The front of the truck has a plastic grill surround and that black trim piece under the headlights and grill.

Would it look alot different if i painted them the color of the truck? or would i have to purchase a new piece from say an xlt or different model because of the texture?

 

I have seen this particular topic brought up a couple of times, and each time the general consensus seems to be that the much easier route is to purchase the parts and replace them. Between sanding, priming, painting, and sealing; it becomes far too arduous a process to really want to do. I would guess that if you can find one in a junkyard, you could get the grille and the bumper piece for about $200. Either way, good luck!

 

Here is a how to I did on my mirrors on my mach 1, total cost was about 30.00 and it worked great for about 4 years of ownership. Might be worth a shot and should be the same / similar process for you.

http://mysite.verizon.net/res0ypq1/id16.html

 

Jpetre is on the right track with his mirror project, but he missed a vital step. After sanding, and before priming you really should hit them, or any raw plastic parts with a plastic adhesion promoter first, allow that to flash real, real good, then continue with the priming phase. I wouldn't do the whole prime,sand, prime, sand, prime sand thing though. Give it 3 or 4 good wet coats of flexible primer for plastics, allowing it to flash thoroughly between coats, and once dry, (the next day) sand it with 600 dry. If you happen to burn through anywhere, give those spots a quick squirt of primer, and scuff the spots with a scotch bright pad just before paint.

With the amount of flex in the bumper pads, or filler panels, depending on what you feel like calling them, you really need to use products designed with flexibility in mind.

Your local body shop will use a 2 part primer with a catalyst to cause the primer to cure, not just dry. Not to mention, they will add a flex agent to the primer which makes it that much better.

If you do it wrong, or skip a step, it will peel in sheets with the first rock chip, and be a bigger mess than ever. Not to mention that the release agent in the plastic is re-introduces if you wash it with any petroleum based cleaner before priming. When it comes to plastics, soap and water, or even vinegar and water is your best cleaning friend.

Bottom line, painting plastic sucks.

 

Yea thinkin this might be beyond my skill level. Lol.