painting the front OEM grille of 100 series LC (1 Viewer)

[AlfalfaChips]

So I have been working on my cruiser (100 series) recently and I wanted to paint the chrome OEM grille, but I have no idea of if I should do a vinyl wrap or if I just hit it with a rattle can that it would be fine.

Anyone who has done either of these methods or has done something better please let me know. Thanks!

 

[Manhattan]

Just pull it, scuff it, tape it and rattle can it. Really... it's that easy.

I just finished that (for the 2nd time in 130,000 miles) a couple weeks ago.

Grille looks new... but really highlighted the foggy headlights and flaking
clear coat on the hood.

So, out came the wet sandpaper and buffer (for the headlights)

The crystal clear headlights really made that hood look out of place, so it was
off to the body shop for fresh paint...

I guess what I'm saying is - repainting the grille is easy... but can open up a
big shiny can of worms

 

[DuckLN]

My 2006 had tiny pits all over it but I had it painted professionally the same color as the trim molds.

 

[DuckLN]

Decent improvement and since the shop already had the trim paint it wasnt too much more effort to get the grill done.

woo f’n pig

 

[phatdragon]

I cleaned it up and did some of the Luxo Plasti-dip.

 

[95Fantasma80]

Just pull it, scuff it, tape it and rattle can it. Really... it's that easy.

I just finished that (for the 2nd time in 130,000 miles) a couple weeks ago.
View attachment 2358684

Grille looks new... but really highlighted the foggy headlights and flaking
clear coat on the hood.
View attachment 2358685

So, out came the wet sandpaper and buffer (for the headlights)
View attachment 2358688 View attachment 2358689

The crystal clear headlights really made that hood look out of place, so it was
off to the body shop for fresh paint...
View attachment 2358699

I guess what I'm saying is - repainting the grille is easy... but can open up a
big shiny can of worms

This looks very nice and oem...

really looks uggly when guys completely black it out specially a lexus...

this is how my lexus is OEM.. love the look. I believe it was 98-02 that had this blacked out grille stock.

 

[Manhattan]

Thanks @95Fantasma80. The OE light gray didn't really match anymore - with the black sliders and black and Evo Gray bumper - so, I went with darker metallic gray for the grille.

 

[AlfalfaChips]

So I have been working on my cruiser (100 series) recently and I wanted to paint the chrome OEM grille, but I have no idea of if I should do a vinyl wrap or if I just hit it with a rattle can that it would be fine.

Anyone who has done either of these methods or has done something better please let me know. Thanks!

Thanks guys for the help! I just hit mine with the rattle can and I think it turned out pretty good. Although I think I want to go with a darker grey next time and black out the outer chrome.

now I just need to touch up the lights and get some new rock sliders on...

 

[thebespinplot]

Got super boujee and plastidipped that bad boy. Doing the emblems and other trim in OD green plastidip. Not a fan of chrome

 

[thebespinplot]

 

[lesgarten]

Just pull it, scuff it, tape it and rattle can it. Really... it's that easy.

I just finished that (for the 2nd time in 130,000 miles) a couple weeks ago.
View attachment 2358684

Grille looks new... but really highlighted the foggy headlights and flaking
clear coat on the hood.
View attachment 2358685

So, out came the wet sandpaper and buffer (for the headlights)
View attachment 2358688 View attachment 2358689

The crystal clear headlights really made that hood look out of place, so it was
off to the body shop for fresh paint...
View attachment 2358699

I guess what I'm saying is - repainting the grille is easy... but can open up a
big shiny can of worms

How much for the Paint job? The truck that is, not the grill? I need to do mine.

 

[Manhattan]

How much for the Paint job? The truck that is, not the grill? I need to do mine.

I had the fenders and hood done - $800
Hood - total color coverage
Fenders - color blended from top down
Hood and fenders cleared

 

[lesgarten]

I had the fenders and hood done - $800
Hood - total color coverage
Fenders - color blended from top down
Hood and fenders cleared

Good deal! Looks great. Thanx!

 

[daohaus]

Bunking this as I saw some guy with a Dodge RAM using easy off oven cleaner to help expedite the ability to peel away the chrome on the grille. Got me thinking if it would work on our chrome accents

 

[Manhattan]

So the goal with the Easy-Off would be to take off the paint and the plasti-chrome - leaving the naked black plastic? If it worked, that'd be ideal - part of having to repaint these grilles so often is the chrome makes even the tiny chips just pop. I'd much rather paint dark gray over flat black.

I have no doubt the Easy-Off is a capable stripper (that's what she... sorry) I just wonder how it'll know to stop at the plasti-chrome and not damage the grille

 

[daohaus]

So the goal with the Easy-Off would be to take off the paint and the plasti-chrome - leaving the naked black plastic? If it worked, that'd be ideal - part of having to repaint these grilles so often is the chrome makes even the tiny chips just pop. I'd much rather paint dark gray over flat black.

I have no doubt the Easy-Off is a capable stripper (that's what she... sorry) I just wonder how it'll know to stop at the plasti-chrome and not damage the grille

agreed, and not sure if Dodge's manufacturing process is similar to Toyota's, his "plating" was peeling off although it did seem like a PITA to do but he managed to do it. I would love to be able to work on bare plastic vs having to deal w/ chrome

 

[Manhattan]

Easy-Off was our go-to product when I was racing BMX in the 80s - it'd strip the anodized color of the aluminum bike parts. Once we discovered its powers, we all rode silver bikes with silver parts.