DYI painting 5.5 grill write ups
11-04-2007, 09:56 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MA, wrentham/umass dartmouth
Posts: 410
DYI painting 5.5 grill write ups
hey i looked everywhere for write ups on do it yourself painting the 5.5 grill. i just need to know things like if i need to sand, need primer and what paint and clear coats work best. after the org was updated i lost all the links to these so if anyone could help me out that would be great. thanks
11-04-2007, 10:30 AM
#2
If you still have the links, you should read the stickies around the forum. http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=537445
Anyway, if you search there's a lot of info on it...I just picked two random ones. Search and you'll find the rest.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ht=paint+grill
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ht=paint+grill
Anyway, if you search there's a lot of info on it...I just picked two random ones. Search and you'll find the rest.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ht=paint+grill
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ht=paint+grill
11-04-2007, 11:04 AM
#3
I got my paint and stuff from here
http://www.levineautoparts.com/spraycanofto.html
its a pritty good match
but i gotta say painting takes alil skill, and maybe even some practice....
Just google it up and read up as much as you can ,theres realy no write-up on it.
http://www.levineautoparts.com/spraycanofto.html
its a pritty good match
but i gotta say painting takes alil skill, and maybe even some practice....
Just google it up and read up as much as you can ,theres realy no write-up on it.
11-04-2007, 11:17 AM
#5
Here are details on how I'm doing mine (2nd time around):
Need:
400-600-800-1000 grit sandpaper
Duplicolor Sandable Primer
Duplicolor Gloss Black (or get matching paint for your color)
Duplicolor Gloss Clear
1. Wet sand grille with 400, keeping sandpaper and grille wet at all times. This allows sand to wash off and not adhere between grille and primer/paint. Make grille nice and smooth, especially if you have any pits or chips.
2. Spray the grille with primer, holding can as far as directions state. Do a few light coats, making sure area is covered in primer. Let dry in between coats, time depends on primer.
3. I like to do a light wet sand at this point to get rid of any dust or anything caught in between. 600 grit, very lightly not to pull primer off. Clean off grille with wet towel, then dry.
4. Start spraying paint light coats, same methods, but I do a light wet sand of 800 in between coats: Paint, dry, wet sand 800 grit, clean, paint...
I'll do this process around 5-6 times to get grille covered. Once painted, let dry, clean off, don't wet sand after last coat.
5. Spray clearcoat, 3-4 coats, using same process as paint but wetsand lightly 1000 grit in between. Last coat, no wetsand after.
Need:
400-600-800-1000 grit sandpaper
Duplicolor Sandable Primer
Duplicolor Gloss Black (or get matching paint for your color)
Duplicolor Gloss Clear
1. Wet sand grille with 400, keeping sandpaper and grille wet at all times. This allows sand to wash off and not adhere between grille and primer/paint. Make grille nice and smooth, especially if you have any pits or chips.
2. Spray the grille with primer, holding can as far as directions state. Do a few light coats, making sure area is covered in primer. Let dry in between coats, time depends on primer.
3. I like to do a light wet sand at this point to get rid of any dust or anything caught in between. 600 grit, very lightly not to pull primer off. Clean off grille with wet towel, then dry.
4. Start spraying paint light coats, same methods, but I do a light wet sand of 800 in between coats: Paint, dry, wet sand 800 grit, clean, paint...
I'll do this process around 5-6 times to get grille covered. Once painted, let dry, clean off, don't wet sand after last coat.
5. Spray clearcoat, 3-4 coats, using same process as paint but wetsand lightly 1000 grit in between. Last coat, no wetsand after.
11-04-2007, 03:24 PM
#7
seems like you did something wrong, the guys instructions are pretty good. He did alot of extra sanding, but overall it was good. You have to make sure you give enough time for paint/clear to dry before attempting to sand, especially at colder temps.
11-04-2007, 06:26 PM
#9
if you use some generic cheap paint, that could defenitly mess it up, or if you did not clean it well with pre-paint cleaner or alcohol at least.
11-04-2007, 06:46 PM
#10
use cleaner (on left) on whole grill 2-3 times
5-7 light layers of paint (letting dry completely between layers)
3-4 light layers of clearcoat (on the right) (letting dry completely between layers)
TAKE YOUR TIME...DO NOT RUSH
been driving it like that for almost a year with no problems
5-7 light layers of paint (letting dry completely between layers)
3-4 light layers of clearcoat (on the right) (letting dry completely between layers)
TAKE YOUR TIME...DO NOT RUSH
been driving it like that for almost a year with no problems
11-04-2007, 09:04 PM
#14
I'm gonna disagree... the guidelines are easy to follow. If you mess up, sand down smooth, primer, and do it again. You had to have really eff'd up something to need a new grille.
