Okay, I stripped the black residue from my stock grill and here are my recommendations:
DO get nail polish remover in liquid form
DO use a toothbrush (soft) This is a MUST
DO NOT screw with anything harsher than the nail polish remover. (I tried to kick it up a notch and the rubber started coming loose from my grill. I quickly washed it off with soap and the rubber settled back down firmly in place and has stayed just fine)

As others have said this will take you just about all day to complete. Is it worth it? Well, I have a silver GS and to me it looks stellar. I can't imagine any color other than black that someone wouldn't want to do this to. Kudos to the member who had the gumption and ***** to complete this nifty trick. I highly recommend it. Feel free to ask any questions on my experience.

 

Hey Fever, can you explain a little more at just what u did. I have a silver GS also and I am interested in making the front grill chrome. How did you get it chrome, did you paint it yourself?

mc

 

Fever, I had thoughts of doing this. Is the black paint really that stubborn to come off the grill?

 

I used "air craft" remover, it is a very strong automotive paint remover with a brush. That took about 90% of the black paint off and then to touch all the nooks and cranny's I used a tooth brush, a towel, and laquer thinner. It took me a little while but it looks sooooo good!

 

Bingo. That would work even better and should be safe on the chrome. I just didn't want to take any chances and went with the acetone sp? (nail polish remover).

 

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24842&highlight=chrome+stock+grille

I took the grill off and had several weapons at my disposal just from Home Depot or your local hardware store:
Acetone sp? (nail polish remover can be had anywhere)
Soft bristle toothbrush (very important)
Rags and towel
Qtips
Fine guage steel wool (maybe triple O)

Take the toothbrush and a glass of nail polish remover to dip it in and put the grill over the towel. Start dipping the toothbrush in the polish and scrape away at the grill. It takes time and scrubbing and redipping to get the job done. Don't expect fast results with this method. I like it because I know it came off clean and without incident.
Now, one member mentioned that he dechromed the two horizontal slats and thought it looked funny. Well, I have bits of chrome that are showing on these slats and plan on probably painting them 100% black again. I think with these 2 slats painted black it really shows the grill off more and adds more pop but it isn't a huge deal, trust me. You can always go back and paint those bad boys in thirty minutes. Also, I decided to leave the inside of the circle around the "L" Lexus logo in black as well as the outside and inside of the actual "L". I think it gives the emblem some dimension against the chrome grill. It looks like a smoking, classy stock grill with major pop without screaming out.
I wasn't going for this look at all but the front end reminds me quite a bit of Benz's CL. It's sweet and cost fifteen bucks.
I almost forgot, feel free to clean up any extra residue with the fine guage steel wool. I use this guage steel wool to recapture shine on the chrome of my 53 Packard. It works like a champ but takes a little elbow grease. And it's 100% safe.

 

Could someone post a picture of the grill chrome? I have been thinking the grill would look great chrome but did not know it was chrome under the black. I was going to take it to the chromer:eek: !

Thanks,

Matt

 

Thanks Fever, can't wait to get started. It's still hard to believe that all you have to do is scrape the black paint off, and instantly, you have a chrome grill.

mc

 

I'm getting the fever to do my grill too...Any trick to popping the grill out?

 

No trick to getting the grill off (just a socket wrench and I think a number 10) but be careful about the two rubber stoppers at the bottom of the grill. They can come off pretty easy and are a ***** to find. I recommend you tape them down so you won't lose them as you work on your grill.

 

Finished scraping the paint off my grill. Thanks Fever, It looks sick. I have to admit also that the toothbrush became my best friend. The hours upon hours and sore fingers are well worth it though. I'll try to post a pic.

mc

 

How hardy is the chrome? Any dangers of going through it or scratching? I take it is plastic underneath?

Thanx.

Ryan

 

I just finished mine and its off the chain, thanks for the tip. I got a few of my own if anybody wants to do it. Halla...

 

I'm getting really anxious to do this but I don't have all day. I want to hear details about the tougher stuff turning this baby out in an hour.

Hey genius, how did you apply the "air craft" shiznits?

Ryan

Post some pics!!

 

Where are the pics?????