Has anyone painted thier chrome grille shell? I have a 97' XL, and i would like to paint the chrome grille shell red to match my truck. How would I do this? Any help would be wonderful.

Thank You

Streetcruiser

 

It's tough, but it can be done.

I am not a professional painter by any means, but this is what has worked well for me in the past. If anyone out there is a professional. . .please chime in and correct me if I am mistaken, as I would like to know of a better way if one exists.

You have to either sandblast the chrome off (but you risk damaging the plastic under it) or scuff the chrome off by sanding it. It's all about surface energy and chrome is very smooth. The paint won't stick to a dirty or a very smooth surface. You have to rough it up with some 500 grit paper real good. Then clean it with a cleaner that won't leave a residue. . .your local paint store should carry several brands of cleaning agents. Then lay down a coat of either regular primer, or if you have some heavy pitting, you can use the filler-primer. Once the primer dries, scuff it with some 1000 grit (or finer) and clean it using the same cleaner as before. Then you are ready to lay down either a base color coat, or your 1st coat of gloss enamel.

Take some time to talk with a professional or someone in the know at a paint store. Truthfully, though, I wouldn't try painting a chrome piece. Find a black piece off of a work truck in a salvage yard or perhaps trade your chrome piece to someone who has either a red one already who wants chrome, or who has a work truck style black one already who will trade. It's much easier to start with one that isn't chromed.


Later,

---J

 

Thanks for the info J, I have been reading Truckin for 6 years, and I finally want to monochrome my truck. I am going to buy a roll pan and bumper cover, but that chrome grille shell is the only setback. I have read in magazines that owners have had the shell scuffed and painted, so I was just curious how fesible it really is. Any more advice from any of u 'experts' would be great

SC

 

The best way to do it would be to have the Chrome grille acid dipped. It takes the chrome completely off without damaging anything. You now have a clean surface to work with. I have heard it costs around $20-40 depending on the shop. Alot of the Contour guys do this without any problems.

Also, look for others who have F-150's because some have the plain gray grille surround. Ask them if they want to switch. This would be the easiest way to do it. Doesn't cost any money just takes a few mintues to switch.

 

Must Ride-

Acid dipping. . .man, that's a great idea!

I never thought of that but since the chrome plating that is on these shells is electroless-plated (it's plastic), acid would take it right of almost instantly.

Thanks for the tip!


---J

 

I used a mapp gas torch to remove the chrome off my grille surround, that was allot of work, Wish I would have bought a paintable on...lol

Heat will seperate the chrome from the plastic, if it gets too hot it will warp the surround though. The acid dip sounds better. I tried sanding, OMG, no, that was horrible.

 

I have used oven cleaner (easy-off) to remove chrome plating from scale model kits. Leaves a super clean surface. Never tried it on the full scale models.

-Dan

 

I went the easy way. I bought a black one that was in the classifieds! Or check out http://www.fordpartsonline.com I believe they are around $200 for the painted shells.

 

Re: 99flareside

Very nice truck, classy and sharp! It would look really good in my garage next to my '03 Mercury Marauder.


-Dan