Color touch up on plastics

[Red]

So I'm getting some stuff together and plan on recoloring the plastics on the outside of the truck. Door handles and trim, tailgate handle, bumper sections, and box rail trim. First question is has anyone done this and found a black that looks best or if it even matters(true black or ?). Also, should I only urethane prime them at first? Second, I think the bed rail plastic trim is on with double stick tape. Is there a better option for when I reapply them or is it my best bet? Currently the trim is peeling up a lil' bit on the tailgate and the corners of the box. I know mine is 7 years old but I was just curious about the next 7. Thanks in advance guys.

 

[Whitetail Addict]

You still want the black textured look? Back to black might bring back the factory color.

Personally I would spray them with adhesion promoter, then high build primer (flex primer) to fill in the texture, sand them smooth, and shoot them body color...but thats me.

I don't know about the bed cap...I've only seen them taped on.

Good luck with your project.

 

[Red]

Yeah I am just trying to bring back the factory black. After years everything has turned a shade of dark grey. I like the black on red contrast my truck has new

 

[Whitetail Addict]

Try Mother's Back to Black before you tear it apart to respray it, it may save you some work...I found it at Wal-Mart I think.

 

[lotsofmiles]

I usually armoral mine every time I wash it

 

[Red]

I'll have to check out that mothers stuff, thanks for the tip

 

[Red]

Tried the Mothers Back to Black, very happy with the results. Also did a driveway tint jobon the headlights, I'll have to get a picture on here cause the end result with the new color in the bumper and lights is awesome. Next I want to take my grill apart and flat black the honeycomb.....

 

[Whitetail Addict]

Glad to hear it worked!

I'd like to see the pics and info on the tinted lights...mine needs the tailights, 3rd brake light, and clearance lights tinted.

 

[Red]

started with lightly sanding the lights with 500 grit. Hit them with aeresol tint from a parts store, then wet sanded with 1200. 2nd coat and another wet sanding. 1 coat of clear cause I didn't want them glossy, just smooth. They are pretty dark with 2 coats but with HID bulbs it's no problem. Think I should get fog lamps just to help though. Still tryng to figure out what to do with the grey lower trim on the bumper....

Once I get taillights off a newer truck I'm doing his to all my marker lights and tail lights too.

 

[Whitetail Addict]

Truck looks good :thumb:

Looks like it really brought the color back on the top piece...as for the bottom, find a black one of an '06+ or get a replacement from GM the replacements are black.

Thanks for the info on the tinting process. Is there a brand name for the tint? I've heard of VHT Nightshades...I didn't know if this was the same product.

 

[Red]

I'll check tomorrow on the brand, once I lay down for the night there's no going back! I did some test sprays on old motorcycle windscreens to see if what clear I used would matter, didn't seem to. Ended up using wheel coating/protectant cause in my head it will probably hold up to rocks/bugs/whatever better. It didn't have any visual difference from regular spray clear coat.
I also talked to my friend that did most of the work for me(broken forearm) and he did 3 coats. Guess I didn't notice. Anyway, I would probably only do 2 lightly without bulb upgrades, cause right now I probably see as much as I did stock, maybe a hare less.