lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

So i bought paint from express paint.com

Then got a few boxes
200 grit scuff off chrome and if i messed up
600 grit for primer
1000 grit for clearcoat

Newspaper
Primer (sandable)
and clearcoat



Basically take off the top rad cover and pull out the grill.
Out grill is only held on by buttons and clips.

So then you flip the grill theres a few screws to take off the chrome piece.



Then start sanding it down with the rough grit sand paper.



once its dull you need to set up a box with some news paper so you don't make a mess.




(30 mins - an hour dry time for each layer so when you touch it your finger prints won't be there....)
Primer it about 3 coats is good then sand it down lightly with the 600 grit.
You don't need as many coats but I figure I got nothing to lose.
Make sure when spraying it doesn't bleed too much or run cuz if it dries you might have to start all over.



Then I painted the grill in light spray basically keep a distance so it doesn't push or bleed.

3 coats and sometimes sand out the bubbles and in between.




Clear coat about one or 2 layers then use the sand paper even it out (1000grit)



I messed up the left side the paint bleed and the clear coat got stuck to the newspaper...

So i'm redoing it tonight


Right side came out pretty nice =)!


Cost about 45 bucks everything.

I just need get new sand paper to redo the left side.

kennungesser

Nice. Looks good

LukeaTron

I think is going to look nice, especially with your color. I'd probably let it dry for 2 to 4 days before putting it back on as it makes a big difference in the hardness of the paint. I'm looking forward to seeing the end result.

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Yea I need to redo the left side so im driving around with no grill right now =p

CarbonGray Earl

Looks good mang. Pics when its on the car when you're all set.

Might have to do this to my CGP.

LukeaTron

I've done a lot of rattle canning on motorcycle parts. A lot of it plastic. Letting the paint cure for a couple days makes a huge difference in it's durability. For smaller metal parts I'll even throw them in the oven for a few hours on 160 or so. They come out with durability close to powder coating. Obviously not an option for plastic though.

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Yea I mean this isn't ad when your bored at college, and not too much in parts.

Paint 20 bucks about i used it on some other stuff.

Primed and clearcoat 8 each
sand paper 6 each.

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

ideal it would look like this but in abp
=)

LukeaTron

Are you doing the upper chrome part too? The lines of the hood really stand out without the chrome bit breaking it all up. I think it would sort of cheap though without the lip kit. I'll just stick with the chrome.

bo0sty

oh man you like read my mind i was just thinking about painting my grill in some way, thanks for the great write up. Out of curiosity does anyone know if they have CGP Spray paint, or a color thats close to that, any help will be appreciated.

anyone know any auto stores that you can find locally that have automotive paint .

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

My hood trim is painted i had it from earlier on whe i had a cf grill which shattered in an accident.

zguy95135

How much would the grille/hood trim cost if you bought it separately? I would be wary of sanding and painting my only piece.

Audioserf

This is a great look. I had my upper and lower grille chrome trim pieces painted by a bodyshop last May when I was having some other work done. So much cleaner than stock. My only issue with it is that I've already got a small rock chip in the paint on the upper trim. Hopefully it holds out like that for a while and doesn't get worse. If it does I'm just going to go Mugen grille because I don't want to re-paint the stock.

LukeaTron

If you go to a professional paint shop you can get custom paint mixed up in a can. They'll be able to look up the paint code for your car. This will give you far and away the best match and highest quality paint.

Crazyazn, where'd you get your paint?

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Expresspaint.com

Its pretty good match and price it was like 20 for a can. My friend and I was able paint his wrx side skirts 4 coats each.

I repainted my left side it came out better althought i wish i had a dremel to sand it down.

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Here are pictures installing the grill back on I need to take off the bumper to put the entire grill back on but i'll do that later.

HondaAcura83

Looks good.

Tsx536

That looks good man. I'm tempted to try this mod!!

jayq16

Looks like a perfect match, nice job!

kdUbz

nice work dude!

06TSXTACY

Looks really good. I'll going to have to do that. Thanks for info.

Audioserf

Very professional looking. I am impressed. The front of your car looks very clean indeed. Two thumbs up.

cali4tsx

Good job man. I like

cybereclipse

very nice.... anyone else with asm wanna try this before me??

oh and btw u forgot 2 blur ur tags

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Damnit its been so cold here past few days that i couldn't put the grill back on haha...
I took pictures of it not connected.

popdakebin

I really like the blue you have and props for the write out. The difference on the red car stand out more though. Good job.

popdakebin

Anyone with 06+ pwp wanna volunteer =)? Or maybe a photoshop. I tried to photoshop, but i don't have any good pictures with me right now.

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Well you just need to find the paint and do it, we already know alot people tried the blacked out tape and i'm not a fan of tape and sticky adhesive. So i painted mine..

I might end up doing the black trim soon.

CGTSX07

cleannnnnnnn...i like it

EuRTSX

Well, this is definitely something I'm doing in the summer.

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Just really take your time with the coats and sand inbetween helps everything stick...

I messed up on the clearcoat after
3layers of primer 3layers of paint and 2 layers of clearcoat.

It touched the newspaper on the box i used and ripped chunks off.

So i had to wait about an hour sand down as much as i could then redo those steps on the left side.

Mskierki

Did you do the same for the hood trim or did you just purchase the OEM part already painted?

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

I had the oem hood trim painted already since i used to have a cf grill.



It was cheap and a temporary look. It didn't last when i got into my accident. So i just got all the oem parts back and salvaged the hood trim.

Its not hard to paint the hood trim.
Just becarefule REMOVING... first time i did it i broke the plastic clips.

dmassott

hey crazyazn, i oredered my paint, should be here friday lol then i'll be closer to looking just like yours