I haven't even got my grille yet. But I ordered a black Carriageworks upper and lower, a couple days ago. One thing I already know though, is that black grilles let you see through / past them, to the radiator (and the bugs therin) a lot easier than chrome or silver. Same with how black wheels let you see the brake and rotor parts easier...... and with how you can look into a house with a black screen door, but not with a painted white one.

So anyway, their are times when you just gotta' go black, to make the overall theme work. But for those of you that have, is this "seeing past the black" issue something that you struggle with ? Or are you used to it ? Anyway to reduce the effect, while keeping it black ?

Your thoughts please,
Fish

 

what I'm talking about here......

Anybody ?

Fish

 

Here's mine. I doesn't even make a difference to me. I think it looks better on mine anyways for the overall look. To each his own as they say.

 

Hi, Im no expert, but I think I can help. I figure any reply is better than no reply.

The reason you can see through a black grille is because the radiator and "background" becomes a lighter/brighter color than the black grille infront of it, therefore your eyes can see through the grille much easier because they do not focus on the dark/dull grill infront. Of course, any color is going to be brighter/more apparent than black...

Same thing applies to a chrome grille, it just reverses the effect. the grille becomes brighter than the "background" which makes your eyes focus on the grille and not what is behind it.

Ok, so... I dont think you really care why and im sure you already know all of this, you just want a solution to reduce this effect, right?

If the grille isnt already gloss, just pickup a can of gloss clear coat and do a couple of coats onto the grille (while off of the truck of course) and this will make it more "shiny" and it will reflect more light making it harder to see inside of the grille.

I had a chrome grille which I spray painted black. So far (about 1 year), no chipping and due to the Gloss, I do not have any problems with seeing into my grille.

I think it also has a lot to do with the spacing of the bars, but I have a carriage works grille I believe.




I hope this helped! let me know.

 

Hey ST Grey, your grille, and your truck look nice. You can definately see the radiator and bracing through the grille, but as you say, it doesn't look too bad, and it's probably only visible from certain angles.
I think if it were me, I'd cover all of the radiator itself (don't want to get any paint in that, as that might hurt your cooling) and I'd paint that center brace with some ultra-flat charcoal black. I think it might help a little.

Hey Fordboy, funny you should say you have the Carriageworks grille (although you said > you think < that's what it is :-)
Anyway, that's the brand of upper and lower grille I just ordered..... in satin black powder coat, actually.
Then, this evening I was thinking that I might return it for something with fatter bars..... but you say that the close spacing of the bars helps reduce visibility behind the grille, huh ? That would be a strong factor, leading me to keep it.
If I'm not mistaken (going by small, internet photos) the bars in these grilles are only like 3/16th's tall, but they are like 3/4" inch deep...... So, maybe if you squatted down and looked straight into it, you might see through it easier, but from other viewing angles, the depth of the bars might overlap ones view...... Uhhhh, does that makes sense ? And more importantly, would you say that's true ? :-)

Thanks again,
Fish

 

In my opinion, the width of the bas do not matter when it comes to a black grille. The spacing between the bars is muchhhh more important. Since, afterall, that IS what you actuall look through to see the radiator... the gaps...

Also, with less gap, and the deeper bars, it will allow less sone to enter inside of the grille and refect back off of the radiator. Think about it, the sun is above you, and with deep bars, not as much light is going to go Throught the grille with less gap + deeper bars. Less light going into the grille = more focus on the grille rather what is behind it.

As for the bars being deep, that definitely helps from certain angles. I have a llifted truck and my grille is about eye-height and still dont have much of a problem with seeing through. It isnt totally avoidable, but I dont even really notice it. I may be able to take some pic tomorrow.

When you get the grille, if it is not "shiny" just do a coat of clear over the grille while it is not installed. THis will definitely help make the grille become shinier and allow your eyes to focus more on the light created by the grille, and not the rediator.

 

i think you should get something else.i hate the fact i see through my grille.i think im going with a roush grille and paint it black.mine is carraige works.

 

hmmmm. Maybe mine isnt a carriage works....

BOught it so long ago, I cant remember.

Judging by those pics, I believe my bars are a bit thicker and it just seems like there is less gap. I dont think mine was offered in black. Hints why I spray painted it.

Ill take a pic or two tomorrow.

Im ordering a saleen grille if you want to buy my grille off of me. If you do, shoot me a price.

 

Italiano, you said, you think I should get something else..... But honestly, I don't think the "brand" of the grille (or the design) is going to make near so much a difference with seeing through it, as the finish !
Your PTM one looks great ! And come to think of it, I'll be getting my bumpers PTM'd anyway, so what the heck.... maybe I'll just get my billet grille PTM'd at the same time. Granted, my paint color is pretty dark (Stone Green) but I'm almost sure that even if it were just a little bit more visible than the radiator behind it, it will effectively make the radiator disapeer.

I still contend that with some ultra-flat black spray paint, I could make those braces on your radiator become WAY less visible in about 5 minutes, even with a black grille :-)

Fordboy, no photos ?

Peace,
Fish

 

The FX2 grill is a better looking black billet grill. For bug cleanup and such if your trucks a 2004+ just open the hood & wipe them off the radiator.

 

Here's one from a pre-04 guy:

Chrome-front bars with flat black top and bottom. Looks great. From Stull I believe

 

Just get a can of black radiator paint and paint everything behind the grill. That or like the back of the grill with a bacl screen. Like a bug screen.

 

Dont mind the bugs...
haha

THis grille is about 3 years old. It has held up pretty well for me..