Grille color

[RodnRudy]

I scored a cherry 79 grille for my 77 C10. I want to change the charcoal color to the silver that was on the 77. I'm thinking of using argent silver wheel paint and then shoot satin or flat clear on it. What do you guys think? Has any one already done this and can give me some pointers? I'll be using rattle can paint.

[melks]

Im a big fan of the argent silver coloured grilles. I went with the bright silver finish instead of the factory dark charcoal on the grille of my 84. I had a bodyshop paint it, but if I were to rattle can it myself I would give it a good clean and scuff with perhaps a scotch brite pad making sure to get all the surfaces well. Considering its plastic perhaps an adhesion promoter prior to the argent silver could help (not sure if the adhesion promoter it is fully necessary considering the grille already has a charcoal finish paint coat on it) which would then be followed by the clear. I think the bright silver grilles really do a great job of matching the grille with the wheels.

[RodnRudy]

Well after looking online at several silvers and happening on a different forum I went with Krylon Dull Aluminum. I scrubbed the 79 grille and then used a maroon scotchbrite pad to scuff the grille. I sprayed three mist coats and then one medium wet coat front and rear. I used almost two 12 oz. cans as it's hard to get complete coverage on all the teeth of the grille. After drying I assembled the grille and am pleased to no end on the outcome. The grille looks as close to original as can be. Here's a few pics of my handy work. The pic with the dented trim strip is the original grille that was damaged in transport. I found a good trim strip to replace the damaged one.

[frenchy51]

Looks really good. Grills are time consuming to redo but well worth the effort and not too hard. To have a shop do it would be expensive due to the time involved. I've used Krylon before as you did without any clear coats. Works great.

[frenchy51]

Cool plate BTW

[Corts60]

looks great! I've had great success with this process when painting plastics:

1. heavy scrub with dawn soap and rinse thoroughly
2. Clean with Eastwood plastic prep spray
3. Coat with Eastwood plastic adhesion promoter
4. Spray your favorite color!

I find that if I don't use this process, the paint flakes and peels after about a year.

[RodnRudy]

Originally Posted by frenchy51

Cool plate BTW

Yeah the fellow I bought the truck from rodeoed for a while and said he found the plate online and put it on the truck. I like it cause it's different even though I live in Indiana

[Factory Guy]

I recently did mine as well. I used VHT argent Silver Wheel paint on mine. I had to repair some broken pieces then sand, clean and clean prior to painting. After sanding, I spent a lot of time with Acrysol and q-tips cleaning out every nook and cranny of the grill to make sure nothing was contaminating the painted surfaces. I first painted the black portion then I taped off the black portions (see photo) and came back with the silver and painted it.

Here's my you tube video of me redoing my grill

https://youtu.be/eREb4iaqxdQ