painting grill/emblems/etc

[bukeyechad]

hey all. my grill/headlight bezels are bubbling and i was wanting to make them look "new" again...or close to it. do u guys have any recommendations for painting the grill/air covers/headlight bezels??? want to keep chrome.....but want something that will last...not just spray paint

thx....chad

 

[ElliottB]

What's wrong with spray paint? When applied correctly it will hold up for a really long time. Past that point, touching it up is easy. I wouldn't think twice about spraying those plastic pieces.

 

[alpinecowboy]

Have you tried looking for the pieces from a truck that has been parted out? I don't know much about chroming things, but it doesn't seem easy... Personally, I like the look of the "blacked out" wagons that have all the chrome removed and/or painted flat black. It jumps off the trucks and makes them look really solid.

Look at some of the ROTMs to get a sense of it = it may be something that you like and would be easier to maintain than the chrome...

Elliot is right on spray paint - applied well and judiciously it can do some amazing things.

 

[Miloslavich]

i second the spray paint notion.. i'll be doing the same.

if done correctly it looks stock and lasts a long long time

 

[alaska60]

I spray painted mine and it looks tough as hell. I love the look plus it is easy to maintain that way too. In fact rustoleum black in the can is as great as ........well...... alot of things..ok?!

 

[bukeyechad]

the only thing about spray paint is that i really want it to look go....spray paint never looks that good...looks ok, but not great.....especially in chrome

thx for all the input though

 

[seanzy1105]

what worked great for me is spraying the grill and light bezels with auto prep surface cleaner, sanding them smooth and I just recently used aluminum spray paint on them, it looks bada$$

 

[smkymntn]

Once you go black

Sprayed with black hammertone- lasts about a year between touch up and then only a few spots

 

[alpinecowboy]

Dude - that is a seriously beautiful wagon... How does it stay so clean? Do you keep it in the closet?

 

[Dave Jenkins]

Way Nice and clean smky! whose driving lights do you have mounted on that ARB? I'm looking to black out my plastichrome too but my body paint is no where near that.

 

[alaska60]

I went black!!!!! work in progress.... 10 day body and paint job in progress!

 

[onelesssblues]

Miloslavich - you have my dream team of vehicles... I'm getting an 05 sti (best year) in rally blue to complement my 8b2 cruiser. I had a rex but it was destroyed by a tow company who didnt disconnect the driveshaft. sad sad story. apologies for off topic post

 

[smkymntn]

Dude - that is a seriously beautiful wagon... How does it stay so clean? Do you keep it in the closet?

If it would fit I would keep it there

Way Nice and clean smky! whose driving lights do you have mounted on that ARB? I'm looking to black out my plastichrome too but my body paint is no where near that.

The lights are Hella Black magics- the headlights are ipf lense and bulb with the harness and honestly my high beams are brighter than the hellas. go figure

 

[bukeyechad]

gotta say that i am really liking that black.....thinking twice now. what about the chrome bumpers????

 

[bukeyechad]

did you use gloss black? flat black? which is best??

 

[alpinecowboy]

Chad
I have an ARB bumper up front that is black and my rear bumper (factory) is also painted black. You can easily black out all the chrome and come out looking really sharp.

Good luck
Koby

 

[rusty_tlc]

I've been using appliance epoxy paint for about five years now. It holds up for a LOOOOOONG time even in direct sunlight. Plus it is a lot tougher that regular paint. I use it on everything, my roll cage, shackles, axles. I just did the four vents on the 60 this weekend. On the front ones I masked off the chrome part, if I have time I'll post pictures tonight.

 

[MANUCHAO]

I used liquid plastic dip from Home Depot..
I have used it on the side emblems and the breathers by the fenders and so far it has held up pretty good.
I dont know how fair it would hold on the grill with rocks and what not...
Spray paint has held up ok but its starting to chip away.. guess time to bring out the spray can again....

 

[sl33py]

I used liquid plastic dip from Home Depot..
I have used it on the side emblems and the breathers by the fenders and so far it has held up pretty good.
I dont know how fair it would hold on the grill with rocks and what not...
Spray paint has held up ok but its starting to chip away.. guess time to bring out the spray can again....

Can you show pics of the side emblems you did in plastic dip?

I did my grill and headlight doors - doors chipped pretty early on. (prep issue. need to rough it up more). Think the plastic dip would work for these?

thx!

 

[Jargonsix]

Can you show pics of the side emblems you did in plastic dip?

I did my grill and headlight doors - doors chipped pretty early on. (prep issue. need to rough it up more). Think the plastic dip would work for these?

thx!

x2 i would love to see that too..