GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005) Discussion about the second generation GS300, GS400 and GS430 (1998 - 2005)

DIY Chrome Grill w/pics

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Old 08-29-05 | 08:45 PM
  #106  
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Im not sure paint thinner will work. You can try but it probably wont work quick.
Old 08-29-05 | 08:49 PM
  #107  
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Thanks Rich... Just let me know what the product name is from Home Depot.... I want to do this as a back up grille....Thanks
Old 08-30-05 | 09:10 AM
  #108  
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Well, I've started to use Acetone on the grille.. I was using q-tips then decided to use a brillo pad and now the inner bars on the side and starting to change color.... Its turing out great but i might just soak the whole grille in acetone for a day and do some srubbing and see what happens... The bars are turning out great but you can really see the inner part fading because I'm scrubbing with the pad? What to do? I might just chrome the whole thing

Tony
Old 08-30-05 | 01:32 PM
  #109  
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If you would have used the orange citrus stuff then it wouldnt have been a problem All you do is take a qtip and dip it in the orange stuff and then put a light coat on the front of the ribs. Wait about 15 min and then scrape it off with something that is flat and straight. Then whatever didnt come off with the first pass put more of the orange on it and then repeat. No mess and if you are careful a really clean job. Patience
Old 08-30-05 | 09:19 PM
  #110  
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I just got done doing my grille it took about an hour, I used paint thinner, and then went over it with acetone, looks very good.
Old 09-09-05 | 08:51 AM
  #111  
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i know everyone on this forum already said it.. but great DIY.. thanks man.. im gonna try it over the weekend..
Old 09-11-05 | 11:53 PM
  #112  
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Originally Posted by nyczdave
i know everyone on this forum already said it.. but great DIY.. thanks man.. im gonna try it over the weekend..
Glad it was helpful.. Still can't believe this is almost a 4 year old thread.. Its funny to go on EBAY and see people try to sell a chrome GS grill if you send it your own they send you back a chrome one..
Old 09-21-05 | 09:20 PM
  #113  
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Yet another DIYer.. great tip, wow what a difference! Here's before:
Attached Thumbnails DIY Chrome Grill w/pics-grill-before.jpg  
Old 09-21-05 | 09:21 PM
  #114  
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Here is after: ( and note the license plate holes are filled, helps clean up the front looks a bit)
Attached Thumbnails DIY Chrome Grill w/pics-grill-after.jpg  
Old 09-24-05 | 10:33 AM
  #115  
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Me too me too!!

I used Goof Off, $3.50 at Home Depot. It comes in a little tin, which is still enough to do this job like 100 times.



Q-tips worked the best to remove most of the paint. To clean up the sides, I used a razor blade, which worked really well. It took about two hours total, not including the time I spent after I dropped my 10mm socket into the black hole that is the engine compartment.

Before


After



I showed my dad when I was done, and he was like, "What? What'd you do? You mean it wasn't always like that? They painted over chrome??"
Old 09-28-05 | 07:14 PM
  #116  
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damn wish i had known about this before i ordered a chrome grill off ebay

gonna do it up to my grill tomorrow and see what results i get, if it works which i am sure it will, i guess i will just have to resell the grill i bought back on ebay, if i end up losing $20 so be it, better than paying $200 for something i can do myself

i'm a big DIY person and was looking at mine today as i was washing the car for the first time thinking paint remover would work, came here and looked around and what do you know
Old 09-29-05 | 05:37 PM
  #117  
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Anybody with problems after a few months/years after doing this mod? Like is the rest of the paint chipping because the paint on the ribs were removed? I would like to see some pics from people who did this mod months/years ago.
Old 09-29-05 | 06:56 PM
  #118  
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just got done doing it and boy does it look AWESOME

trying to do a return with kalokb to get a chrome rear trunk handle instead of the chrome grill. thing looks sweet cant wait to see it in the sunlight tomorrow morning





Old 09-30-05 | 09:40 PM
  #119  
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Originally Posted by LT. LEX
Anybody with problems after a few months/years after doing this mod? Like is the rest of the paint chipping because the paint on the ribs were removed? I would like to see some pics from people who did this mod months/years ago.
I don't think its a problem - I had mine for a couple years before the L-Tuned grille, never had a problem, never heard of anyone's coming off either, that paint is on there like iron, only comes off with stone chips or solvents.
Old 10-09-05 | 01:52 PM
  #120  
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wow i can't believe this is a 4yr old thread...im so glad i came across this thread today by accident while browsing CL forum...im gonna do this tomorrow and will post up the results!!!


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