ps2cho

I should have let u know its cheaper to buy a new grill than at the junkyard...its $15 on autohaus. Oh well...Next time. FYI in case you mess up, or it comes out too shabby.

ocpanther

I got the whole piece, grill insert, chrome, emblem bolts, clips and decent metal inserts on the front for $30. I was looking at ones on ebay and such and they were well over $100 for less. I figured I can always resell one of them after I am done swaping cuz then they will both be painted and polished up.

ocpanther

Grill with the first coat of paint (already disassembled)



Four coats applied



After clear coat applied



Final with chrome surround sitting over it




I am going to paint the background of the emblem blue again and polish up the chrome before I put it back together, but for a first attempt I think it came out pretty good.

Saijin_Naib

Looks very good!

The stock grille really is a nice piece of plastic so long as it is dark black. The gray just adds years to the look of the car for some reason.

ps2cho

Awesome
Agreed the gray does make the car look older. Maybe its the "gray hair" effect?

Saijin_Naib

I don't know. I think its because we assume that gray is faded from black, not that the grille was manufactured gray to begin with. So yeah, maybe the "gray hair" effect a bit.

Also, since our cladding/bumpers/etc are all (mostly) still black, the gray grille looks out of place and mis-matched.

Saijin_Naib

Oh, OC, a slight addendum. Paint the pull-tab, hood release, thinger, whatever you call it, black as well. I didn't when I did my grille and it really irks me that I can see it at certain angles :|

ocpanther

Thanks! Good tip. I have discovered that I am a bad painter. I need to practice my rattle can skills.

ps2cho - you have a ton of DIY threads with really good info (that are great), but you have expanded into the really tough jobs. I am trying to make a few small job (beginner level) DIY things for stuff like this grill painting.

Saijin_Naib

Yeah, I learned how to spray by painting my Sega Dreamcast, my computer case, and then anything lying about the house I wanted to look a different color.

Basically, you need to do it in an area with great lighting, great ventilation, and minimal dust/flying crap.

I normally prefer to work outdoors for this reason but you will likely have to tape down your workspace and then you may have bits of pollen or other plant matter thrown onto your work when it is drying.

Try and keep the can about 8-12" away from what you are spraying and lay down even layers. I judge the layers by how glossy it looks at a certain angle. The more recent and more thick the spray, the glossier and darker it will look. Try and match it up and make wide sweeps that do not allow your hand to spend more than a moment over each spot it passes. You pause, you will likely lay on too much and get drips.

ocpanther

So ... a little light sanding and two more coats of clear and i think its ready. i had a bunch of little bubbles on the clear I wanted to knock down and now I think it looks pretty good. I will post after I put it all back together again and then a before and after shot.

BJaltima

ps2cho: Drove down to SD yesterday and went to the pick-a-parts down there.....I'm desperately looking for parts for this old 450sl project that I have going. I know you were looking for 4ooE parts, as am I. I found one at the Pick Your Part in SD/Chula Vista. That makes TWO 4ooE's in all of Southern California so far!!!! I need to go to 2 more places (Rialto and Santa Fe Springs).

So to recap, there are 2 4ooE's in Socal. One in San Diego, and one in San Bernardino.

I grabbed the spare wheel/tire (in new condition) off the 4ooE to replace one of my faded rims and messed up tires, as well as the tan door trim for the interior.

funkgab

is clearing really worth it? i blacked out my rear badges, but i didn't clear i just sprayed it satin.. looks pretty good.. also i was planning on painting my grill satin as well, but wouldn't clear make it shinier? and anyone going to a junkyard soon want to work something out with me? as full grill assemblies go for like 100ish each :S im in LA (no junkyards near me)

ocpanther

I used flat blck paint and then clear to help build up some thinkness. I don't want it to chip easily.

Saijin_Naib

Clearing is very worth it if you don't want to re-spray and re-prep like, every year. I did mine about 3 summers ago and it is still mostly free of chips.

I got some from this Winter when I had to constantly stop and clean my grille of ice with a snow brush (chips from the snow blade), so yeah. If you clear enough layers it will really hold up quite nicely.

ocpanther

Another sucessful day. I went on sale day ... that was an experiance. I got a good portion of my list of oddball items that are worn/broken/missing. Along with a good day of fun and another $30 this car fixing thing is becomming an obsession.

funkgab

heh its not a bad obsession.. except to your wallet.. maybe your wife
man.. im really gonna go to a junkyard soon because of all these things your picking up now..

and saijin if i want to repaint, do i have to clean off all the paint first with thinner or something? or can i just sand and respray?

ocpanther

Watch out for the sanding. I tried that at first and realized there were so many little squares it was going to take a lifetime. I ended up cleaning it really well with a scotchbrite pad and then washing.

funkgab

well i thought you always had to sand if its not like a wall or something

Saijin_Naib

You COULD use a chemical stripper but I didn't.

Sanding is also not likely to work.

ocpanther

so ... I just finished putting the grille back together and realized I have no idea how to remove or replace the hood star. I will post pictures of the assembled grille in a bit, I would like some feedback on it and then I am putting it on the car.

funkgab

i think all you need to do is push the tabs that hold it with some pliers or something, and it should just fall out

ocpanther

The completed grille all put back together. This will go back on the car as soon as I get a chance. We will see how it looks with the euro lights.

ocpanther

Well I decided to stip and refinish the center wood I picked up from the yard. here are the pieces I started with.



removed all the plastic from the back ...



Here is the back ...



and here it is stripped of that foul coating ...



Next up some new stain and some clear varnish or paint.

pifcat2

why remove the plastic? Good luck on the finish. Are you going for thick gloss?

funkgab

that grills going to look cool.. can't wait till i do mine, seeing im getting euro lights rael soon as well.. and good luck with the finish.. wish i had skills like you to refinish