Repainted the grille (factory look)

[Manhattan]

I'd started obsessing about the pitted grille - couldn't walk past the truck without seeing the spots where the paint had chipped and the plastichrome was showing through... I didn't want go the black-out route. Decided as close to factory was the way to go. I found a Rustoleum at Home Depot that is damn near a perfect match.

Before...

After...

Paint: Rustoleum Universal Advanced Formula; Metallic Paint & Primer in One
Color: Dark Steel

The saturation level is dead on. The metal flake is perfect. The color is a bit more silver and less gold. Oddly, it matches the rest of the grays/silvers on the truck, e.g. bumper, side trim, etc.

 

[SmoothLC]

Nice! Do you have any larger pics showing it with the rest of the rig?

 

[SaadUK]

Excellent work. The less goldenish might look better than the original

 

[Manhattan]

I think it does look better...

Pretty simple job - since there's no need (or benefit) to take the grille off. About 30 minutes of taping and sanding... and 5 minutes of painting.

 

[falah]

I think it does look better...

Pretty simple job - since there's no need (or benefit) to take the grille off. About 30 minutes of taping and sanding... and 5 minutes of painting.

you could've just took the grill out and paint it!

 

[Manhattan]

you could've just took the grill out and paint it!

Nope. The grille is one piece and two colors - chrome and grey. I wanted to keep the factory look - chrome outer ring, chrome sombrero and gray center bars. Just taking it out and painting nets this look (albeit a blackout)...

 

[SaadUK]

I guess what he means to say is that the whole grill is installed via 4 or so screws. You did not need to put so much mask and tape on the hood and body for overspray. Just remove the complete front grill and mask the chrome and paint the inner silver. Anyhow it's done now. Still thumbs up

 

[Manhattan]

I guess what he means to say is that the whole grill is installed via 4 or so screws. You did not need to put so much mask and tape on the hood and body for overspray. Just remove the complete front grill and mask the chrome and paint the inner silver. Anyhow it's done now. Still thumbs up

Ahhh... makes sense. I did consider taking it out (did that on my FCJ) but then thought it'd be easier taping and sanding with it "held" by the truck.

 

[EdsCruisin]

Looks great. Even easier approach is to nail a deer and have insurance buy you a new one (with an ARB), like I did.

 

[Manhattan]

Looks great. Even easier approach is to nail a deer and have insurance buy you a new one (with an ARB), like I did.

I stop - I mean dead stop - at every stop sign... "Come on buddy... buy me a bumper!"