I have a 2008 Lariat with a chrome grill surround that I want to paint to match my truck. Can the chrome be painted? A friend told me the paint won't stick too well to the chrome. Any advise?

 

i bought mine to a body shop last year and it still looks as good as the day i put it on

 

Thanks. About how much did it cost to get it done. I have talked to one shop already and they said they couln't do it. I'm going to check with a few others next week. Do you know if they stripped the chrome off? What a pain.

 

cost me 100 , tell them its a plastic chrome im pretty sure they just sanded it off

 

I did mine myself, and I would definitely recommend taking it to a body shop. In my opinion, something that gets as much rocks and bugs and crap thrown at it as a grille surround, needs to be professionally done. I just wish somebody would have told me that before I decided to tackle it myself.

 

Yeah, those surrounds are plastic. Just sand it off and you can do it yourself.

hayes, did you "rush"? I've done a few odds and ends on my truck and I can say that prep work determines the ending result. I've done a few projects that have rivaled body shops for 1/10th the cost

 

The more I think about it, the more I think I rushed it. :o How did you paint yours? Not trying to jack the thread but it might help the OP decide if he is capable or not. And it might persuade me into doing it myself again instead of spending money that could be used elsewhere.

 

I haven't done it but this would be a guess at the process. Sand it down to remove the chrome. Prime the surface. Then apply the paint. 2-3 coats probably and then clear it.

 

I sanded, skipped the primer. Did 3 light coats of paint, Then 2 heavier coats. But I did a horrible job with the clear. I think I got anxious when I saw how great the white looked. Did two light coats of clear but very very thin. One of these days I'll sand everything off and do it over.

 

Yeah, I am teaching myself to be more patient. I get anxious as well and then sometimes regret it :o

 

Thanks for all the tips and info guys. I will take it to a shop and have it done and pay the extra $. I am not that talented nor to I even want to attempt it. LOL. I appreciate all the input.

 

Mine usually come out great, but the hardware that shops use are more capable than my 5 gal compressor and little spray gun. But for a few bucks it cant be beat!!

 

Hey Raptor, I'll just ship mine to you so you can paint it! LOL. You know there are certain things I can do. But sanding and painting parts on my truck wouldn't be one of them.

 

When painting plastic parts you should just lightly scuff the part with a grey scuff pad then apply etch -primer very lightly wet sand with 2000 grit and apply paint in 3 passes then lightly wet again ,let dry apply 2 coats of clearcoat should look like any body shop has done it -will cost ya about 50 buck in materials