Vintage grille in black

[Danielsand]

UPDATE

It’s been about 1.5 years with the HyperDip on my IAG grille and i was surprised how well it held up. I got so used to it I delayed getting a permanent paint job.

here is how the Hyperdip looked after 10 months:

There are a couple spots where a rock impact smudged the hyperdip to reveal the white glass paint underneath, but very minor and less than i expected. Maybe the flexible quality of the hyperdip allows it to absorb impacts without breaking.

Anyway, for a permanent paint, I wanted to try painting the surround body color HPR, and paint the center to match the modular bumper (and all the other carbon black trim like wheel lips, door handles, cowl, mirrors etc) in terms of color and texture. For the HPR surround I used Automotive Touch Up spray cans, and for the carbon black center I used Rustoleum Truck Bed Coating.

Obviously, painting the body color surround myself with rattle cans would not have a professional look, but I was fine with that for my Bronco. I wanted to do it DIY like @BudgetBronco, avoid some cost, and learn about the process and limitations.

I foolishly only bought one can worth of the HPR paint, so I didn’t have the option to just paint the whole grille HPR and then paint the center carbon black like i should have done. I only had enough paint to cover the surround, so i had to mask the grille twice . I was impatient to get started and did not wait to order more paint.

I debated which to paint first and decided to paint the center first. I used 3M Automotive masking tape - 6mm tape for precision to define the edge and then 18mm tape and then some newspaper and magazines etc for large areas. This was pretty challenging to tape up the side ridge. Here it is ready for the center:

Then I masked the center to paint the surround, trying to leave a hair of black exposed for the HPR to overlap onto. The main challenge was the rounded corners which was easier to mask by cutting the wider yellow tape with the curve like so:

then covered the rest with tape and paper.

Here it is during the reveal before removing the final tape around the edge. I always thought I might add a black or gray pinstripe along the border between the surround and the center for definition (not a skill I have), but this yellow orange tape line actually is kinda cool. Maybe a Badlands orange-yellow paint line around the edge of the center might look good?

here is the grille unmasked in the sun to see the center texture,

Finally, here it is on the Bronco

Definitely not perfect, but I really like it

This is how they should come from Ford. Great job.

Sponsored

 

[MWILD]

Saw this grille at Super CEL east this year. Someone custom made it.

 

[Stone Stallion]

Saw this grille at Super CEL east this year. Someone custom made it.

Anyone know where to buy this grill??? This is exactly what I’m hoping for ! Started a thread looking for advice - https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/vintage-inspired-modifications-help-for-obx.120171/

 

[DarthLincoln]

Anyone know where to buy this grill??? This is exactly what I’m hoping for ! Started a thread looking for advice - https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/vintage-inspired-modifications-help-for-obx.120171/

That is the same grille I have
https://iagoffroad.com/iag-i-line-vintage-grille-gloss-white-with-red-lettering-2021-ford-bronco/
but as @MWILD said, the owner apparently customized it - with F-O-R-D letters and masking over the holes for the original letters then custom painted it.
It has aftermarket Oracle (I think) headlights that already has orange turn signals so they didn’t use the orange plastic lenses from the iAG grille.

 

[Stone Stallion]

Thank you! second recommendation for this one- It looks like they have painted an outer area on the grille cactus gray with black inside on the photos- or is that a separate component? Does that make sense?

 

[12th Man Ag]

I have a Badlands with the BAP. Any reason I couldn't buy a Heritage Grille and just paint the white to black?

 

[DarthLincoln]

Thank you! second recommendation for this one- It looks like they have painted an outer area on the grille cactus gray with black inside on the photos- or is that a separate component? Does that make sense?

Yes the grille is one single part (not counting the letters). As I outlined in my earlier post #15, the grille comes as one piece that is pre-painted gloss white. It has to be masked and painted twice to get the look I have.

However, instead of painting it the way I did, I would recommend either:

1. paint the entire grille body color, then mask off the outer rim and paint just the center area black. Or
2. paint the entire grille black, then mask off the center and paint just the outer rim body color.

either method #1 or #2 will work and only requires masking once.

 

[Stone Stallion]

Yes the grille is one single part (not counting the letters). As I outlined in my earlier post #15, the grille comes as one piece that is pre-painted gloss white. It has to be masked and painted twice to get the look I have.

However, instead of painting it the way I did, I would recommend either:

1. paint the entire grille body color, then mask off the outer rim and paint just the center area black. Or
2. paint the entire grille black, then mask off the center and paint just the outer rim body color.

either method #1 or #2 will work and only requires masking once.

Awesome- perfect explanation!! Many thanks!

 

[12th Man Ag]

Has anyone had luck duplicating this? I found the FORD letters on Etsy, but what about the amber lights?

