Anyone ever painting existing chrome trim to match body paint?

luke87gt

luke87gt

New member
Hi guys,

My 2006 4Runner has chrome grill, handles, and rear tailgate trim. I don't like it one bit and would like to have those parts match the white body paint.

I'm wondering if anyone has ever sanded and painted over the factory chrome? Or if there is a better way to address this, I'm all ears.

Otherwise I can try to find these items off a white wrecked limited or sport.

Thanks
 
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Scuff the chrome, prime with self-etching primer, paint.

Edit: See [MENTION=76583]Morphyne[/MENTION] post below.
 
Last edited:
I've never done it to factory chrome. But the chrome is just chrome paint right? I have done it to other exterior plastic trim with great results. If you sand it properly and use the three part process (bonding primer, base coat, and top coat) which are available in shake cans to match the factory paint online I got mine from a paint company in Louisana. You have to do it right though. Sand it properly working down to at least a 600 grit 1000 higher is probably better. Clean it with liquid sandpaper or some such solvent. From there on don't touch it with bare hands it will pick up skin oil. I like to make a little spray booth out of a cardboard carton and hand it. The environment should be dust free as possiable and if use use an exhaust fan which is a good idea when dealing with potentialy explosive fumes) it's best to put filter media (furnace filter) over you air intake. Some like to do it outside but I prefer a more controlled invironment The warmer the ambient tempature the better.If you use a room heater remember no open flame. Same for a garage with a gas water heater. It can be done with excellent results but it sounds like a lot of work. Also, it might not wear well on the door handles.
 
luke87gt said:
Hi guys,

My 2006 4Runner has chrome grill, handles, and rear tailgate trim. I don't like it one bit and would like to have those parts match the white body paint.

I'm wondering if anyone has ever sanded and painted over the factory chrome? Or if there is a better way to address this, I'm all ears.

Otherwise I can try to find these items off a white wrecked limited or sport.

Thanks
Click to expand...

You could use white plastidip. A lot of people plastidip those parts and it turns out pretty nice. I have mine all done with black plastidip.
 
I have done this and it does not work. I painted my chrome grill body color twice and it almost immediately started chipping both times. I scuffed it and used etching primer. the only way to do it ir to completely remove the chrome. and for all of the effort I would say just go to ebay and buy an abs grill and start with that or buy a new or used pre painted part. again, painting chrome, does not work.
 
DisguisedRope said:
You could use white plastidip. A lot of people plastidip those parts and it turns out pretty nice. I have mine all done with black plastidip.
Click to expand...

Interesting, if anyone has white plastidip, please post up some pics.

I wonder how that would bond to the chrome on the grill... since plastidip bonds well to the smooth surface of rims, my guess is that it would bond just fine.
 
I would try that before other option considering that it is relatively cheap and reversible. And actually, now that I think about it. I think I have read where people have successfully applied plastidip and THEN painted the plastidip with body match color.
 
Morphyne said:
I have done this and it does not work. I painted my chrome grill body color twice and it almost immediately started chipping both times. I scuffed it and used etching primer. the only way to do it ir to completely remove the chrome. and for all of the effort I would say just go to ebay and buy an abs grill and start with that or buy a new or used pre painted part. again, painting chrome, does not work.
Click to expand...

Good to know. I can't remember the last time I even had chrome!
 
luke87gt said:
Interesting, if anyone has white plastidip, please post up some pics.

I wonder how that would bond to the chrome on the grill... since plastidip bonds well to the smooth surface of rims, my guess is that it would bond just fine.
Click to expand...

Plastidip definitely bonds fine right on top of the chrome. I just clean it with rubbing alcohol and do a lot of coats.


luke87gt said:
Side question: Has anyone stripped the chrome paint?

What's involved?
Click to expand...

I haven't removed the chrome from the grill, but I did from inside my headlights before blacking them out. If you spray the chrome with easy off oven cleaner (the heavy duty one in a yellow can with yellow lid), it just kind of disappears and leaves you with bare plastic. It's kinda crazy how well and easy it works. I wouldn't believe it if I didn't watch it happen myself haha. But definitely take the grill off of the truck before doing that, I have no clue what it would do to the truck's paint.
 
DisguisedRope said:
If you spray the chrome with easy off oven cleaner (the heavy duty one in a yellow can with yellow lid), it just kind of disappears and leaves you with bare plastic. It's kinda crazy how well and easy it works.
Click to expand...

Oven cleaner, seriously?

I wonder how you remove the oven cleaner once the chrome is all off...
 
It's virtually impossible to find a 4th gen in any parts yards around here. Sure wish it wasn't the case but my area is loaded with them. Parts sales scoop them up and sell them before they reach salvage.
 
I am interested in this as well.
How does one get the badging (SR5, 4WD etc...) off of the vehicle?
Remove door panel and unscrew?
 
fishing line to remove badges, and gum remover or hairdryer to remove residue.

Note that if your paint is sun beaten, the badge imprints will show up
 
Interesting
So after removing them, painting or plasti-dipping them just re double sided tape them back on?
Local auto body shop would have the tape or a resource to purchase?
 
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