Painting Shifter plate QUESTION???

[austinjames]

This week im going to be doing some painting of the center console. I ran across a photo of a guy who painted the shifter plate piece black. How did he mask off the letters like P, N, R, D, M, so the light would still shine through? Is that 2 pieces or did he mask those letters off?

[xTHExxFALLENx]

That paint actually looks like one of those stick on decals.

[austinjames]

Originally Posted by xTHExxFALLENx

That paint actually looks like one of those stick on decals.

Your probably right on this pic but I swore I saw other pics on here of it painted

[xTHExxFALLENx]

Looks go though but I'd much rather have it painted.

[Eric Baker]

He probably popped off the lighting assembly from the back. If it's like any other car, it should just un-clip, maybe unscrew, then you can paint without worry and install it when you're done. Shoud come off very easily.

[austinjames]

I was unaware there was a light assembly underneath. thanks

Originally Posted by Eric Baker

He probably popped off the lighting assembly from the back. If it's like any other car, it should just un-clip, maybe unscrew, then you can paint without worry and install it when you're done. Shoud come off very easily.

[daveagogo1]

Originally Posted by Eric Baker

He probably popped off the lighting assembly from the back. If it's like any other car, it should just un-clip, maybe unscrew, then you can paint without worry and install it when you're done. Shoud come off very easily.

There is no light on the actual silver bezel. The backside of the bezel is painted matte black with a strip the size of the PDNMR unpainted with a clear coating. The top side of it contains a reflective overlay on the unit. the PDNRM is reflective material, this is why it is raised up on the bezel. There is a light deep down in the assembly somewhere that can shine up into this area appearing to make the letters glow. I did not find the light source as i didn't care to find it. What i did besides mask off the windows before paint is i bought a sheet of glow in the dark self adhesive material. Traced and cut out the letters with exacto and stuck them on the finished part. Works just as well as the OEM did.

In the photo supplied earlier in the thread. That person didn't paint the T/C button or the 12v button. I painted them both covering right over the T/C lighted portion. I can see it in my cluster and know when it's on so need for the light anyways. That part however does have a light in it.

[austinjames]

Thanks a lot for clearing this up. Now Im going to have to decide wether to paint over it like you did with the stickers or leave it be. By the way yours looks very nice man great job.

Originally Posted by daveagogo1

There is no light on the actual silver bezel. The backside of the bezel is painted matte black with a strip the size of the PDNMR unpainted with a clear coating. The top side of it contains a reflective overlay on the unit. the PDNRM is reflective material, this is why it is raised up on the bezel. There is a light deep down in the assembly somewhere that can shine up into this area appearing to make the letters glow. I did not find the light source as i didn't care to find it. What i did besides mask off the windows before paint is i bought a sheet of glow in the dark self adhesive material. Traced and cut out the letters with exacto and stuck them on the finished part. Works just as well as the OEM did.

In the photo supplied earlier in the thread. That person didn't paint the T/C button or the 12v button. I painted them both covering right over the T/C lighted portion. I can see it in my cluster and know when it's on so need for the light anyways. That part however does have a light in it.