Painting the Grille

[HemiBabe]

I'm wanting to paint my stock billet grille black since the chrome looks like crap. There are rivets holding it in, my question is this:

1.) Do I take the grille out and undo all the rivets and then just re-rivet it in?

2.) Do I just tape off the outer shell and paint the grille while it's still in?

 

[srt8dork]

honestly, i feel like it would be easier just to tape it off and paint it in place rather than removing all those rivets IMO

 

[Bigtman07]

I'm not sure on the 04 but isn't it like one piece that is unbolted??

 

[AWE Daniel]

Those "rivets" are crazy easy to take off, just get a punch tool the right size and pop the middle piece out, and then you can reuse them when you are done.

 

[quietpeen]

Those "rivets" are crazy easy to take off, just get a punch tool the right size and pop the middle piece out, and then you can reuse them when you are done.

what he said. I took mine out about 4 times and reused the plastic rivets every time. I highly suggest taking them out and sanding them real good to get a surface that primer will adhere to. I had problems with the paint peeling and one of the things I didn't use was primer. It ends up being more work, but you might want to use adhesion promoter and primer and then your paint - then a clear coat. Unfortunately you can't stop chips from occurring, but you can try to lessen the extent of peeling afterward.

 

[HemiBabe]

Alright, I was definitely planning on sanding it and primering it, I don't wanna do all that work for it to start chipping right away

I appreciate yall's help! I will try and do this tomorrow afternoon along with my lights!

 

[quietpeen]

Good luck

 

[Redtruck-VA]

I found some replacement plastic plugs at Lowe's in their fastener section. Good luck..

 

[matt99]

ive taken mine apart a few times. like they said, the chips will happen. a little touch up paint and 2000 grit will fix those up pretty good.

 

[CaliDodgeRam]

Anyone got pics of a white truck with a black grill? Considering that as my next mod just can't see it in my head, black grill and paint the emblem white? what you guys think

 

[quietpeen]

Anyone got pics of a white truck with a black grill? Considering that as my next mod just can't see it in my head, black grill and paint the emblem white? what you guys think

It would look real good with a white shell

 

[OklaHemi]

why not see if anyone had the blacks ones or did they not make those for the 02-05 oem? i just posted an ad on craigslist and traded my grill like yours straight across for the honecomb. good decision i think

 

[quietpeen]

The only black grill inserts for 02-05 was the honeycomb

 

[OklaHemi]

cool i wasnt sure. i know my 08 had the black billet looking one