is there a diagram of the screws and "NECESSARY" bolts to take off to get all of the center console out (From gauges to shifter)

I know the shifter area is all clips, already have that off, but after i unclipped behind the gauges and unscrewed screws i can see behind AC stuff, it wont come out around the radio...

does the radio have to come out with it?... maybe im just not pulling hard enough but id rather not break it...

 

nevermind found a great link for it

http://liljerk.morpheus.net/350Z/dash_removal/

if anyone else needs to do it

So one other question, i already know what grit to use and i have prepped parts before (i did all 3 engine pieces when painted) but i was using a liquid they formulated to basically wash as im sanding (im thinking it was part bleach part water) can anyone back this up for me???

 

I used simple green....but you really dont have to sand the pieces down. just load them down with primer and sand the primer smooth. then paint.

 

heh too late already started

still though can anyone confirm the bleach/water mix and washing it while sanding it? all i know is i did it to my engine bay parts but never remembered why he told me to do it in the first place haha

 

piece 2 down... going for last piece now (saved the biggest piece last, and now i wonder why.... haha) will post pics of sanding and everything, then paint coming as soon as i can find the best (with great price) shooter to just prime and shoot, or shoot if prime isnt needed (ive spent way extra time getting them baby bottom smooth)

mmm im tasting the smell of the new paint now in my car

 

man, i know this goes without saying, but i didnt think about it untill it was too late...when you are sanding down the pattern, watch about widening out the existing holes for gaugepods, radio, shifter, and navi door. I didnt pay attention and my gauge pods wound up too small when I put them back in and there is a pretty good gap between them.

best of luck post pics when you get done.

 

just finished last piece, ill upload sanded pic up in a bit after i shower and then finished pic in day or so when its shot =)

will say definately had to of saved about 200 in labor.... or at least i feel that way haha

 

All sanded down, now getting quote on shooting them since i already have the paint and everything :P shouldnt be more then 50 bux, unless i find the right person to just let me buy them some drinks or something haha

 

well parts went in today, will get them back on wednesday! will have pics ready for you guys then!

 

And here they are, sorry camera phone finished assembling with 20mins left to get ready for work and im still gonna post what i got haha

will get prof shots of car in week i think so ill have lots better pictures to check out






Now I just need to get a freaking aftermarket DD or maybe SD stereo lol

 

how much did that cost you to get painted?

 

need more pics asap
thanks

 

ended up costing me 150 cause the finest i could sand it down at end was 120... and it wasnt really all that smooth in a lot of the bulk parts, so he went back (got more paint cause i ended upnot having enough) also i just had base with no clear so he had to add clear into the price...

but he did another 4hrs of sanding, priming, and more sanding and didnt charge me a cent of it...

will get more pics up as soon as i can, wish i had a digital camera of my own and didnt have to use friends cameras :P

 

Wish that write-up had a navigation system on it, since I don't know how to get the nav keyboard out properly without marking up the plastic piece with a screw-driver.

 

daytona, that came out really nice, i wish i could do the same but i have frost interior,

 

thanks... dont see why it would look bad with frost?... actually might look better never know. There is a daytona on my350z with frost interior with console painted, try to search for it and check it out yourself, it was a really easy mod and saved myself over 250 in labor doing sanding myself... just sucks not having a radio or any gauges for the days I had it out :P

 

What grit sandpaper did you use?
What type of primer/paint did you use?
Just sand, prime, and paint?

 

I used 80 to start then 120 for finish. But it wasnt easy getting all the bumps off so the painter had to resand it with 180 to get it ready for primer. Then he primed and painted it.

I wasnt there for the priming or the painting so i couldnt tell you, the paint is just factory paint, he took the code and made the paint. and used whatever primer that they normally do. Finish came out beautifully, he cleared coated it and everything

 

Refer to the FSM; it has a nice illustration with directions.

There are also threads here with pix and directions of an 03-05 dash trim removal with OEM nav. I have seen them a few times.

 

I've really been contemplating this for a while. I just don't know what I want to paint it. I just don't want the dash to stand out to much. I've always liked a black interior. Stealth like.

What do you guys think about just painting the center console gloss black? Just like to here opinions. To me it wouldn't stand out to much, but would enhance it just enough to get a little attention.