petelempert Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 I'm redoing the console on my 63. It's a total wreck and its the wrong color, so a full overhaul is in order. At the back of the console, near the cig lighter, there is a flat chromed, ribbed section on top. The ribbed trim basically begins 2/3 down the top of the console and wraps around the back until it reaches the courtesy light. Should the spaces in between the ribs be painted black or are they natural (chrome)? The whole ribbed pattern theme is all over the car but in some places there is paint in-between the ribs (like the exterior trim piece beneath the rear window) yet in others it is not (like the interior aluminum sleeve that surrounds the steering column). Anybody got an original console that can provide insight? Thanks in advance. PRL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Here's a link to a picture from a sales brochure. The ribs to which you're referring are all chrome, there's no black in them anywhere. I've seen the space between the ribs painted on these console pieces and on the door panel where the seat and window switches are. They've been painted black to camouflage the pitting that has taken place.https://www.google.com/search?q=1963+riviera+console&biw=1366&bih=651&tbm=isch&imgil=xBLFoi9PiZWmaM%253A%253BqfZmumocWeL9sM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fautomotivemileposts.com%25252Friviera%25252Friviera1963selections.shtml&source=iu&pf=m&fir=xBLFoi9PiZWmaM%253A%252CqfZmumocWeL9sM%252C_&usg=__oSsFic6o5nNr5NKJ-2-j4IISYZE%3D&ved=0CCcQyjc&ei=Z6FDVafLOJLUoATHlIDACA#imgdii=xBLFoi9PiZWmaM%3A%3BxBLFoi9PiZWmaM%3A%3BEm_oV59sS4Iv1M%3A&imgrc=xBLFoi9PiZWmaM%253A%3BqfZmumocWeL9sM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fautomotivemileposts.com%252Friviera%252Fimages%252Friv1963consolebw.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fautomotivemileposts.com%252Friviera%252Friviera1963selections.shtml%3B285%3B237 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petelempert Posted May 4, 2015 Author Share Posted May 4, 2015 Thanks Ed-I cleaned the heck out of my console p[arts this weekend. It revealed mild pitting. Somewhere between "no big deal" and "thats gonna bug me forever". Thinking about trying paint. PRL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 (edited) Pete, as nice as your car is, pits on the console chrome would peg out my"that's gonna bug me forever gauge". Your car is no run of the mill 63 riviera, but a work of art....Please don't skimp on the console! Edited May 5, 2015 by Seafoam65 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petelempert Posted May 6, 2015 Author Share Posted May 6, 2015 Seafoam, you're like the little angel on my shoulder saying "If you go with mild pitting, you'll never forgive yourself". The little devil on my other shoulder is saying "Get over it, get the paint out and live with it". Thus the phrase, the devil is in the details. PRL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 The nice thing about the paint is: If you don't like it, lacquer thinner will take it off. You can see what it looks like then decide. I'm not trying to convince you of either way, but with shadowing and available light, it's sometimes hard to tell. I had to look twice at a set of door pieces one time to tell that they were painted. Cheaper - yes. By the book - no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petelempert Posted May 7, 2015 Author Share Posted May 7, 2015 The paint option sure does cover a lot of sins. This is just a test, but you can see the painted and unpainted areas and how it masks the pitting. Obviously, it tends to darken the entire area but interestingly it matches the rear speaker grill almost exactly. The console trim is brighter and all chrome but to my eye the speaker grill does have some paint in the rib inserts. It looks plausibly factory to me. Still weighing my options. Not sure about my chances if I re-chrome (hard to get rid of all pitting in pot metal and new chrome might just make it more noticeable) and unlikely that I'll find a salvage piece that is better than mine. Thinking it over. PRL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 [ATTACH=CONFIG]308175[/ATTACH] The paint option sure does cover a lot of sins. This is just a test, but you can see the painted and unpainted areas and how it masks the pitting. Obviously, it tends to darken the entire area but interestingly it matches the rear speaker grill almost exactly. The console trim is brighter and all chrome but to my eye the speaker grill does have some paint in the rib inserts. It looks plausibly factory to me. Still weighing my options. Not sure about my chances if I re-chrome (hard to get rid of all pitting in pot metal and new chrome might just make it more noticeable) and unlikely that I'll find a salvage piece that is better than mine. Thinking it over. PRL Pete, I never thought that I would like it, but the black paint in the ribs looks really good. As you pointed out it matches the rear speaker grill. I think Buick should have done that from the factory. I say paint itand meanwhile be on the lookout for a better piece you can swap in later, but the painted ribs definitely are more attractive than just the chrome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 Ahh! The art of deception till the right piece comes along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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