Pics detail the locations of the bolts and screws that hold the dash in.
Here's a brief write up on my procedure to do the interior dash in a CE Lancer or Mirage. It's probably applicable to other models too I just don't know which ones have this dash.
Materials:
1. Paint - I used 'PowerPlus Touch-up' spray paints and primers bought from the local Supercheap. They cost around $18.50ea
Colours: Clear Plastic Primer
White Primer
Gloss White
Sage Green -Up to you what colours you use...obviously
2. Vinyl - White Marine Grade UV Treated Vinyl came from Fabtex in Stapylton, Gold Goast/Brisbane. Cost: $7.7p/m or $5.5p/m per roll.
Green Marine Grade Vinyl came from Century Foam and Rubber in Ashmore, Gold Coast. Cost: $16.50p/m.
-Any marine grade vinyl will work/last. There's also ranges that specialize AUTOMOTIVE vinyls.
3. Foam Underlay - This stuff is around 5mm thick but compresses down around 3mm once covered. I used/using it for certain panels I'm covering in vinyl to give it a nicer touch. Adds softness and also covers up any imperfections in the panel (ie, gashes in plastics, etc).
I think it's called 'Peel' if you ask at a Foam/Rubber place. Anyways, I got it from Century Foam and Rubber in Ashmore, Gold Coast, also.
Cost: $5.5p/m
4. Good Quality Contact Adhesive - I used Selleys KwikGrip as I read about using that stuff in an auto trimming book.
5. Screwdrivers (Phillips head); Socket Wrench (with a 6" extension piece); 1/2", 12mm, 10mm, 17mm sockets; Wirecutters and Cable ties/Electrical tape.
Procedure to REMOVE DASH:
TIP- For each bunch of screws/tabs you take out put them in a small plastic bag and label it in conjunction with the part it came off. Saves a lot of hassle later on
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1. SIDE A/C VENTS: should pull straight out with a little muscle (try to apply even pressure with both hands pulling either side or top/bottom of a vent).
2. A/C CONTROLS SURROUND: pull's straight out also (have to disconnect the plugs and 4 screws holding the dials onto the dash).
3. STEREO SURROUND: pull's straight out after you take out the ashtray. Disconnect the cig lighter.
4. GLOVE BOX: with a little effort you can get the tabs over the ridge things that stop it opening to the ground. This lets it drop down so you can easily access the screws that hold it on.
5. PANEL UNDER STEERING COLUMN: There are 4 screws holding this on. Also has the variable dial for your speedo cluster lights (just disconnect the plug when you see it).
6. STEERING COLUMN: 3 screws. Need a long screwdriver to get to one of them. Should pull apart from top piece after screws removed.
7. DASH CLUSTER SURROUND: 2 screws. Then pulls out.
8. DASH CLUSTER: 5 screws (I think, easy enough to see though). Pulls out off 2 plugs in the back.
9. CENTER CONSOLE (BACK): 2 screws down in the storage part. Unclips out of the front piece.
10. CENTER CONSOLE (FRONT): 6 screws. 2 under where the back piece was, 2 behind the Stereo Surround & 1 on each side under the foot wells at the front.
OK, so that's all the little parts you need to get off before taking out the entire rest of the dash. Sorry if I've missed 1 or 2 screws/bolts, they should be easy enough to find though
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Should have remaining: Main piece (runs along the windshield with vents in it), Semi-soft top insert piece (has the indent tray type thing in it), the surrounds of the center a/c vents/controls and cluster surround (has a little coin thing and a square switch panel in it also).
This should all be able to come out as one piece and then you can pull that apart further if need be.
MAIN DASH:
Where you took out the side vents there is a bolt down the back in each vent cavity.
Another bolt far left down in the foot well.
Where the Glove Box used to be there are 3 screws here and 1 bolt.
Where the Stereo Surround came from there are 2 bolts (might need to disconnect an Earth wire here if there is one). 1 screw at the top.
Under the Steering Column there is a screw on the far right (behind the Bonnet Release sort of), and I think there's one to the left of the column too.
Another bolt is behind where the Dash Cluster was.
Now the dash should be able to be pulled free. I got mine loose and pulled it out through the passenger side door. It's a bit tricky but it'll come out.
Once out you can pull it apart further to paint/cover individual parts. I'll leave that to you as it's simple to do.
Here's some pictures where I've roughly marked out the location's of the screws/bolts. Hope they help.
Procedure to PAINT PLASTICS:
1. Sanded down all the surfaces I wanted to paint. (for me this was everything, excluding the top insert piece.)
2. Cleaned every surface using Methylated Spirits on a Microfiber cloth. Could use some other alcohol cleaner. (if there's crap in tight places you could try using an air compressor to get the chunks out or whatever)
3. Masked up the majority of the surfaces I didn't want oversprayed. (ie, the rear of the vents, inside the flippy storage thingo?)...also try not to touch the surfaces to be painted or you'll have to clean them again.
4. Primed using Clear Plastic Primer. This dries looking a bit splotchy.
5. Primed again using a regular White Primer.
6. Sprayed the appropriate colour.
7. Sanded lightly using Wet & Dry paper.
8. Repeat '6' & '7' three or four times then finish off with a final coat. Could use a Top Clear Coat if you wanted to.
I recommend leaving 45 minutes between coats and then 1 week before you start reassembly. The cans say 20min and 5 days but fk that. Rather be safe.
Would also recommend doing this in a dust free environment with NO wind or breeze at all. Use the appropriate face mask to as this paint gave me some chronic headaches after using it without one the first few times.
Procedure to VINYL COVER the top insert:
1. Lay out the vinyl and trace roughly around the edge of the insert, rolling it along as to get the correct measurements.
2. Now add about 15 cm around the edge you've marked to be safe you're not going to be short (the vinyl pulls in a little with the dented part at the top and with the curves).
3. Lightly sand and clean the insert.
4. Working in sections (smaller for the less experienced), apply a thin, even coat of contact adhesive to the insert. Start from the indented part and work outwards.
5. Apply adhesive to the vinyl in the area that will line up.
6. Wait 15-20mins for adhesive to go touch dry but tacky. Then press vinyl onto insert and roll outwards to make sure there's no bubbles. (Once the surfaces touch THAT'S IT! Make sure you line it up perfectly so when you get to the edges the vinyl covers all the way around)
7. Continue working outwards until you've covered the entire insert. (Some place may need stretching/maneuvering to get a nice surface. Try it out before using adhesive so you know which way to pull it before you stick it down)
8. Trim off the excess and punch hole where you need them (if you covered right over the existing holes too)
You could use a layer of 'peel' too which would just mean you have to do it twice. Careful with the peel though as it absorbs the adhesive well and if you press down on one point with your finger it may compress the peel and it'll stick like that, giving you craters everywhere. Use you palm lightly and evenly to push the peel to the adhesive.
Props to -Owen for the original of this.
