Any painters? Need advice

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VanGo

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My front grill on my '93 Silverado Suburban is in bad shape. It's not broken but the "chrome" film is peeling off. It seems pretty common with this vintage.
I went and bought a bare black plastic (no chrome) grill with the intention of painting it to match the body color. That and some new, clear lights should give the 'burb a fresher look.
Anyway, I haven't done much/any car paint. I was wondering what the proper way to do it is. Can I use matching color rattle can paint? Is there a primer i should use first? Can I get good results at home or do I need to take the grill to a shop?
 
Buy Krylon paint safe for plastics, a complementary color would be nice, doesnt have to be body color.
 
Agree with Zora. BUT if you have to have matching color, you can buy a primer for plastic and give it about 3 coats of that, letting it dry between coats, of course. Then use your rattle can, giving it several lite coats, letting it dry between coats and then a few coats of clear coat. You should be good to go for a while then.
 
Thanks guys. The new grill is a glossy black plastic. Do you think it needs to be lightly sanded for the primer to take hold? Should I use some sort of cleaner to prep it?
I think it will look good when painted to match. I will have to transfer the bowtie emblem over.
 
A light sanding won't hurt as long as you get your primer coats to go on evenly. But unless it's got some type of sealer over it, I wouldn't worry about scuffing it.
 
I scored a very nice front bumper today. I just need new headlight buckets and I can re-do my whole front end.
 
Cool beans. Are you going to post a picture after you get it all fixed?
 
I will do that.
The weather is great today and I expected to have the new bumper on but I ran into trouble. For some reason, the bumper brackets that I pulled with the new bumper are too long and have a different p/n from my old ones. My old ones are too bent to match up the holes in a straight bumper. So now I have to order new brackets. About $34 for both shipped from Rockauto. No one carries them locally. So I'm going to miss the nice weather and probably have to do this in the cold when they arrive :(

Lesson here: If you are swapping bumpers, even though they fit several years, make sure the brackets are the same or plan to use your old ones.
 
Man, that sucks. We have 60 degrees here today, so I helped a friend with some plumbing work and finally figured out why her ATV won't start. Bad solenoid and none of the local chain parts stores carry it, so will have to order it from the local Honda shop and put it later this week. We're expecting single digit lows Tuesday and Wednesday morning, so I'll have to work on that sum beech in the freezing weather. Gotta get it fixed for her as she's tiny (5 ft tall and 100 pounds) and needs the ATV to haul hay out to her horses. I do it about every 10 days, but she's stubborn and wants to get 3 out there by herself from time to time. She's had two back surgeries and like my wife, isn't supposed to be picking up 40 pound bails of hay. Like I said, stubborn. Sorry to hear about your stroke of bad luck, man. I know that it sucks to work on things in the cold weather. At least her ATV is in the barn!
 
She needs to take care of that back. If it goes, she won't be able to much at all for herself. Will she wear a brace or some kind of support?
I messed mine up once just picking up my male elkhound. i could barely lift a toilet lid to pee. It was a fluke, but I try to lift correctly now.

Brackets are enroute from Rockauto. Just need to decide what day to tackle this bumper again.

I'm thinking of painting the new grill the same blue-green and the body, but painting the center grill area the same grey as the old one.
 
She's got rods, screws and a "cage" in her back, just like my wife does. Neither one wears a brace as doctors have told them they don't need one. I've also been there, done that like you with the back. I have two "bulging" discs, but won't allow any doctor to touch my back. Maybe when I get to where I can't walk at all, but not before then. Wife has had 5 back surgeries in 25 years and is getting progressively worse after each.
 
Can't wait to see some pics. It sounds like it will look great!
 
It may take a while before it's ready for pics. I don't have much free time...and it's too cold!
I just got my new bumper brackets. They match my old beat up ones - shorter than the ones that came with the bumper I bought. I looked at a 4X4 in the parking lot and the bumper does extend out about an inch more than my 2WD. I have no idea why.
Painting the new grill is the most intimidating part of this project. I figure I only have one chance to make it look right. I still need to buy the new light buckets. Can't decide to stay with the OEM look or go with the newer styles e.g. angel eyes, HID, LED parking etc. Lots of choices on ebay and Amazon. I'm open to ideas that have worked for you guys.
 
I've never done that, but would just say look at every available option you can find and then just pick the one that you like best. Who cares if anyone else likes it or not? It's your ride and you should get it looking the way you like it.
 
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