What about as a single stage then flattened out to where you’ll need it.
I can only help with the paint part a little. In my experience any of the flatten agents put in a single stage paint makes them way chalky looking. What your paint guy suggested is the best way. But I would use the factory exterior color as is first and flatten the clear. But do several spray outs. As the clear can go from satin,egg shell to really flat and chalky. Also I’m sure your paint guy can help you with these. The temperature and humidity really make matching the flatten clear a challenge so parts that are chose together have to be done at the same time to match.That would probably be better than bc/cc, but I'm pretty paint ignorant...trying to do this myself so I am trying to find the most foolproof application (the fool being me LOL).
Digging into dash electrical tonight. We have lights! Headlight switch ohms out bad but can still get that at the corner parts store at least!
This car has been sitting for decades. Didn’t change a bulb or tweak any wiring. Just put hot in the orange instrument buss and it came to life. Pretty neat.
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I didn't even realize the HVAC controls were supposed to light up. Is there a bulb in the unit or is it external to the control box?
Could what you have been darkened by age? Do you have a good protected sample of the paint from when it was originally painted?
Either way - it is frustrating if it does not meet your expectations - good luck resolving it. If you are not happy, you will likely continue to not be happy later, so better to pull off the Band-Aid now...
I had a potentially similar, yet opposite thing happen to me with my 70 Road Runner. I knew it was an original Limelight car, but it had been painted yellow by a PO. I really didn't think I wanted a green car, and the beat up Limelight color I saw hidden under paint I really didn't care for. But then I pulled the stainless trim off of the B pillar, and there was absolutely perfect, unblemished and un-faded factory applied Limelight paint. Wow, it looked great. So I had the painter EXACTLY mimic that paint, and now I love the Limelight.Quite possible it darkened with dirt, oils, rust and age I suppose. It’s a nice color but was just taken aback because I expected it would be darker…
Gotta sleep on it.
How many coats of paint do you have on the dash and other parts now? I've had issue with to many coats of paint and when you tighten down fasteners it catches the thick paint, twists and tears.