A/C Control Panel Buttons 1969 - Black Only???????

[Skull-1]

I mistakenly put this in the Paint and Body section.  Sorry!

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I am working to get my A/C control panel into the shop.  The place I contacted is telling me all a/c control buttons are black.  I do not believe this as mine are green.  

To be specific, the two outboard buttons for FAN and TEMP are black.  The five in the center are green.   They are faded but they were molded in green.  I even have a broken one that is green to its core.

Has anyone seen any color other than black for these?

If it was meant to be black fine. But I do not recall the center buttons being black on my green interior car....ever.

My thanks.

[Skull-1]

Even from areas that don't get light or wear from being touched they are green.  Technically I think they are OLIVE.

[Ghoste]

Not green, I think maybe they should be an opaque white to conduct light?

[Skull-1]

Not green, I think maybe they should be an opaque white to conduct light?

Lol not that!

[fy469rtse]

Black , just the plastic they were moulded from , see different fade rates to other buttons, I have seen chrome ones for challenger controls at P G classic but no ones repopped these yet, some one chime to correct me if I'm wrong

[Dino]

They are black.  Try to fine sand one and it'll polish it back to black.  They just fade different shades.

[Ghoste]

So they were all black?  Does the plastic get a hazy texture when it fades that much?

[fy469rtse]

Yes like all plastics fade to a lighter shade and show the different pigments that make up the colour,

[Skull-1]

They are black.  Try to fine sand one and it'll polish it back to black.  They just fade different shades.

Not doubting you, Dino.   however, I snapped one in half by accident a few years ago.  I could swear it was green all the way through.  (I need to dig it up and see now.). That's the only color I have ever remembered them being.   The two outboards being black and the five center ones green.   I have also seen chrome but not sure if that was a Charger.

That said I suppose they could be made purple and colored black if black is what Dodge wanted them to look like.   Other than chrome nobody has seen anything other than black so far...

Does anyone have any advertisement pics from 1969 that show green interiors with black buttons?  

If black is the proper color then I guess I will go with that. But if by some freak of nature I have a rarity....

I am amazed they fade to this color.   Pretty unstable plastic!  Lol

Are the different buttons made of different plastics?   Notice how shiny and black the outboard buttons are?

Thanks all.

[Ghoste]

  

[Dino]

They are black.  Try to fine sand one and it'll polish it back to black.  They just fade different shades.

I snapped one in half by accident a few years ago.  I could swear it Was green all the way through.  (I need to dig it up and see now.). That's the only color I have ever remembered them being.   The two outboards being black and the five center ones green.   I have also seen chrome but not sure if that was a Charger.

That said I suppose they could be made purple and colored black if black is what Dodge did.   Other than chrome nobody has seen anything other than black so far...

Does anyone have any advertisement pics from 1969 that show green interiors with black buttons?  

If black is the proper color then I guess I will go with that. But if by some freak of nature I have a rarity....

I am amazed they fade to this color.   Pretty unstable plastic!  Lol

Thanks all.

Whatever these buttons were made of, it's not a consistent material.  I had two that looked light green and the rest was black.  I think they just get too porous after a while and discolor all the way through.  If the knob actually snaps in half, it stands to reason it was porous enough to lose its dye completely.  I don't know how they dyed plastic back then but it may explain why they age so inconsistently.

I have never, ever seen or heard of anything but black buttons.  No matter what color interior you had. 

I'm sure the light bar has a factor in why some fade worse than others as well.

[Skull-1]

Not to mention heat.  We have some of the hottest weather in the USA down here.  I imagine these buttons are probably toast...

[Dino]

Not to mention heat.  We have some of the hottest weather in the USA down here.  I imagine these buttons are probably toast...

No doubt they are.  You can buy the complete set of buttons brand new or you can get some used buttons and use the decal kit.

[Skull-1]

Not to mention heat.  We have some of the hottest weather in the USA down here.  I imagine these buttons are probably toast...

No doubt they are.  You can buy the complete set of buttons brand new or you can get some used buttons and use the decal kit.

Do you have a vendor for them by chance?

[Dino]

Not to mention heat.  We have some of the hottest weather in the USA down here.  I imagine these buttons are probably toast...

No doubt they are.  You can buy the complete set of buttons brand new or you can get some used buttons and use the decal kit.

Do you have a vendor for them by chance?

New buttons:
http://www.classicindustries.com/mopar/b-body-charger/parts/mb880102.html

Decals:
http://www.performancecargraphics.com/Dash_Stuff/Switch_Labels/B-body_69-70_AC.htm

[Skull-1]

My main man with the goods! 

[Skull-1]

Wanted to finally order a set of these from Classic Industries only to find them out of stock.   Any other vendors out there?

[Dino]

I don't think I've seen them elsewhere.  And if someone else does offer them, it will be from the same supplier so they may all be backordered.

It's not bad enough that so many repro parts are of such poor quality, now we can't even get our hands on them!

[Skull-1]

I don't think I've seen them elsewhere.  And if someone else does offer them, it will be from the same supplier so they may all be backordered.

It's not bad enough that so many repro parts are of such poor quality, now we can't even get our hands on them!

Amen to that. Frustrating. 

[Brock Lee]

It is the material they are made of. They oxidize to that greenish hue. Originally they were somewhat shiny and black. Most of the issue is due to UV's breaking down the material.  There were more stable batches. Some do not oxidize like that at all, some not as much. Some look worse, they actually look chalky and start to fall apart. This problem is common in other injection molded plastic products. You will often see old, never opened black injection parts in clear packaging break down the same way with minimal UV exposure.

[Skull-1]

It is the material they are made of. They oxidize to that greenish hue. Originally they were somewhat shiny and black. Most of the issue is due to UV's breaking down the material.  There were more stable batches. Some do not oxidize like that at all, some not as much. Some look worse, they actually look chalky and start to fall apart. This problem is common in other injection molded plastic products. You will often see old, never opened black injection parts in clear packaging break down the same way with minimal UV exposure.

Good info.  Thank you.

Now the problem is finding a new set.  These are shot unless the resto guys perform miracles.

[Brock Lee]

Since they are found on all period AC equipped B bodies, it shouldn't be a terribly long wait. To get you by, you may be able to stabilize them with a thin coat of clear casting resin, or maybe even some finishing epoxy. Then repaint.

[Skull-1]

Since they are found on all period AC equipped B bodies, it shouldn't be a terribly long wait. To get you by, you may be able to stabilize them with a thin coat of clear casting resin, or maybe even some finishing epoxy. Then repaint.

I am actually considering sending the entire unit off to Mr. Heaterbox and let them do the full resto on it.  Would seem to be worth it.