Chrome killer

I am on a mission to kill all chrome on my truck. This weekend, I finally took off all of the emblems and blackened them using a thread from this forum as a reference. I have to say, they came out great. Next, I painted the chrome strap around the grill. It all looks great and before I get the little smiley guys telling me it is worthless without pics, I will post them Sunday afternoon.

I have three other projects to get it where I want it.

1. I need to get those headlights de-chromed. I have had some success with the vinyl tinting on the tail lights, so I may try that. I have also been looking at the JDM headlights. Tinting mine will save $150.

2. My chrome bumper has to go. Powder coating is an option, but I would rather get another one either a customer or a black replacement OEM bumper. Any ideas here would be great.

3. My rims are the silver aluminum rims and I would like to paint them black. I don't wheel much so I think they would last a long time and little knicks can be touched up. I would probably use the Rustoleum Hammer as that seems to be the most popular on this forum. Again, any ideas would be great.

I have to say, everything I have ever done to my Taco was a result of this forum. Thanks for all the great tips and sage advice.

 

cant wait to see pics man. im on the same mission..........turning all the chrome to black. an idea for your bumper.......what about using a bed liner material on it?? very rugged, and would hold up really well. this is what im gonna do to mine. also, since i just had my exhaust done, and a 3 inch by 11 inch slash cut stainless tip.....im gonna sand it down and black it out with some high temp rustoleum stove paint. should do the trick.

for your wheels, the hammered black should hold up really well, and its definitely alot cheaper than powdercoating. just be sure to sand down the wheels real well so the paint sticks good, and a wheel primer may be a good idea too.

 

you know what they say... chrome wont get ya home

 

Yeah....Wheels prep is key- get it to stick right the first time and it makes for longer wear and easier repair down the road.

Have you checked out the Black Headlight Mod Thread?? It's more painting- but it'll take the chrome surround from the lights and color it (black if you follow directions exactally- but you can do whatever color you'd like)
Here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/2327-blacking-out-headlights-how.html

 

I love black.... Just wondering did you use my thread to blackout your emblems?

 

I got my chrome bumper Line-Xd for 90 bucks. Turned out good!

 

I bought a can of the bedliner goo this weekend from my local auto parts store. I pulled all the plastic covers off the bumper and taped off around the bumper. Then I used some 120 grit sandpaper to rough up the chrome and applied 4 coats of the bedliner product. The first 2 coats I put on with a regular paint brush. The next two coats I also used a paint brush, but I "dabbed" it on to give it more of a textured look. They sell the same product in a can, but I didn't want the overspray all over the place, plus I still have 1/2 a can left for any future touch up work.

I'll take a picture and post it tomorrow. I'm very pleased with the results. Probably not as good as a professional job, but for $20 I'm happy. Someday I still plan on getting the color matched bumper, but this will be good for now.

 

Some of my handi-work

 

the grille

 

The grille looks good man, Did you do any sanding prep work before you painted it? (I am assuming it was chrome before)

 

I only have expensive options, but here goes..



For number 2 (the bumpers), aren't they color-matched on x-runners or the base models, something like that?

For number #3 (the wheels), you might try craigslist or the dealership for the TRD Offroad Rugged Trail edition rims.

 

Socolax91, I used a thread from this site that took me to a Toyota Nation page. The site was http://4runners.org/writeups/blackpearl/index.html. The write up was very detailed and worked well. I used some different things, but got some great tips.

The hardest part actually was replacing the painted emblems. The glue instantly takes off any paint and I had to repair one because of it. They came off easy, but something tells me if I want to get them off again, it will be a real bitch.

 

the base model tacos (like mine) have flat black bumpers!

 

on my exhaust i went with the black powder coated tips, bad ass let me tell you haha