How-To: Prep/paint grille inserts (03+)

OB · Post by OB » Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:46 pm

Ive spent the last 3 days carefully prepping and painting my inserts and I figured id give a quick how to for those of you who are interested in doing this (or even something similar). Id like to acknowledge the help and info I got from 03_SXT, aka Amit, who is responsible for some of the paint info below. Here we go:

1. Removal of inserts:

Take a flathead driver (or equivelant) and pry them off GENTLY, being careful of the paint. Use something with a less harsh edge if you are worried about the paint. Use leverage from the grille to pop them off one clip at a time, starting from the outer ones and working in. Be careful not to break them, they are plastic.

2. Prep work

Start by sanding with a mid-grit, removing the chrome layer. After youre done they should look like smooth aluminum. Take your time and keep it even and smooth.

Next clean the inserts with soap and water and be careful not to get oil or grease on the surface to be painted.

3. Primer

Get a good auto primer (plastic works too) and make sure it is wet sandable. Shake the can up and lay on 2-4 light coats from about 10" away. See can for dry-time between coats. For best look and max smoothness, wet sand in between the last couple coats, but make sure you let them dry for at least a few hours before doing this. Allow the primer as long as possible to dry (using quick dry worked good and allowed me to paint the same day as prep).

4. Paint

Sand the primered surface nice and smooth, then clean it with soap and water again and get ready to paint. Start by doing a few light coats, letting each dry for 10 mins or so. I did 4 coats i believe, each about 10-20 mins apart. Allow 24 hours to dry for best results.

If the paint doesnt look quite right, or if it looks a bit thin, do the above step over again, but only do as many coats as you feel necessary. Feel free to wet sand between before respraying to smooth the surface. I suggest 1000 or so grit so as not to damage the paint so far.

Allow 24 hours of dry time before next step.

5. Clear coat

After dry-time for the paint, get a good auto clear coat and apply after LIGHTLY sanding the surface with a very fine paper, like 2000.
If the paint looks ready to go, apply 2-4 light clear coats, and allow another 24 hours to dry. If needed, wet sand with the 2000 grit once more afterwards to smooth things out. All done!

Ill have finished pics up soon, as soon as i get a sunny day! good luck

neonpla · Post by **neonpla** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 2:56 am

nice writeup.

Nick Drake · Post by **Nick Drake** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 4:00 pm

Before and after pics?

Thanks for the stepbystep pics though, I've been thinking about doing this for a while.

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 12:14 am

Damn OB, nice job. I knew you were wanting to do this at one point. Good to see you take the initiative!! Awesome write up bro.

OB · Post by OB » Sun Mar 19, 2006 5:38 am

thanks for the compliments guys, i have after pics but i havent got time to load em on yet. expect em by monday or tuesday. i might get some old pics up too for before shots.

03_SXT · Post by **03_SXT** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 12:32 pm

Here are before & after pictures...

~Amit

DJ CptnCrnch · Post by **DJ CptnCrnch** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 7:49 pm

yeah im gonna have to do that to my car...it looks so much better...project time

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 9:40 pm

Funny story, but when I was looking to buy a Neon (before I got my present ACR) I stayed away from the 03 because of the huge chrome "smile" on the grill. I hated it, so I decided to buy an 02 or earlier. I ended up of course with the ACR.

BTW - that black car is s3xy with the painted grill.

OB · Post by OB » Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:10 pm

here are my after pics, enjoy!

03_SXT · Post by **03_SXT** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:13 pm

I know what your next project is.

The horizontal and verticle slates on the lower portion of your bumper should be flat black, to match the black plastic of the honeycomb grille up on top.

I'm trying to imagine it my head, and I think it would look nice.

~Amit

BTW: The car looks 100%, I hate chrome on Neons...

OB · Post by OB » Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:27 pm

I like those the way they are. A lot of people like the black deal, but to me it just looks silly. I think the more things match the better. I even thought about painting my eyelids to match, but the CF is pretty nice lookin so im gonna leave em be. how do u like the results?

