Anyone paint their own grille?

[doccoch]

I'd like to paint my grille Rapid Red. I feel confident I can do myself with my sprayer and a clearcoat but I've never had a colored grille and worry about rock chips. Obviously one wouldn't worry about this as much with the dark OEM factory grille on my Badlands.

On same line I'm thinking about milling out an opening spot above the "BRONCO" letters for a 20 inch recessed smaller light bar, such as the Baja S8. Any one tried anything like that?

Really not interested if you don't like the idea (the usual forum bashing). Just want to know if you've tried, or have tips. Thanks in advance.

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[contented]

Rock chips, dings, etc on the grill are a fact of life. If you have access to professional paints, clear coats, etc, and the necessary skills, have at it. If you get a chip you can't live with, just repaint.

Edit - no experience w/ lighting.

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

@BudgetBronco

 

[Erick2123]

I'd like to paint my grille Rapid Red. I feel confident I can do myself with my sprayer and a clearcoat but I've never had a colored grille and worry about rock chips. Obviously one wouldn't worry about this as much with the dark OEM factory grille on my Badlands.

On same line I'm thinking about milling out an opening spot above the "BRONCO" letters for a 20 inch recessed smaller light bar, such as the Baja S8. Any one tried anything like that?

Really not interested if you don't like the idea (the usual forum bashing). Just want to know if you've tried, or have tips. Thanks in advance.

kinda like the comment above if anything if not going to get it clear coated and prof done id say vinyl 3m wrap is the way to go i plan on doing this with mine and it protects the original grill from chips etc.

 

[doccoch]

@BudgetBronco

yes, thanks. I have no doubt I could do it. I even have a pretty high tech sprayer. More wondering about the durability. I guess it will be trial and error.

 

[doccoch]

kinda like the comment above if anything if not going to get it clear coated and prof done id say vinyl 3m wrap is the way to go i plan on doing this with mine and it protects the original grill from chips etc.

i AM planning on doing several layers of clear coat as well. clear wrap also a good idea

 

[Montana Bronco]

Couple months back another guy with Rapid Red painted his grill body color and it looked great. I say go for it !

 

[BudgetBronco]

yes, thanks. I have no doubt I could do it. I even have a pretty high tech sprayer. More wondering about the durability. I guess it will be trial and error.

I'm only about 2000 miles in, but I have had no problems with durability. No real dings or chips to speak of, lots of bugs but they have all wiped right off.

My Base had an unpainted grille which is good, because you can apply plastic adhesion promoter and then paint away. If you are starting with a painted surface you'll need to spend some time scuffing it up real good before you paint. People have suggested a red scotchbrite pad for this rather than sandpaper.

I agree most pics of body colored grilles I have seen look really nice.

Good luck with your project!

 

[Lak34ers]

I'd like to paint my grille Rapid Red. I feel confident I can do myself with my sprayer and a clearcoat but I've never had a colored grille and worry about rock chips. Obviously one wouldn't worry about this as much with the dark OEM factory grille on my Badlands.

On same line I'm thinking about milling out an opening spot above the "BRONCO" letters for a 20 inch recessed smaller light bar, such as the Baja S8. Any one tried anything like that?

Really not interested if you don't like the idea (the usual forum bashing). Just want to know if you've tried, or have tips. Thanks in advance.

I had mine done at a paint shop for $400. I wanted to match the shadow black body color and did matte black on the letters. I still have to take off the gray filler plastic pieces and paint those black with some plastic paint because I don't like the gray showing through. I think that is where a front camera can go. I think I will also have it wrapped in Xpel self healing for $300 so it lasts and doesn't show every chip with the black paint.

 

[doccoch]

I'm only about 2000 miles in, but I have had no problems with durability. No real dings or chips to speak of, lots of bugs but they have all wiped right off.

My Base had an unpainted grille which is good, because you can apply plastic adhesion promoter and then paint away. If you are starting with a painted surface you'll need to spend some time scuffing it up real good before you paint. People have suggested a red scotchbrite pad for this rather than sandpaper.

I agree most pics of body colored grilles I have seen look really nice.

Good luck with your project!

Tim, actually, I REALLY like your grille in white as this video was alone (just the grille done before you kept on with your continuing project). I see on here, a lot of folks giving their negative opinion of individuality. I love it ("not for me, but to each their own") My real guess is they are bandwagon and just follow what others are saying. Great work.

 

[doccoch]

I had mine done at a paint shop for $400. I wanted to match the shadow black body color and did matte black on the letters. I still have to take off the gray filler plastic pieces and paint those black with some plastic paint because I don't like the gray showing through. I think that is where a front camera can go. I think I will also have it wrapped in Xpel self healing for $300 so it lasts and doesn't show every chip with the black paint.

i'm assuming that painting the adaptive cruise adapter would jack with it's function? would be cool if you could make that blacker too. looks great

 

[Cfield90]

Will adding extra lights to the grill adversely affect/restrict airflow?

 

[doccoch]

Will adding extra lights to the grill adversely affect/restrict airflow?

I wondered that. I haven't definitively decided to do that. If I did do one IN the grill I was considering the thin Baja Designs S8. I'm guessing I probably won't because I don't want to mess up the current look. I'm CERTAIN there will be aftermarket grilles soon with integrated light bars. I don't even know if I want one. I have the JCR pre-runner on modular bumper now and pocket lights. I live on edge of a West Texas town and am often on rural roads. I don't NEED a light bar (I don't think anyone does). But I think they are fun.

 

[BudgetBronco]

Tim, actually, I REALLY like your grille in white as this video was alone (just the grille done before you kept on with your continuing project). I see on here, a lot of folks giving their negative opinion of individuality. I love it ("not for me, but to each their own") My real guess is they are bandwagon and just follow what others are saying. Great work.

I appreciate that, thanks! The thing with customizations is, nothing is ever going to appeal to everybody, nor should it. It's your Bronco, do what YOU like. If other people thinks it is cool, even better.

Also note per the question on impacting cooling, Ford did publish this doc and from it here is the part of interest:

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