I'm looking for a cheap fix to a crack in the paint on the front edge of the hood. Was cracked when I got the car, about 1 inch long, looks like the aluminum hood flexed when someone went to push down on it, and the paint didn't make the stretch. Of course painting the hood would mean a blend onto the fenders, best guess $500 I don't want to spend.

The crack is about 3/4 an inch away from the edge of the hood, so I though why not a chrome stickon molding from another car? I'd like to cover almost 33 inches...but as long as I'm close to that within .5 inch either way I think I'm ok. I don't want to exceed 1" thick either, but I'm slightly flexible as long as the length is perfect.

None of the online stores have dimensions as they're OEM style for other cars. Want to stay around the $50 mark. I could get an esclade molding for over $100, and I'm sure it looks killer, but for that kind of money I might as well just get it painted one day.

Anyone done this before or can recommended OEM replacement model that would work on that section of hood? BTW, I've already got a chrome aftermarket grill, so it should blend in well...

Here's one for a GMC Envoy, looks decent when you see the pictures of the truck. I'd have to find one on a lot to measure it off unless someone knows somebody and can help me out. Doesn't need to be this one, it's just a good price and concept is there...

http://www.partstrain.com/store/deta...d=thefind&cj=1

 

what color is your car/

 

Thats gonna look horrible.

Posting a pic or two would help us help you...

 

Please don't......


Just go to either online or the dealership and ask for some touch up paint. Do you know the paint code? If not, then just give them the VIN number and you'll be all set.

 

Go to Maaco and get it painted before thinking about adding a chrome strip. Or you can go 80's style and put a Bra on it.

 

I apreciate everyone's input, but it's not going to be that bad, I promise you, and I've considered the alternatives.

I can't touch this up, it's a crack where the paint is popping up. The only way to fix the paint is to sand and spray, which means the whole hood and blending to the fenders is nessessary.

This isn't my car, mine's silver, but this is the grill I have on it:






The Strip would look like this on an Avalon, not so bad...:

 

CTS has a nice setup here:

 

smh

 

I appreciate that of the thousands of uses here some are going to have a negative opinion about this idea. I'm just looking for help locating something that will fit well, not looking for Off Topic comments.

Thank you...

 

i like the chrome strips.... they look good down the side also. (at the bottom)

 

i see where your going with this but like KCmaxx said a pic of the issue would help us help you.

 

A picture of what, the crack in teh paint? I don't really need help with that. I know the only fix is to paint the whole hood. What I'm considering is covering the front center part of the hood with chrome, and was hoping someone had a line on something OEM from another car manufacturer that would fill the dimensions...



The section that goes over the grill. The right and left sections bweteen the grill and headlights I wouldn't chrome.

A rough 33 Inches long (half inch either way I think could still do it) 3/4 inch minimum wide, to 1 inch, but that's flexible depending on the molding.

Then there's the thickness to consider. A lot of these OEM I'm seeing there's actually a deep recession in the shape of the hood to accommodate for the thickness of the chrome strip...so that it runs near flush with the rest of the hood. Most of those are going to be a bump up on the flat part of the Maxima hood. So I'm thinking no more then 1/4 inch thick, but that may be flexible depending on design.

Even just ideas on a car someone's seen that might be long enough, I can check the measurements even if I have to go to a dealership with a tape measure.

 

Or maybe if it was long enough, I could chrome all the way to the right and left crease in the hood, (not the seam with the fender, but the crease), just position the chrome piece down low enough to cover the gap...hmmmm I don't have measurements for that, but quick guess I'd say at least 3 more inches per side. So more like 39-40 inches, but would need to be 1 inch for certain to pull that off..

 

Yeah not sure on this one, go for it and see what happens!

 

I was just saying that putting up a pic would help with different ideas but stick with it, whatever floats your boat..

 

smh

 

This looks like somebody farted in a shoe