OEM grille spruced up

DBUSHLB7

DBUSHLB7

Team DMAX
Mar 9, 2012
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I totally stole this idea from a member who posted pics of his grille a few weeks ago, and my thanks go out to him! I bought a couple 7 dollar cans of plastidip @ Home Depot and sprayed about 5 coats on my grille. After the third coat was dry I drilled holes and test fit some stainless steel Allen head bolts. After the final coat had a day an a half of dry time I put the bolts back in slapped er back on the truck. I also used my down time to install the color matched door handles I bought from the stealer. Came out pretty good I think. I think I'm gonna go "Cornell" on my tow mirrors, buy black headlights and complete the storm trooper look. As you may notice I tried to mimic the look of my wheels. Altogether I spend around 27 bucks and had extra bolts leftover.
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Josh2002cc

Josh2002cc

That Uncle
Apr 2, 2007
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Looks like you did a good job on the work. I would do something about the drastic contrast between the white bumper and black grille...something looks off there. Just my 2 pennies.
 
DBUSHLB7

DBUSHLB7

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Josh2002cc said:
Looks like you did a good job on the work. I would do something about the drastic contrast between the white bumper and black grille...something looks off there. Just my 2 pennies.
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I see your point and thank you for the constructive criticism. If I did change the bumper to black, then it wouldn't look right with the body ya know? Where would it stop? With a "storm trooper" look the two colors gotta stop and start somewhere. The headlights and the nerd bars are most off to me.

workin' diesel said:
I think it looks really great! I was looking into doing something similar to mine, since the chrome plating is peeling off. How did you clean off the chrome?
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Funny you mentioned that. As I'm usually a stickler for doing things the "right way" I was lazy and didn't sand/prep anything, instead wiped er off with soap n water lol. In this case the gamble worked and adhesion seems to be great. We will see how it holds up to road debris/rock chips. Thanks for the compliments guys!
 
DBUSHLB7

DBUSHLB7

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rms2012 said:
Nice spacing on the bolts. :thumb:
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Thanks Rick. Depending on the length of bolts you buy, there isn't a whole lot of choice on bolt placement. The plastic moulding shape on the back side will dictate a lot. One reason why I didn't put any on the sides. If you really wanted em on the sides it could be done you would need longer bolts though an perhaps washers. I used SS nuts and red Loctite and only finger tightened them for fear of cracking the plastic
 
MWDHAND

MWDHAND

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May 10, 2008
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I like it!! Did you remove the chrome on the grill or just go right over it? I have a few rock chips in my chevy grill and was thinking of something like this!! What was the brand of plastic dip that you used to?
 
Y

yellowchevy

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Sep 9, 2010
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I think you did a fine job :thumb:.
The screws make it unique in that they're alone on the top and bottom. If you were to put them all around one would think they were cold front snaps at a glance; again with that said I think it looks good.

What if you were to paint the chrome on your bumper white?
I think that would look good. But if you were to do that I feel your running boards would look better white than chrome to match your bumper.

Just throwing idea's out there for you to think about.

I'd like to make a new front bumper this winter and paint it white myself.

Yellowchevy
 
DBUSHLB7

DBUSHLB7

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MWDHAND said:
I like it!! Did you remove the chrome on the grill or just go right over it? I have a few rock chips in my chevy grill and was thinking of something like this!! What was the brand of plastic dip that you used to?
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Thanks guys! To answer your question I just went right over the old chrome junk. While I didn't do any prep work, adhesion issues are not at all evident. I can't imagine it would hurt though. The brand I bought @ Home Depot is "Performix" Plasti-Dip in Black. On the can itself it does say assorted colors so apparently this particular brand may have your color of choice! Also I feel compelled to add that as the days have passed since completion the stuff seems to have gotten harder as if it's curing/gaining full strength so if you use the product try and give your workpiece some time before use.
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DBUSHLB7

DBUSHLB7

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Mar 9, 2012
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yellowchevy said:
I think you did a fine job :thumb:.
The screws make it unique in that they're alone on the top and bottom. If you were to put them all around one would think they were cold front snaps at a glance; again with that said I think it looks good.

What if you were to paint the chrome on your bumper white?
I think that would look good. But if you were to do that I feel your running boards would look better white than chrome to match your bumper.

Just throwing idea's out there for you to think about.

I'd like to make a new front bumper this winter and paint it white myself.
Yellowchevy
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Maybe I can look into the "white" plastidip color and give it a whirl. Hell if it wares down I'll peel it off and start fresh. If it looks like hell in a hand basket I'll just peel it!
 
JoshH

JoshH

Daggum farm truck
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Feb 14, 2007
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It turned out looking pretty nice. I think you should use some of that plasti-dip to paint the A shaped bar behind the grille that the trans cooler bolts to. It kind of jumps out from behind the billet grille in the picture.
 
leehype

leehype

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Aug 16, 2012
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I think it looks good, but I agree the colors are off, almost like you got a grill off a different truck. I would explain it as too much white.


I would recommend cutting it somehow. Add a black stripe or two, a strip strait down the hood might give it that "supposed to be black" look, or fill in the body lines on the side. You could take those pictures and simply draw a few black lines in windows paint to see how it would look.

Possibly doing the fender flares black as well, and adding the screws to them as well.

I think you emulated the rims perfectly.
 
DBUSHLB7

DBUSHLB7

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JoshH said:
It turned out looking pretty nice. I think you should use some of that plasti-dip to paint the A shaped bar behind the grille that the trans cooler bolts to. It kind of jumps out from behind the billet grille in the picture.
Click to expand...

Good idea Josh thanks. Next time it's out I'll give it a go:thumb:
 
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