Painted my grill for less than $30!
 

So I COULD have paid nearly $300 for a OE black front grill but decided to save the noney and paint it using Krylon "fusion" spray paint and a can of Krylon clear coat (to keep it from chipping). I simply removed the grill and wet sanded it using 2000 grit wet/dry sand paper and then hit it with the gloss black Krylon .....let it dry and hit it again. I did this a few times and let it sit for about an hour in the shade and then gave it a few coats of clear....this was the result and I am very happy with it

[IMG]Attachment 189865[/IMG]

Looks good. I'm a little concerned about how well the paint will bond to the surface if you only used 2000 grit. That chrome finish should be sanded down completely to remove as much of it as possible before painting. 2000 grit is used for finishing. You may have some adhesion issues in the near future. Cross your fingers! :dunno:

Looks good. Especially for $30. Nice splitter too :biggthumpup:

Looks good...curious to see how it holds up

I agree fingers crossed...I will post with "after some time" pics

Any close up pictures of the finish?

Looks good for $30! Would have used a 800-1000 grit sandpaper but hopefully you sand the poop out of it and it holds up. GL

What splitters are those?

The splitters were some random pieces I found online. The stabilizer rods did not come with them....they were in essense made to fit along with the splitters:D
Here is a closer pic of the grill...

[IMG]Attachment 189864[/IMG]

Looks good! Off topic, but I am so glad we don't have front plates in my state.

Haha! I agree with you on the plate.....it's as small as I could make it and after growing up in southern CA I've been pulled over far too many times to keep begging them to f with me. Never been told anything about " modifying" the plate sooo :biggthumpup:

Is it legal to cut up your plate like that?

I also painted my headlight and I found that if you use the duplicolor shadow, the paint will stick to the chrome pretty easily because it is made specifically for chrome trim. No need to sand and all that, just clean and apply. The more coat you put on the less chrome shine it will have. So you can actual paint your grill for under $25 with less time. =D

http://www.duplicolor.com/images/appShots/shadow1.jpg

Black Chrome painting is pretty tricky to apply perfectly though.

I know here it is technically illegal to even cover the word Texas, not sure about cali though. Since OP hasn't gotten dinged for it yet maybe it isn't, or maybe it isn't enough reason for a LEO to pull someone over?

OP the color actually matches quite well, I have to get off my lazy butt and do this again!

Yea, I figured I would try the Krylon "fusion" gloss black and see if it really does bond to plastic as it states...if not...no harm no foul as I would just convert the OE grill to a custom piece with black wire mesh;) so far so good tho...with sanding it and several coats of clear it is holding up well:D

As for the plate...I have been doing that since 2000 on all manner of cars and it seems the cops just want to see a plate period....they don't seem to care much that it's all slim.....we don't have to affix tags to the front plate so I suppose as long as you can read the numbers/letters than your good to go