Got a replacement (PTM) King Ranch grill with the chrome surround and black bar style insert. Need to paint the insert to match. Is it worth it to deal with all the tabs and remove it from the surround or just mask the surround and maintain the integrity of ALL the tabs? I'm leaning toward masking, but just want some pros and cons if there are any out there! Thanks in advance!

 

The way I see it you can get better results by taking the insert out and painting it that way, but you can still get good results with masking. Just use a good high quality masking tape, and take your time masking, as this is the most important part. EIther way if you take your time and do it right the results will be rewarding. Hope I could help!

 

I would take it off that way you have absolutely no way of slipping and painting your truck an unwanted colour.

 

I agree.

The amount of time spent masking would be greater, in my opinion, than that of just taking it off. Less chance of a mega-screw up too.

RP

 

Thanks much guys!

The grill will be painted out of the box (before I put it on the rig) so there isn't an issue of overspray to the rig, just the surround. Anyone have any pointers for safely separating the KR bar style insert from its surround? Just a well placed screwdriver or something more sublime?
Thanks!

I'll post some pix of the finished rig in a few weeks......

 

Just take a pair of needle nose plyers and bend (or break) the tabs out of the way. I have swapped my grille about 5 times and thats the easiest way to do it and the grille snaps back into place and hold just fine.

You said you got a KR grille...but the center is black? The center on a KR is biege. You have a 04 XL grille....not that it matters if your painting it. I just hope you didnt pay more for it thinking it was KR grille.

 

Thanks much!

Are the tabs pretty easy to break? How many can I bugger up before its a problem? The insert has to go back in the surround when it's painted.

You are correct. The KR comes with the insert painted beige on the new rig, but the replacement grilles (2005) are a PTM part number (paint to match) with the chrome surround. I haven't actually seen it yet, it's here tomorrow according to UPS tracking. I hope it is already painted, but the dealer pretty much assured me it'll be black.

Either way I got a couple of cans of AQ basecoat and a couple of cans of clearcoat just in case...........

 

The tabs just lock the main locking tabs (or snaps) in place. I dont think there would be a problem if you broke all of them out, but if you just bend them over with the plyers you can just bend them back into place when you put the grille back. They bend pretty easy, rather than snapping.

 

Thanks RamSS/T!

I got the grill out of the box today (black insert ) but only a few tabs were fully engaged. It practically fell out of the surround. Already have the plastic binding primer on it and am awaiting the basecoat and clear coat spray cans from my supplier. So far everything is proceding on schedule. Got my splashguards and bug deflector on today. She'll be ready for her gallery debut soon!
Nanners To Y'all!

 

Raalden
Im wanting to paint the honeycomb inserts of my grille to match my silver FX4. Can you please list the supplys you will be using and where to buy them? Does Ford sell matching spray paint?
T.I.A

 

Raalden - Curious, did you verify the AQ (Arizona Beige) paint code as that which is applied to the KR grille? The reason I ask is I saw a paint code for 'light' Arizona Beige, and for some reason I dont think the grilles look as dark as the beige Ive seen... I plan on doing the same grille swap on my Lariat, soon.

 

The color will be AQ which is the exact color of the accents on the truck, bug shield, and topper. It will probably be darker than the ones on the lot which is fine for me. I'm not shooting for an exact replica of a KR, I just liked the bar style insert with the chrome surround combo.

Google PAINTSCRATCH.COM (Incline Village, Nevada) for the paint. They also have a list of painting tips and tricks you can download. Here's what I got:

Paint: Arizona Beige Metallic Clearcoat AQ/M6985 (Add Flex)
-----------------------------------------------------------
2 12.5 oz. Basecoat Spray Can @29.95 $59.90
2 12.5 oz. Clearcoat Spray Can @15.00 $30.00

I buy two of everything just in case I bugger something up.....I'm not Earl Scheib! If I have any left over I may do the skirting on my travel trailer to match.....

The "Flex" is an additive for painting plastic. More elastic.

Also grab a can of Rustoleum or Krylon plastic paint primer and spray a layer of that on before you paint to promote adhesion of the basecoat. Make sure the thing is clean before you paint, etc., blah blah blah....

I may not use the clear coat as a flatter finish might look better, I'll see what it looks like when the basecoat dries.

Good luck with your projects!

 

Thx... Next Q'... Anybody know the paint code to match the Lariat/KR grille color??

Just read another thread - 'brushed nickel' is the color of grille and wheels - yahoo search turned up no paint codes for this color - help??

FYI - {edit again } Called a local body shop - they will paint the grille brushed nickel for $75... Ordering my new KR grille right now!!