11-04-2007, 09:58 PM
#17
i didnt sand...just cleaned before i started painting
use cleaner (on left) on whole grill 2-3 times
5-7 light layers of paint (letting dry completely between layers)
3-4 light layers of clearcoat (on the right) (letting dry completely between layers)
TAKE YOUR TIME...DO NOT RUSH
been driving it like that for almost a year with no problems
5-7 light layers of paint (letting dry completely between layers)
3-4 light layers of clearcoat (on the right) (letting dry completely between layers)
TAKE YOUR TIME...DO NOT RUSH
been driving it like that for almost a year with no problems
11-05-2007, 03:19 PM
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MA, wrentham/umass dartmouth
Posts: 410
grille is done...came out really good. gives it a little more of an aggressive look without over doing it. i would post pics but for some reason when up upload on cardomain the pics dont show up...
11-05-2007, 04:22 PM
#22
colors like black, white, are easier to match so u can get away with more.
Painting does take some skill. I didnt get this right the first time around like many others , and even the second time, i learned new stuff and still wish i did things diffrent !
G. luck
Painting does take some skill. I didnt get this right the first time around like many others , and even the second time, i learned new stuff and still wish i did things diffrent !
G. luck
11-20-2007, 10:43 PM
#23
how many ounces of the basecoat, clearcoat and primer do I need for painting the WHOLE grill? And in addition to sandpaper are these all the 4 things I need? thanks in advance
just to clarify, the clearcoat is the last step after the basecoat correct?
anyone?
just to clarify, the clearcoat is the last step after the basecoat correct?
anyone?
Last edited by pbn85; 11-21-2007 at 06:13 AM.
11-20-2007, 11:19 PM
#24
I followed the process that sooner used when I did mine. Well I didn't use the total prep, but cleaned it really good with water and let it dry and then sprayed some bullydog paint adhesion promoter on it. After it dried enough per instructions, I coated it every 10 mins 6-7 times until I got the look I wanted. Then I sprayed clear coat 3-4 times on top of that. Turned out really nice. No sanding involved.
11-21-2007, 06:24 AM
#26
11-21-2007, 07:33 AM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 731
I'm in the process of painting my grill as we speak (well, I would be if i could get the grill off.)
I got the three bolts off the back of the grille on my 2k2 (one on each side, and the PITA one in the center behind the burger), and i took off the 4 push-in's on the top that hold the bumper in place.
But I can't get the grill out of the car! Ive been searching and all I find is threads like these with info on how to paint, but how the hell do you get the friggin grill out. The whole thing is loose, can move in/out about 2-4cm or so... but it wont come out any farther. I'm hesitant to pull and pry any harder then I already have with my hands.
Are there snaps/clips somewhere that I should be focusing on to get it to pop out? Or did i miss some bolts
I got the three bolts off the back of the grille on my 2k2 (one on each side, and the PITA one in the center behind the burger), and i took off the 4 push-in's on the top that hold the bumper in place.
But I can't get the grill out of the car! Ive been searching and all I find is threads like these with info on how to paint, but how the hell do you get the friggin grill out. The whole thing is loose, can move in/out about 2-4cm or so... but it wont come out any farther. I'm hesitant to pull and pry any harder then I already have with my hands.
Are there snaps/clips somewhere that I should be focusing on to get it to pop out? Or did i miss some bolts
11-21-2007, 07:36 AM
#28
I'm in the process of painting my grill as we speak (well, I would be if i could get the grill off.)
I got the three bolts off the back of the grille on my 2k2 (one on each side, and the PITA one in the center behind the burger), and i took off the 4 push-in's on the top that hold the bumper in place.
But I can't get the grill out of the car! Ive been searching and all I find is threads like these with info on how to paint, but how the hell do you get the friggin grill out. The whole thing is loose, can move in/out about 2-4cm or so... but it wont come out any farther. I'm hesitant to pull and pry any harder then I already have with my hands.
Are there snaps/clips somewhere that I should be focusing on to get it to pop out? Or did i miss some bolts
I got the three bolts off the back of the grille on my 2k2 (one on each side, and the PITA one in the center behind the burger), and i took off the 4 push-in's on the top that hold the bumper in place.
But I can't get the grill out of the car! Ive been searching and all I find is threads like these with info on how to paint, but how the hell do you get the friggin grill out. The whole thing is loose, can move in/out about 2-4cm or so... but it wont come out any farther. I'm hesitant to pull and pry any harder then I already have with my hands.
Are there snaps/clips somewhere that I should be focusing on to get it to pop out? Or did i miss some bolts
11-21-2007, 07:48 AM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 731
Sorry, followed a link in this thread and found someone that said there was 3 bolts and 4 clips on the bottom, just did some yanking much harder then I wouldve liked to and it popped out.
Wish me luck, off to paint my grille + side markers black.
Wish me luck, off to paint my grille + side markers black.
11-21-2007, 08:17 AM
#30
11-21-2007, 08:19 AM
#31
11-21-2007, 11:10 AM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 731
My stuff is in the basement right now, letting the primer set before i start the black. Just finished shining up my burger too.
*EDIT: Sorry, i see you have a 00 max. I cant vouch for how your emblem is attached, as it is a smaller one then mine. Someone else that knows could probably reply...
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