Painted the Factory Grille

Based off of a.lim's car.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/htownlegacy/Legacy%20GT/alimscar.jpg

 

My Car

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/htownlegacy/Legacy%20GT/LegacyGrille.jpg

 

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/htownlegacy/Legacy%20GT/LegacyGrilleCloseup.jpg

 

I'm thinking this is just temporary until I take the plunge for an aftermarket one.

 

Let me know what you think!

Think it looks great .... especially with the blacked out lamps.

Looks great !!

Sorry .... as I look at the post again I see that the first pic is not your car.

 

Still think it looks great though.

Looks nice, did you have to sand down the Chrome Part or did you just paint the Primer right over th Chrome?

I think it looks a lot better than Chrome!

I sanded the hell out of the chrome. Took me at least 45 minutes before I was satisfied with how well it was sanded. It was pretty tough getting some of the curves and at the ends of the chrome where it sinks down toward the badge and the ends of the grille.

what grit paper and paint was used, if you dont mind?

Thats what I forgot to add in my previous post, thanks for reminding me! I started with 300 grit sandpaper but, it was taking for ever, so I switched over to 150 and that did the trick. The paint I used was a Satin Black from the Walmart paint aisle. I don't remember the brand off the top of my head, and the paint is at a friends house. It shouldn't really matter though.

Yea I knew you had to sand the chrome down.....I guess there is no easy way out. <-- Slacker.

 

Thanks for the info!

I say stay with that grille! It's hot!

the satin black finish on SWP LGT looks awesome!!! id say keep this grille, forget an aftermarket one.

the satin black finish on SWP LGT looks awesome!!! id say keep this grille, forget an aftermarket one.

 

yah, i always thought that this mod looked best on an SWP. i have an RBS grill myself but i just cant seem to part with the stock grill. maybe you'll see the RBS grill in the marketplace someday.

yah, i always thought that this mod looked best on an SWP. i have an RBS grill myself but i just cant seem to part with the stock grill. maybe you'll see the RBS grill in the marketplace someday.

 

let me know if you do... In a few months i might be interested

I did this to my car last week. I sanded the chrome with 200 until there was almost no luster to it. I used duplicolor trim paint with no primer. It is flaking off terribly bad. I am going to try it again and use primer this time and see how that goes. Just FYI to people looking to paint without using primer.

^ Lesson #1 in painting... 99% prep. 1% paint.

 

You HAVE to use primer on a part that will take abuse. After you get it primed and repainted...throw a bunch of clear over it as well. I tried with no clear and had chips after about 20 miles. So far 4 days since I put a buttload of clear on there, not a chip in sight.

thanks for the sand paper add.........probably hittin up this project this weekend. looking good!

I used about 10 coats on my OEM grille. It's my winter grille and there's no chipping.

 

My 'summer RBS' grille has a million chips in it after 2 years... but that's because they only throw a coat or two of matching car paint on in the body shop.

Yea, I only used 2 coats. It needs more. I also did not use any clear, nor did I use primer. I haven't had any issues with chipping or flaking though. I drive the highway daily.

^ Lesson #1 in painting... 99% prep. 1% paint.

 

You HAVE to use primer on a part that will take abuse. After you get it primed and repainted...throw a bunch of clear over it as well. I tried with no clear and had chips after about 20 miles. So far 4 days since I put a buttload of clear on there, not a chip in sight.

 

Won't the clear take away the semi-gloss look?

^ I'm pretty sure they make clear that doesn't add any shine to the paint. But yes, generic clear will add some gloss.

Yea, I only used 2 coats. It needs more. I also did not use any clear, nor did I use primer. I haven't had any issues with chipping or flaking though. I drive the highway daily.

 

I was considering doing this with my stock grill. Did you sand and paint the plastic part of the grill as well?

No, I just left the plastice part alone. I only sanded the chrome. Now if you wanted it to look "all one color" then you could paint the plastic part as well.

looks nice!

dont forget the sun protectant! the flat black tends to fade easily when exposed to hours of sunlight.

I bought 2 cans of Satin Black - Krylon Fusion today along with Matte Clearcoat finish.

 

http://images.orgill.com/200x200/0592543.jpghttp://www.hardwarestore.com/media/product/464560_front200.jpg

 

In additinon, I bought 150 grit and 320 grit sandpaper to sand the chrome down. I am going to be matching the the foglight covers along with the grill.