas w/o going professional.

nzarnow

Here ya go man:



You are so money and you don't even know it!

Seriously though, why change an already beautiful interior?

psbjames1970

When I saw the RX-8 the first time (in 2002) at the Edmonton car show. They had a yellow one with yellow interior and a two tone yellow dash... take a look at the top of the dash over the steering wheel... It was SWEET!!!

I always wondered why Mazda scaled the interior back a bit.

Still an awesome interior though...

RedSheDevil

That looks like a dash pod cover. I think there was a group buy (that went seriously wrong) at one point to get a CF one. Mebbe search under dash pod cover if that's what yer lookin for ...

psbjames1970

RSD... Sorry to say you are not right on this one.

This pic is from the Tokyo 2001 auto show for the debut of the RX-8. And it was an intergrated part of the RX-8 in the model they had at the auto show...

See link

http://archive.mazda.co.jp/motorshow.../interior.html

psbjames1970

Would rather paint if you can do that kinda thing instead of cover btw...

RedSheDevil

i just meant the area you were talking about could be handled with a dash pod cover :D

I've seen replacement ones vs covers too ... my .02 if it helps

XDEEDUBBX

DO NOT PAINT YOUR DASH! trust me you will regret it! Don't take the cheap way out.

nzarnow

Yea, stay away from painting the dash. You won't have many options after you do...

Didn't know you only wanted the part colored over the read-outs. That is a small section of the dash so it shouldn't be too hard. Get any pod cover and then paint that. Don't paint the actual factory dash.

psbjames1970

DUMB QUESTION: So what is and where can I get a dash pod cover.

I do like the interior but like just that portion a different color (above the readouts)

Make it look more like the handbuilt pre-production models (that all got crushed !!!)

rockin

I always thought the body colored dash cover look great to, and have been wanting to do it also but I do not want it to be permanent( the reflections on the window could be horrible). I have been trying to come up with an idea. One is some kind of static vynal or clip on plastic cover.

RedSheDevil

Here's the thread I was talking about (the dash pod cover). It's really long and flame-fest friendly, BUT i seem to recall mention of another dash pod cover in there.

Sorry I can't be more helpful, but I read this awhile ago and don't remember all the details ...

psbjames1970

How bad was it!!!

RedSheDevil

it was just a group buy gone wrong. i only referred to it because it has info on a dash pod cover...

StealthFox

sounds barf inducing to me, i believe bringing the color of the exterior paint into the interior is an extremely fine example of the terribly untasteful ricery that comes from america here. many think the "scaled down" two tone interior is a bit tawdry/gaudy. i like it but seriously the dash is t-o-o m-u-c-h

what i sugguest is you buy something(no one has it here, its a secret dont tell) DG motorsports's dash pod cover, its in CF, like the group buy that was done here except this one is about 5x better in quality

what you do then is take it to an autobody shop and get them to paintmatch to the mazda code of your exterior paint and then have them do an autobody finish onto the carbon fiber so it will match your exterior paint pefectly and have a nice showy glossy paint finish that is resillient to the sun and such because if you spray on paint this thing it will get baked and discolor from the sunlight coming through the window. getting professional autobody paint on carbon fiber is easy too, it takes paint well, lots of racecars have lots of carbon fiber body panels and they are painted over so you never know.

in terms of a paint solution to the vinyl type stuff, i dont know of any, because its a bad idea., but if you want a really cheap way i know one. you can go to pepboys and get this interior paint spray, its made specifically for interiors of cars to apply to vinyl and such, the kind all the ricers have for their nasty eclipses and civics.

if you have any more interior questions, feel free to ask. you may also want to consider fiber glassing some dash pieces if you dont want a cheap DIY look on a nice car, because when painted 'glassed pieces look very very nice(this is like what you see commonly people do to their complete audio systems in the trunk, the fiberglass housings)

hope it helps,
StealthFox

psbjames1970

Thanks guys... Decided that I didn't want a pernament solution and ordered a cheezy cover (VelourCover - No excited about the material but hey, let's give it a whirl). If I blow 50 bucks, oh well. Anyway, once I get it and its on, I will see if I like it and then take pictures if it actually looks good.

BTW, My outside is silver so having the two tone red interior isn't really brining in the outside color into the interior.

I have even debated having the red changed professionally into blue since blue/silver/black combo would be ultra cool.

But I do have a soft spot for that red/black interior. Wish me luck and I will keep you up to date on the cover.

RedSheDevil

Sweet, I'll be interested to see how it looks. I personally am too short to see anything on the other side of the gauges while driving, so its lost on me....but i still liek to see other's ideas :D