 

[12th Man Ag]

UPDATE

It’s been about 1.5 years with the HyperDip on my IAG grille and i was surprised how well it held up. I got so used to it I delayed getting a permanent paint job.

here is how the Hyperdip looked after 10 months:

There are a couple spots where a rock impact smudged the hyperdip to reveal the white glass paint underneath, but very minor and less than i expected. Maybe the flexible quality of the hyperdip allows it to absorb impacts without breaking.

Anyway, for a permanent paint, I wanted to try painting the surround body color HPR, and paint the center to match the modular bumper (and all the other carbon black trim like wheel lips, door handles, cowl, mirrors etc) in terms of color and texture. For the HPR surround I used Automotive Touch Up spray cans, and for the carbon black center I used Rustoleum Truck Bed Coating.

Obviously, painting the body color surround myself with rattle cans would not have a professional look, but I was fine with that for my Bronco. I wanted to do it DIY like @BudgetBronco, avoid some cost, and learn about the process and limitations.

I foolishly only bought one can worth of the HPR paint, so I didn’t have the option to just paint the whole grille HPR and then paint the center carbon black like i should have done. I only had enough paint to cover the surround, so i had to mask the grille twice . I was impatient to get started and did not wait to order more paint.

I debated which to paint first and decided to paint the center first. I used 3M Automotive masking tape - 6mm tape for precision to define the edge and then 18mm tape and then some newspaper and magazines etc for large areas. This was pretty challenging to tape up the side ridge. Here it is ready for the center:

Then I masked the center to paint the surround, trying to leave a hair of black exposed for the HPR to overlap onto. The main challenge was the rounded corners which was easier to mask by cutting the wider yellow tape with the curve like so:

then covered the rest with tape and paper.

Here it is during the reveal before removing the final tape around the edge. I always thought I might add a black or gray pinstripe along the border between the surround and the center for definition (not a skill I have), but this yellow orange tape line actually is kinda cool. Maybe a Badlands orange-yellow paint line around the edge of the center might look good?

here is the grille unmasked in the sun to see the center texture,

Finally, here it is on the Bronco

Definitely not perfect, but I really like it

Where did you purchase the amber insert over the headlight runner? Thank you.

 

[DarthLincoln]

Where did you purchase the amber insert over the headlight runner? Thank you.

The amber lenses are included with the vintage grille.

I don’t think they sell them separately, but they would not fit an OEM grille anyway. The vintage grille has a little extra clearance around the horizontal DRL/turn signal bar to fit them.

If you just want amber bars and have signature lights, you can get amber overlay stickers from Stickerfab. One thing I don’t like about them is the overlay is a little hazy.

 

[Beach_Bum]

The amber lenses are included with the vintage grille.

I don’t think they sell them separately, but they would not fit an OEM grille anyway. The vintage grille has a little extra clearance around the horizontal DRL/turn signal bar to fit them.

If you just want amber bars and have signature lights, you can get amber overlay stickers from Stickerfab. One thing I don’t like about them is the overlay is a little hazy.

Since your thread was resurrected, how is the hyperdip holding up? Did you end up painting it?

 

[DarthLincoln]

Since your thread was resurrected, how is the hyperdip holding up? Did you end up painting it?

It held up amazingly well. Almost like it has the ability to resist or heal from small rock impacts.

I did paint it a few months ago, as mentioned in this post, but still have the black Hyperdip on the chrome horse on the tailgate which still looks great.

 

[Stone Stallion]

Update! Have made lots of progress… picked up today, photo below!

Now to decide grille letter colors:
1. Wimbledon white like grille- loved what ford put out in the concept build photo below.
2. Red - can’t get the plastic red and chrome like a vintage Bronco so would try to get them to color match- not wanting bright red like the newer models
3. Black (maybe matte??) - tie in bumper and other ancillary items on the Bronco already that can’t be changed.

future plans:
1. Wheels and tires - something vintage inspired but not going full white like the heritage models. Small lift, new tires.
2. Body stripes- Kicker at the base? Top narrow? Other ideas??? Need to bring the Wimbledon onto the body.

few other inspo pics below too. Current state - last 2 images

 

[Stone Stallion]

Yes the grille is one single part (not counting the letters). As I outlined in my earlier post #15, the grille comes as one piece that is pre-painted gloss white. It has to be masked and painted twice to get the look I have.

However, instead of painting it the way I did, I would recommend either:

1. paint the entire grille body color, then mask off the outer rim and paint just the center area black. Or
2. paint the entire grille black, then mask off the center and paint just the outer rim body color.

either method #1 or #2 will work and only requires masking once.

Thank you so much for your help! Was really helpful when talking to my painters- they nailed it. Went for the ford grille for fit per the body shop recs- but they had to modify it anyways lol. Either way love how it turned out. Now I need to pick letter colors!

Sponsored