Nothig Special... Just another DIY Grille!
10-02-05, 11:39 AM
#17
Originally Posted by jefftsai
Is that some overspray i see on your headlights? 
Claybar should fix that
If its heavily pitted, get some 600,800,1000,2000 grit sandpaper and some Novus plastic polish. Stuf works GOOD! Takes out all the swirlies and rock pits. Worked for my set of retrofits. I'll post some pix if i get a chance.
Claybar should fix that
If its heavily pitted, get some 600,800,1000,2000 grit sandpaper and some Novus plastic polish. Stuf works GOOD! Takes out all the swirlies and rock pits. Worked for my set of retrofits. I'll post some pix if i get a chance.
10-02-05, 01:54 PM
#18
Well, I see that your car is a 1999. 6 years on the road will eventually scratch and pit the front lenses on the headlights. I think thats what im seeing? Or maybe its just the lighting.
I bought an extra set of used headlights from a 1998 or 1999 to do my retrofit project. They were pitted and scrached when i recieved them. After the polishing treatment....they look like the ones on my car which is a 2005. Give me a few hrs to find the pix.
I bought an extra set of used headlights from a 1998 or 1999 to do my retrofit project. They were pitted and scrached when i recieved them. After the polishing treatment....they look like the ones on my car which is a 2005. Give me a few hrs to find the pix.
10-25-05, 02:00 PM
#19
Originally Posted by Stage3
I used Duplicolor Color Matched Paint for Toyota/Lexus (ds100). (Advance auto parts $4.99) It came out VERY close. The only difference is the car paint has more shine to it. I was thinking about doing the chrome trim, but that looks like it might be a LOT of work.
The DIY is pretty straight forward.
After taking the grille off the car:
Clean the grill to make sure there is no bug juice or oil on it.
Wipe if off with an anti static cloth to get all the excess oils and thing of the like off the grille.
Then just spray the first coat of paint. Let it dry for about 30 min each coat. Repeat as needed to cover all of the grille evenly.
Just a few words, if you want the grille to look oem black, then you may want to take off all the stuff that covers the chrome on the grille. It shows some peak and valleys where the grille coating was chiped away. Doesnt look all that bad, but under and up close inspection it may look like it was done with a paint brush. If i can get a picture of it that comes out clear I'll post it to show!
The DIY is pretty straight forward.
After taking the grille off the car:
Clean the grill to make sure there is no bug juice or oil on it.
Wipe if off with an anti static cloth to get all the excess oils and thing of the like off the grille.
Then just spray the first coat of paint. Let it dry for about 30 min each coat. Repeat as needed to cover all of the grille evenly.
Just a few words, if you want the grille to look oem black, then you may want to take off all the stuff that covers the chrome on the grille. It shows some peak and valleys where the grille coating was chiped away. Doesnt look all that bad, but under and up close inspection it may look like it was done with a paint brush. If i can get a picture of it that comes out clear I'll post it to show!
If you are painting over chrome and you want it to stay that way, you should use a etching primer to bite into the chrome so the paint wont come off easyly. They have other stuff too at the local auto stores, or automotive paint stores. If you notice how easy the stock grill paint chips and with a bit of acetone on a rag the paint comes right off, But if it was etched it would be very difficlut to remove. Just my sudjestions for a longer lasting paint job. You do lose your ability to go back to chrome though.
10-25-05, 06:37 PM
#21
Originally Posted by JMgs300
How much will a bodyshop charge to paint the grill black? Cause i dont wanna mess with trying to do it myself...
10-25-05, 07:51 PM
#22
Oh yea, I just saw this post and realized I never posted the pictures 
Anyways here we go.
1. Original headlight lens up close (it was in pretty bad shape....from a used 98 or 99)
2. Mild Polishing. Hand sand/polish. Sandpapers(multiple grits 15mins) + Novus(10mins)
3. Finishing polish. Novus 15mins with orbital polisher.
I was going to do a complete DIY guide on my retrofit project, but it seemed like there wasn't much interest back when I posted about it.
Anyways here we go.
1. Original headlight lens up close (it was in pretty bad shape....from a used 98 or 99)
2. Mild Polishing. Hand sand/polish. Sandpapers(multiple grits 15mins) + Novus(10mins)
3. Finishing polish. Novus 15mins with orbital polisher.
I was going to do a complete DIY guide on my retrofit project, but it seemed like there wasn't much interest back when I posted about it.
10-25-05, 09:07 PM
#23
Lexus Test Driver
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: California
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i had painted my grill all black when i got the car, never again. It looks 100x better with the chrome trim around the outside, had to get another grill for that look but it was worth it.
10-26-05, 05:34 AM
#24
Originally Posted by EFMJR
Not sure, shouldnt be too much but then, it all depends on the shop. What grill do you got? I got one here that the chrome is dull, I might be able to paint it and see how it looks.
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