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

 

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

 

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.

 

hmmmm... the electric boot that kicks sooner in the nuts everytime a thread like this is started must not be working today...

 

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.

 

dont go by this guys words above ive done it and now the grille is beyond repair

cost me a decent chunk of change and time to track down a new grille

 

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.

 

i did step by step instructions by his guidelines

i like to think im half decent at painting things

ive done a couple of pieces and came out ok
i dunno maybe a bad batch of paint or something

 

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.

 

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

 

sooner must have been at work

 

just put on 3rd coat of paint...so far pretty easy...il post pics when finished

 

When I painted my front bumper, I painted my grille the same color and I took out the chrome insert

 

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.

 

i didnt sand anything and mine is fine a year later

 

hey sooner, what is that white can for? or is that clear coat.

and that total prep. is that cleaner for after the sanding before primer?

 

white is clear coat
i didnt sand...just cleaned before i started painting

 

i didn't even notice the text above the picture..... thats embarrasing....

 

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...

 

here we go



tint is coming next month and thinkin about goin w/ smoked side markers and ebay black/clear tails

 

 

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

 

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?

 

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.

 

I'm thinking of painting the grill and GLE wheels in silver

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showpost.ph...5&postcount=10

 

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

 

there are two clips. i think they are in the center somewhere. lemme look at my pics

 

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.

 

I came across your thread when I searched but it makes no mention of how many ounches of each I need...thats all I really want to know. I dont want to fall short of anything

 

the spray cans usually come in two sizes...get the larger one

 

did you cover the emblem with tape or just pull it off and glue it back on? my grill could use some fresh paint.

 

The emblem is clipped on, comes off real easily once you have the grill off the car.

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...