C3 Corvette Console Repair - Please Console Me

Here's what the naked trim plate looks like with all of the satin black paint removed. Be sure to let the trim plate dry thoroughly before proceeding further.

The Eastwood Company makes an excellent satin black wheel paint that is a perfect match for the GM factory trim paint's patina and lustre. The spray can trigger grip, also available from Eastwood, makes controlling the spray easier and more comfortable.

Give the entire trim plate 4-6 light coats of satin black after shaking the can thoroughly. Several light layers adhere to the chrome-plated pot metal much better than a couple of heavy coats and the light coats yield a more uniform finish.

A fine-grit sanding sponge is available at your local home center or neighborhood hardware store for under $2.00. This is what we'll use to remove paint from unwanted areas.

Start at one edge of the trim plate and gently-and I mean gently-pull the sponge across the trim plate with nothing more than the weight of your index finger as pressure on the sponge. It's OK to go over the same area several times if necessary-remember it is easier to remove unwanted paint from the high-relief areas gradually than to press hard and remove too much, making it necessary to start all over again from step 5.

You'll have to pay a little extra attention to the "right lamps" and "left lamps" lettering to clean them up nicely. Use the very corner tip of the sponge to gently work the tops of the letters until they look presentable.

When the face of the trim plate is finished, turn it on its side and work the outer edges all around to leave a fine, uniform line of chrome on the outline. Slow and steady here-you're almost home and you don't want to botch things up now.

Here's the finished trim plate looking pretty darned good. With the money you saved doing this refurbishment yourself you can order a couple of pizzas, get yourself a six-pack and a bunch of flowers for you know who. Go on and enjoy being a hero-you deserve it for a nice job well done.