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Painting the grille

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by geoff5093, May 13, 2009.

?

What looks best...

  1. Paint the middle and the logo

    39 vote(s)
    68.4%
  2. Paint just the middle

    10 vote(s)
    17.5%
  3. Leave it stock

    8 vote(s)
    14.0%
  1. May 13, 2009 at 11:36 AM
    #1
    geoff5093

    geoff5093 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I'm going to be painting my badges black, and thought I would paint the middle section of the factory grille as well. I'm stuck between painting the entire thing including the logo or leave the logo chrome, what do you think would look best on a barcelona red truck?

    Here are the two different styles that I'm thinking of. Both are on silver trucks, but you get the idea.

    DSC_0305_39796c474706ad619c432509d89313562fd89904.jpg

    n710095818_1851575_8132123_64c356d64fbb5dda129c8cb3f684fe0f1f9d6ef3.jpg
     
  2. May 13, 2009 at 12:11 PM
    #2
    Kyouto42

    Kyouto42 Iron Beard

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    Well I voted leave it stock but after I realized you have the OR so it's chrome. I'd say paint or match the color (aka sport grill). Painting the logo is personal pref. I like mine as just that tiny bit of offset... but then again my truck is BSP.
     
  3. May 13, 2009 at 2:34 PM
    #3
    white+Peal

    white+Peal Well-Known Member

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    match the grill to the color or the truck. I think it makes it look fresh and clean. and i took all the badges off my truck except one which i'm going to paint black cause i like the off set of it. but that's my 02. Good luck!
     
  4. May 13, 2009 at 2:37 PM
    #4
    Lentsnh

    Lentsnh Well-Known Member

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    really anything looks good
     
  5. May 13, 2009 at 4:01 PM
    #5
    jdkeller

    jdkeller How many words can be fit in this s

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    color math the grill, paint the emblem black
     
  6. May 13, 2009 at 5:44 PM
    #6
    geoff5093

    geoff5093 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Just finished painting the grille, came out great! After doing that I want a color matched grille though, haha
     
  7. May 13, 2009 at 5:46 PM
    #7
    jdkeller

    jdkeller How many words can be fit in this s

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    what color did u paint it?
     
  8. May 13, 2009 at 11:07 PM
    #8
    ilg

    ilg VanCity Taco.

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    I really like the first option, but it may not look the same with the off road chromed grill. How did it turn out?
     
  9. May 14, 2009 at 4:22 AM
    #9
    geoff5093

    geoff5093 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I painted it gloss black, after doing it I think it looks pretty good for a cheap mod, but I may want to buy a color-matched sport grille and paint that.
     
  10. May 14, 2009 at 6:59 AM
    #10
    MUDFISH

    MUDFISH Well-Known Member

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    I think this would look best...
     
  11. May 14, 2009 at 7:13 AM
    #11
    mws4ua

    mws4ua I'll try being nicer if you try being smarter.

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    I vote getting a color-match grill and painting the logo either color-match or black. "Problem" w/ the 2009 color-matched grills: The middle isn't black. It's the dark gray color they've come out with.

    I wish I realized that before I bought a 2009 color-matched grill for my truck from a guy on here. I'm being lazy and haven't painted it black yet.
     
  12. May 14, 2009 at 8:46 PM
    #12
    geoff5093

    geoff5093 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Nope, I sanded the grille down, did a few coats of black primer, and then painted it with plastic gloss black pain.

    Yeah, after looking at my truck it would look good to get a color matched grille. If I do I would paint the middle black, as I'm not a huge fan of the gray color they used.
     
  13. May 15, 2009 at 1:04 AM
    #13
    Kyouto42

    Kyouto42 Iron Beard

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    Or get a color matched and do the satoshi mod... personally I think it looks the best. I'll probably do it to my truck when I grow a pair enough to cut into a $270 grill.

    http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=258681

    "Borrowing" an image from MY50cal's gallery cause it looks great:
    [​IMG]
     
  14. Jun 9, 2010 at 9:01 PM
    #14
    skistoy

    skistoy Make mine a Double!

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    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    All i did was scuff sand with scotchbrite pad, clean with rubbing alchol,
    and two coats of a plastic spray paint.
    it has gone through a winter already and still looks great.
     
  15. Aug 12, 2010 at 3:46 PM
    #15
    Spitz Stang

    Spitz Stang Well-Known Member

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    I hate to revive an old thread, but I'm thinking about doing the same thing this weekend. I tried to pick up a certifit grill with a black center, but they are backordered and I don't want to wait. I really do not like the grey center on a black truck.

    So all you used was a scotchbrite pad? No sandpaper at all? Was it hard to get in all of the cracks (like around the Toyota emblem) with the scotchbrite and the paint? How is the paint holding up to rock chips?

    Any info is appreciated...I'm trying to talk myself into trying this and saving $50. :rolleyes:
     
  16. Aug 16, 2010 at 6:52 PM
    #16
    skistoy

    skistoy Make mine a Double!

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    just used a scotch-brite pad. the orginal paint on the grill is about the best you can get, and it usually wont come off without effort. so just scuff sanding that will really give you the best surface for the new paint to adhear to. Did the same thing to my steel rims. the toyota emblem removes easily, just held in with clips. it will snap back in after done painting. the pad easily gets into all the areas. you just want to scuff the paint up, not remove it. have always found rubbing alchol the best for cleaning it after scuff sanding, drys fairly quickly. air dry and just use a good plastic paint of you color choice. A year later it looks factory fresh, and that also through a buffalo winter.
     

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