03_SXT · Post by **03_SXT** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:30 pm

I like it, it looks much better. Gives the front less of a happy face, and more of a smooth, and sleek look.

OB · Post by OB » Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:31 pm

yeah thats exactly what i think too. thanks again for all your help, all your advice worked perfectly. I learned quite a bit about painting with this project.

03_SXT · Post by **03_SXT** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:36 pm

I'm glad you did, it helps out a lot knowing just a little when you want to do small jobs like this.

I think my next job is to sand down my painted interior peices and match them (the finish at least) with the center bezel and shifter bezel.

But seriously, if you ever get your hands on an 03+ bumper for dirt cheap, try out the flat black idea. It would match very nicely with the upper grille. I would do it, but my car is black, so no point.

What's the next project?

~Amit

OB · Post by OB » Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:10 am

pron gonna paint match some of the underhood goodies just for shits and grins. theyre already orange but not obpearl. I was thinkin of painting my rt skirts whenever i get em too, would that be a bit too much u think? or would i save money doing it myself?

03_SXT · Post by **03_SXT** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:12 am

For something like sideskirts, I would let a body shop take care of that. No matter how much prep work and sanding you do, rattle can spray paint with a clear will never look like the paint on your car.

The body shop uses a high quality spray gun, feed with an airline that gives out a steady flow of paint, so each layer is significantly smoother than what a rattle can can do. They also use a professional grade clear coat as well, which really brings out the depth and shine of the paint.

About under the hood, make sure you find something high temperature, I painted my airbox cover and paint started to bubble within a few months. Get stuff powder coated, there is nothing better...

~Amit

OB · Post by OB » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:19 am

The chrysler orange paint I have under there now is high heat, as well as the clear coat enamel I have over it. If I use the orangeblast paint and put some clear coats on top, will that be alright, or will the paint under the clear still be affected?

03_SXT · Post by **03_SXT** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:23 am

If the paint isn't high heat, then it will probably start to bubble under the clear coat.

You said its high temp so don't worry about it.

~Amit

p8ntballah413 · Post by **p8ntballah413** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:00 pm

where did u find that mopar spray paint, im looking to do some eyelids and some interior pieces

03sxt · Post by **03sxt** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:02 pm

p8ntballah413 wrote:where did u find that mopar spray paint, im looking to do some eyelids and some interior pieces

I believe the dealership sells it for about $9 a can. There was also a SRT site that sold cans, too, but now I can't find my link.

reppinthe2.0 · Post by **reppinthe2.0** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:24 pm

thanks for the write up, im gonna do my OB but my inserts black

p8ntballah413 · Post by **p8ntballah413** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:38 pm

andys auto sport has it for 12 a can, cg interior and eyelids here i come lol

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:50 pm

hey derek, i tihnk you should also list what parts are all needed to do this.

scneonchic · Post by **scneonchic** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:50 pm

Looks really nice, OB!! a define improvement

Frizbe · Post by **Frizbe** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:11 pm

reppinthe2.0 wrote:thanks for the write up, im gonna do my OB but my inserts black

Don't do black It looks like ish.

OB · Post by OB » Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:28 am

linkin18t wrote:
reppinthe2.0 wrote:thanks for the write up, im gonna do my OB but my inserts black
Don't do black It looks like ish.

yeah black was my original thought too, but im glad i went with body color, black would prob look a bit cheap. maybe try painting it flat black and see if u like it, but dont do lots of coats and whatnot, just one test coat. if u dont then sand it and redo it.

Frizbe · Post by **Frizbe** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:04 pm

Black:

Body Color:

Some more:

It looks like a Dee-dee-dee smileing when the inserts are black.

MoxHair · Post by **MoxHair** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:04 pm

Never liked the chrome inserts ( I dont really like anything chrome). Looks much better now.

koreysxt · Post by **koreysxt** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 1:54 pm

Hummm -- black isn't bad either. It would be easier, and less worry about the "perfect paint match"...

grambo · Post by **grambo** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:13 pm

Gotta' give cred dude.....OB....nice job man. Write up was great. Inserts came out flawlessly. And the ride looks MUCH better. Very cool man.