Blacked out grille tutorial.

Credit: CodeRed

Okay everyone here is the tutorial to black out your grille (or what ever color you choose).

First the tools!

One flat head screw driver:

Sand paper (to sand the surface so the paint can stick). I used a 100 grit only because i had a whole layer of clear coat and paint already that i needed to sand through. Using a 320 grit would be your best bet. I’m not going to post a picture i mean we all know what sand paper looks like just go to your local autozone, they will have it.

As for the paint i chose a glossy black made from krylon its designed for plastic surfaces (they also sell this at your local autozone.)

Now the clear coat Dupli-Color makes this, also made for cars! (Autozone.)

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OK, the supplies are out of the way, now for the real work!

First pop the hood.
Then take out all the plastic tabs using your flat head screw driver as seen in the pic below. (I understand i’m missing some tabs i lost some)

Okay, now you should be able to remove that top plastic peice, but be careful there is a hose of some sort resting on top of it. Just juft up the hose and put it underneath and continue to remove the plastic cover.

Ok there are still a few tabs to remove before we get to remove the grille.

ohk, now with the final tabs removed you now are ready to remove the grille.
There will be a total of 6 tabs holding the grille on. 3 on the left 3 on the right.To take these tabs off (there attached to the grille) you have to stick your hand down in the opening now made from removing the plastic cover and you also should be able to see them. Here is a pic from the inside.

To remove simply push up lightly on the underside of the tab, you will feel where it is holding it on. Once all 6 are removed we can now move on to sanding.

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Sanding:

As i said before a 320 grit sand paper will do you just fine here, remember the better you sand it and better the paint will stick. So remember to sand everything but dont go overboard to where your making major scratches in it.

Here is a pic after i sanded it.

You must understand yours will look a little bit different then mine, only because i had paint on it already and still had a little bit of sanding ahead of me.

You may be asking yourself “I done see the difference” Well here is the pic to proove it, when you look at the chrome pat it should now look more like brushed aluminum (or w/e).

Ok your now done with sanding jsut make sure you did it nice and even on the whole grille. Now go wash your grille with a garden hose and some soap (i used palmolive) make sure to remove any bit of dust from sanding also remove soap with the hose. MAKE SURE YOUR GRILL HAS HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO DRY BEFORE YOU PAINT IT!

After talking to Clipsed here is another way to do the sanding/prep process.

Quote, originally posted by Clipsed »BUT, I would recommend to anyone doing this not to use sand paper on the prep. All ya need to do is take a scotch brite green pad (the ones you clean pots and pans with) and with some water, scuff up the surface with that. That is sufficient enough to allow paint to stick without deep scratches that the sandpaper creates. After that, wash with dawn concentrated liquid to remove grease, and then use a plastic prep like Pollys Plastic Prep, you can get it at a hobby store. Let that air dry, then use a spray on adhesion promoter, and then you are ready for paint!

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Painting:

Remember before you paint to remove your emblem.

it simply has 4 tabs and only needs to be pushed out.

Ok here you are in a well ventilated area. I choose to prop my grille up on an old plastic chair i found in the garage you can do it on some newspaper, whatever works for you!

As for painting make sure you shake the can for about 1 min making sure the ball is moving freely. Now begin to spray in a sweeping motion starting atleast 5 inches on each side of the grille. Never start or stop in the middle always finish off the grille! Try to avoid runs and srips by not spraying it on too thick. spray from 8-12 inches back.

Here is a pic after the first coat.

Allow 10 min between each color coat for it to dry (i did 3 color coats).

Moving on to the clear coat, remember to let your color coat dry for 10 min dont want to get this far and have a run!

Ok the clear coat its the same thing as the color coat except you can lay this on a little bit thicker but dont go overboard! Having a run now wouldn’t be tragic bout it would mean you’d have to get some fine sand paper and sand it down once dry. I did 3 thick layers of clear coat for a nice protective and shiny finish.

If it looks like the clear coat is a little bit milky dont worry it will dry clear. Pic below.

Your all done with the painting now lest move on to drying then install.
Almost forgot the final pic , still wet but finished.

Allow to dry for ATLEAST 2 hours it should be dry to the touch in 1 hr but i wouldnt push it.

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Installation!:

Ok we will start off with the installation of the emblem.
Put it on the same way you took it off, snap the tabs back in.

OK now thats out of the way you can now bring your grille back to your car (hood poped) and snap the grille back into the 6 tabs on the bumper.

Now to replace the pesky little plastic tabs. REMEMBER there is 2 tabs under the bigger plastic piece that i ALWAYS forget to put on.

The 2 in the center!!!

ok now put the plastic cover back on and snap the rest of the plastic in.

Dont forget about that hose that has to sit on top of the hook!

CONGRATZ you have a black grille!

Here are some final pix

Oh, and i think the V looks pretty cool w/o the grille on!

LOL have a good time and hope you get the same results i got. Please feel free to ask ANY questions!!!

Okay here are the finished pix in the daytime.