grillin

[TulsaSpider]

Well I am in the middle of getting my car prepped for paint. Soooo I was working on my grill pieces which were a little bent but I got them looking good again. I am repainting my car black. I see that they are aluminum. I am on the fence... flat black for a subtle change from the body color or faux chrome since they are fragile and aluminum? any new advances in this type of paint? any further ideas?

[So Cal Mark]

if you decide on chrome, I'd suggest the spray on type that doesn't have to be polished

[azygoustoyou]

I was thinking of having mine powder coated the same color as my Rota's. Has anyone power coated theirs? How well did the powder look and hold up?

[SpiderJim]

If your painting them make sure to use a quality etching primer or the paint will flake off. One paint that is tough has nails is Dupont endura and it can be mixed to any color and remain flexible. They developed it for oil rigs and tractors and moved it to the auto line. Last month while doing mine the rep was painting a pickup truck in endura white. A couple of days later I grabbed a bunch of the masking shield which had a lot of over spray on it and crumpled it up. When unravelled the paint had not cracked!!. I was impressed. It is also very inexpensive. You can hit the panel with a hammer and it very rarely chips.

[mdrburchette]

You better ask the powder coater whether the heat will warp your grille.

[TulsaSpider]

Havta keep the expense to a minimum. Thanks for the suggestions!

[ga.spyder]

I used chrome spray paint from Autozone,for the 'cheapy' chrome look.That was 3 years ago,and its still on there.I did rechrome it once.I get more comments at Fiat events about the 'chrome grille' I am with Denise on the powder coat.I cant imagine the oven would do those thin grilles any good.

[TulsaSpider]

Hey! Nice side by side comparison! I may just do that I like the look. Did you do the lower one as well? I don't have bumpers so they will stand out even more.
Thanks!
Clark

[ga.spyder]

Hey Clark, I did both of them.I tucked in my bumpers,so you cant really see the lower grille very well.With one kid in college and the other headed there,I have to do cheap whenever I can!
Craig

[azygoustoyou]

Tulsaspider,
Could we see pic's of your car?


Craig,
Your chrome painted grill looks nice. Did you prime it before applying the chrome? If so, what primer? Do you remember the brand of chrome paint?

[NJFIAT1981]

Hi Craig,
I'm having mine painted right now. I like the look of the chrome grill. I was thinking about painting mine black but your pic may have changed my mind.
Brady,
I will check with our powder coating friend in North NJ. Says he can powder coat anything. George

[Kingme2]

what about the honeycomb grill (from the earlier years?)?

has anyone made one to fit for the newer?

[Nick]

I painted mine with cheapo chrome paint from Autozone too. Holding up pretty well so far, its' only been a year but no signs of wear. I think it works out pretty well, and if I have to take it out once a year to repaint it I still think it's worth it. Has a nice pop effect to it as opposed to the black ones.

[TulsaSpider]

Pics when I am finished? Now? ?

[azygoustoyou]

some before and after.