Dash Plate Restore

[Stefan]

I bought this dash plate months ago on ebay for like 20 dollars. It looked like garbage, but it cleaned up nicely. I am not satisfied with the project yet. It is a little difficult to tell, but if you look at the plate, there are spots of discoloration and scratches. It really catches my eye, and I want to clean it up more before I install it.

Any suggestions on products? I have tried Mother’s Mag and Alum Polish.

I am wondering if the plate just needs to be painted. I want to keep it the chrome-silver-aluminum-metal look. Although, I suppose that I also would not mind painting it chrome either, may look cool. Does anyone have experience with using chrome paint on something like this? Brand recommendation? Did it weather poorly? etc

As for an additional question. How did yall install? I am considering buying a 52 mm drill bit and just drilling holes for the gauges, but online I have seen that people made entire cutouts for the plate. Any input is appreciated.

Thanks,

-S

[Paul Mossberg]

Stefan

Originals were screwed to the dash with Phillips head screws. They were also usually painted black or tan.

Nothing wrong with going with a polished plate. You might have to make that plate look worse before it gets better; sanding with increasingly fine sandpaper, then polish (similar to sanding and polishing modern headlights).

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

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