ok... now that the headlights are completly done... Its time for the grille...
The head lights look B E A Utiful and id like to kinda match them with a Darker 5.5 grille...
so....
What kinda prep work does the 5.5 grille need?
Who has Painted their grille theirself?(NOT BODY SHOP) Results? pics?
What kinda paint did you use...?
Was a Clear coat needed/used?

Headlights are black(pics tomorrow) what would be a good color to match?
I dunno if i wanna go all out black...heres a couple options i thought of....
1. Reverse paint it... Silver in the back (where the black was) And black on the front (where the silver used to be)
2. All Black
3. Gunmetal type color
4. Metallic color...unsure about that one...
5. Just repaint it stock
6. Paint it Merlot(last option as i dont wanna have to try and match my body)

Any thoughts, suggestions, or ideas.... just shoot em my way...
i already searched and didnt come up with alot...

So come on guys help me out...

thanks in ADVANCE!

 

Black or Merlot. IMO Color matches look good, but since you did the headlights black, a black grille won't look bad at all. The rest would look terrible.

I just did mine in Black (to match). Came out pretty good if I do say so myself. I didn't take it to a shop, just took my time.

My stuff: Duplicolor Sandable Primer, Black Lacquer, Clear Lacquer (clearcoat), 400 & 1000 grit sandpaper.

Steps: Remove grille (3 bolts on top, 4 clips on bottom, I kinda just yanked it out after the bolts), Emblem clips out.

Clean, and wetsand 400 grit. Spray primer. Repeat once more.

Spray Black, wetsand 1000 grit (not hard, just to get imperfections out), repeat 3-4 more times. Last time, don't sand.

Spray Clear, wetsand 1000 grit very lightly, repeat a few times, after last spray don't sand.

Go by the drying times on the cans. You should be good.

Btw, if you want to Match up the Merlot, check this site out: http://www.paintscratch.com/

I'll post a picture of mine in a second. It didn't come out too glossy, nor too flat. Looks good IMO.

 

 

Looks GREAT! Man... thanks for the steps... it will help!!
ANybody else got some info and pics?

 

No problem, I'll try to get a better pic when the car is clean. Unfortunately, its raining now then projected snow during/after the weekend. Good luck with the project. It was fun for me, especially driving the car without a grille for a couple of days.

 

I just finished mine last night. I did it to match the textured finish I did in my headlights. It looks like textured plastic. I just took some pics for now but the car is really dirty. I'm afraid I'd get banned for a few weeks if I posted pics of my car in that state. You can check them out here though. http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrow...der_id=1790887

 

Once you paint the grill you should black out the chrome trim around the windows. It's not that hard to remove for painting.

 

that painted window trim looks great! nice work looks more smooth that way hah

 

looks good ... might try that....

 

nothing to do with your paint, but im feeling your setup in your trunk, did you do the work?

 

You should paint the grille to match the body IMO. I think I saw a merlot color in Pep Boys. Yes you need to clear it, it'll last longer and the finish will match a lot better.

If you do go with a color then go with something that will flow better with the merlot color. All black I'm just not feelin that.

 

im remixing it a lil.... its a suprise... lol i hope it will turn out right... i will post pics in a day or 2...

 

I have a hookup at a local Audio specialtist, i designed it and they made it happen... i love it but i miss my trunk space lol
thanks for the compliments!!!!!!

 

Half-way finished... hopefully i will get some good pics in the mornin when the sun comes up!!!!

 

I panted mine black, look good and matches my tint, plus i plna on tinting the houseing onthe headlights.

I wet snaded with 2000 grid sand paper, and paint with some kralon platic paint, did a few coats and some wet sanding in between.

Come out pritty good.

 

Did you use a clear coat ?

 

off topic on my own thread... i see you have a AFCII... how does that work? is it hard to hookup, or to program? U can send me a PM if you want...thanks bro

 

Came out nicely. If you didn't use a clear then you should. Plain and simple.

With that being said I still thin you should've went with the body color. I think it would've flowed a lot better. I guess I'm partial to that though so it's like whatever...

 

would have done body color but couldnt find the paint in a can, and i dont feel like spending the money to have a shop paint just my grill.

Yes i did do a very thin coat of clear coat. For some reaon the clear was giving me problems tho, orange peal and etc..... had to wet sand it alot.




As for the afc, is easy to hook up , theres directions in the stickies, and you gotta have a shop that knows what they are doing tune it.

 

I saw a merlot color paint at PepBoys yesterday. However, you have Pu$$y Pink so I'm sure you would have a hard time matching that. Ha...

By the way it's better to put your clear on a couple of days later. Especially Clear in a can.

 

I got my supplies at Pepboys... they dont have merlot what so ever... they had one that is so close you cant tell a difference but the name is different... im 80% done with my grille....

Black front and Merlot in the back... it looks so sick!
I will post pics soon... but as you said body color does look the best... this is temporary until i have a reason to go to the body shop... paying for a grille to be painted = 200 or so buckos... asking them to paint the grille while there painting a body kit lip or the front bumper and it might be 20 bucks if not free... but this temporary fix is lookin better ever minute!

 

body colored grill on merlot looks sick thats all i have to say.

 

nice, post up the pics and the color you bought asap bro!

 

Yeah the merlot color ( replica ) was the one I was talking about. Looking forward to see what you come up with.

 

Not very good pictures..... but I paint matched my grille also.... Better pics later....




Oil spots on the ground definately not from my Max!

Closer look....

 

^ that looks nice man! looks a lot better color matched...but i don't think that the pearl white one will look as good =/ i did a photoshop and don't like how it looks lol

 

update... the cold weather is killing my painting ability... i went for the last coat and it orange pealed on me... so i may just end up painting the whole thing black... but gotta wait till the weather gets warmer...

 

Finally got some pics I'm not ashamed of with the textured finish. If the clear doesn't work out you can do this finish over it. It's easier to get a finish without blemishes.

 

That looks great! I wanted to do what you did with the mesh there! How did you get it to stay and how did you do it?

 

There's a how to near the end of this thread. http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=488890
I'm also selling them painted and ready to install if you don't want the headache of cutting and fitting them.

 

Nice JOB...it matches really good wit ur car...I also like ur LIP i'm plannin in gettin one SOON too...

 

Paint it Merlot. You may also want to do your engine cover as well. Go to my cardomain to see what the engine bay looks like when the cover is painted. My sig should show the grill. I'll get a better pic up soon.

 

How much? Thanks.

 

You have a PM.