Full Chrome Delete / New Grille
#1
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I got a lot of work done today. Had perfect painting weather this afternoon. I finished my grille and got rid of most of the chrome trim. I had a couple people express interest in seeing what was involved, so I took some pictures of how I did it.
First, take off that ugly license plate holder. Masking off the trim is painfully boring and time consuming. But it'* always better to take it slow and do it right the first time.
![](http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8272/0410011452.jpg)
Laid down some plastic primer, then painted with color-matched paint. I ordered mine online from http://automotivetouchup.com/. Your paint code is usually located on your spare tire cover in the trunk. (Just an afterthought... on a dark green car like mine I think flat black might have looked pretty cool.) Lastly, a layer of clear coat helps protect the color and make it shiny.
Finished front.
![](http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/336/0410011614.jpg)
![](http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/533/0410011614a.jpg)
On to the back:
![](http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5390/0410011645.jpg)
![](http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9246/0410011810.jpg)
I could have done another layer of green to make it darker but I decided to leave it, I think I like how the lines look. I also painted the trim around the roof/windshield black to blend in with the rubber. Left the door chrome strips alone to see if people like it, and because I was running low on paint. The grille was painted last night.
Ignore the rust starting around the wheel wells and fading bumper clearcoat. That'* on my list.
Let me know what you think!
I liked the sunny prism effect here. haha
![](http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/428/0410011815.jpg)
First, take off that ugly license plate holder. Masking off the trim is painfully boring and time consuming. But it'* always better to take it slow and do it right the first time.
![](http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8272/0410011452.jpg)
Laid down some plastic primer, then painted with color-matched paint. I ordered mine online from http://automotivetouchup.com/. Your paint code is usually located on your spare tire cover in the trunk. (Just an afterthought... on a dark green car like mine I think flat black might have looked pretty cool.) Lastly, a layer of clear coat helps protect the color and make it shiny.
Finished front.
![](http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/336/0410011614.jpg)
![](http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/533/0410011614a.jpg)
On to the back:
![](http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5390/0410011645.jpg)
![](http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9246/0410011810.jpg)
I could have done another layer of green to make it darker but I decided to leave it, I think I like how the lines look. I also painted the trim around the roof/windshield black to blend in with the rubber. Left the door chrome strips alone to see if people like it, and because I was running low on paint. The grille was painted last night.
Ignore the rust starting around the wheel wells and fading bumper clearcoat. That'* on my list.
![wink3](https://www.gmforum.com/gm/images/smilies/winking0071.gif)
I liked the sunny prism effect here. haha
![](http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/428/0410011815.jpg)
![](http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/7409/0410011816.jpg)
#7
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nice, might as well do the side trim too, you could always photoshop the chrome color off a picture to see if you'd like it before you do it :P thats what i do
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Thanks everyone. I plan on finishing the rest after I get some more paint. Looking at it from a distance, it looks so different... almost like a new car.