Back before Christmas I bought myself a Roush grill from Roush Overstock ( during the 55% off sale ). I knew I wasn't going to be able to tinker with it until summer but I didn't want to let the deal pass up.

So it gets warm out and I started my project to paint it black. I like a certail amount of chrome on certain vehicles, but not mine. Products used, 150 grit, 1000 grit, Krylon grey primer, Krylon Fushion Gloss Black, and Krylon Clear.

Out the box.


Scuffed it with force with 150, then two layers of primer with a light scuff of 150 between coats.


Did two layers of Fushion Gloss Black, let dry overnight, wet-sanded with 1000 grit gently to remove minor orange peeling and to smooth the surface more, then finished with two more layers, let it bake in the fun for an afternoon, then 1 final quick wet sand, and finally two clear coats.


The week I bought my truck I immediately painted the OEM grill with Fushion Gloss Black and could not get the grill off of the surround, but I got the chance to do this not at all fun job this time around. USed a Wagner 900 degree heat gun to warm the tabs for easier flexing, and a flat head driver, got it off in around 20 minutes.

 

Putting it on the surround was a breeze, 40 seconds. I also took the time to polish and wax it before clipping it in.


Installed the next morning. I hated the way it looked for the first couple days. I really considered putting the honeycomb grill back in and selling this grill, but I put the emblem over it and decided I should still give it a chance and go ahead with my future plans of black and dark red emblem overlays.

 

Emblem attached, much better looking.




I'll have to get $50 together and send it to FoMoCo so I can get a lower grill to paint like IDNC did. Then I think it will be looking pretty good. Even better after PTM bumpers, and black Moto Metal 951s. Its coming along, i'm achieving my look bit by bit

Next project? Smoking the tail lamps, and either smoking, or painting the 3rd brake light using the same method as painting headlamps/fog lamps. Later this month hopefully.

 

looks good! but it'll look better when you get the emblem to match your truck

 

Was it really a PITA to remove the grille from the surround? I have to tackle this very shortly and don't want to break all my tabs.

 

looks great , nicely done

 

Looks great, I was the same way when I first put mine on. Once I got the emblem on I love it now.

 

Lookin good

 

Looks great as usual Darren.

 

Thanks everyone.

It was quite difficult. You will figure out how the tabs work, they're long, and they're made into the grill, so breaking one wont be a real bad thing, however its less desired if you plan to sell it. If you have a heat gun it will make things easier. Hold it over the tabs about 10"s for 10 seconds, and bend them to the side while pulling the surround off ( surround end facing ground on a blanket ) and you will pull that clip off the grill, then just move onto the other 13 clips. And do the top very last. Makes things easier, but the top upper left and upper right are a real PITA. Thats what took the longest for me ( 4 mins each ).

 

came out good

 

Looks great! Now you need PTM bumpers.

 

I'm not really sold on it as it sits, but I'm convinced it'll look awesome once your bumpers are ptm. Now I'm not saying it looks bad, I'd keep it on there if it were mine.

 

looks great. makes me want a chrome one even more!

 

Thanks everyone else. I'm hoping to have the bumpers PTM by the end of the year, if not, oh well theres always next year. The moneys needed elsewhere, and I need tires really soon, so i'm trying to save for my custom wheel and tire deal.

Thats exactly how I feel about it. I didn't like it at first, not very well impressed with it. I actually really like the honeycomb grill alot, especially painted black. But its such a PITA to clean and it doesn't always look real good at certain angles. I'll hang onto the honeycomb for now.