Anyone have any luck painting their plastic grey door handles? I'd prefer to find some off of a donor vehicle, but painting is probably easier. Any tips, suggestions? I have this nice shiny truck with these flat dark grey (sorta ugly) handles.

Help!

Sacto

 

Simple mod.

If you can have the truck without handles for a few days, you can do it without buying new ones ( driver's door might be a problem ).

Clean the handle with PRE.
Same them in increasing grit number to a smooth surface ( remember just like waxing preperation is the key to a good finish ).

Use a paint with flex added like SEM products ( paintscratch.com is one place you can get this ).

The primer, color and clear coat all need flex added, else it will be for not.

If you take your time, you can DIY, and it will look like a shop did it, by using rattle can.

Good luck with it, once it is done, you will be glad.

 

Thanks for these tips. I am big on preparation and know that I can do a good job. I've been worried about the paint adhesion, so the flex input was much needed. Also, finding the right color has been a concern, so the link was also a good bit of info. I'd hate to invest the time and energy, then get a bogus hue that does not match.

Why would the driver's side me more of a hassle than the other?

 

It's a hassle if you need to drive your truck and there is no door handle.

 

For the same reason pjf77 pointed out. No handle in the door, can't drive the truck

This might be the one that you buy.

The other side of the coin, is did they offer painted handles for the year of your truck.

The replacement handle for my 01 with the keypad cut out was something like 50.00, never priced a non keypad one. MAybe that is the one you buy color key'd and install, so you can drive your truck while painting the others.
Or you can get a painted handle at the junk yard, and if it does not match, sand down and repaint, so the bulk of the prep work is done ( smoothing of the grain in the plastic ).

I painted my tailgate handle, never looked to see if they came color key'd to the paint. I duct taped it colsed for the days it was being painted.

Just some thoughts.
If you do to a local PPG supplier, they should also be able to mix the paint for your color code, and add flex. Some will also put it in a rattle can for you. SEM primer and clean with flex is a stock item.

Good luck, you won't be sorry about doing this mod.

 

Yup, I'm thinking I may go this route first. I've seen trucks with the factory painted handles in the right color. There are enough yards around here to check out. So tell me this, what is the process to remove the handle(s) once the door panel is off. How much of a hassle is it, or is it easy?

 

The door handle, only one part is a PITA, the tailgate, easy as can be.

Drop me an email in my profile, and I will email you the directions that Doug had posted on svtlightnings.com

Steve

 

To make matters worse, I called some of the local salvage yards and anyone who has a good set of handles has them attached to a good doors, which they (understandably) only sell as a complete unit. Thus I won't be pilfering and handles any time soon, unless I find a truck at local pick n' pull. But, I will hit you up off the thread for the directions.

Thanks.