Black Plastic Grill?

[Hayden]

First post here and literally just bought the car 2 hours ago:

Been searching and searching...

I want to replace my stock color matched grill to a matte black plastic grill...surely I can't be the first to want to do this.

Don't want to powdercoat the stock. Would rather just buy a plastic replacement.

Anybody have a link for me?

TIA,

Hayden

 

[810moto]

well 1st off....welcome to T4R....2nd off, GO SOONERS

have you thought about just spray painting it? Its rather simple to do.

 

[Hayden]

I guess I'd consider it. What paint did you use? How many coats and any recommendations? Any sealant after you spray it? Why not powdercoat it? Just lots of questions if this is going to be a DIY.

Thanks for the welcome though!

And Hook Em you dirty Sooner.

 

[A10MileHusker]

Check out Montana's truck http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/44748-flat-black-finished-product.html

GO BIG RED!!!

 

[diamondplate]

Welcome to T4R.
You cannot powdercoat plastic. Powdercoating is for metal.
Off the top of my head, the options available are to cover it or paint it.

To cover it you could go to any local sign shop and purchase some self adhesive vinyl. You could use really any color with any particular finish (matte to gloss). A heat gun or hair dryer may be needed to cover all the compound curves. The plus side of using vinyl is that if you tire of it, you can just peel it off!

To paint it:
Disassemble from truck;
clean it with mild detergent;
lightly sand /wetsand it with fine sandpaper;
clean again, this time with alcohol (wear gloves to touch after this point);
use a quality sandable primer;
wetsand to a smooth finish;
prime again and then topcoat with quality spraypaint.
Reassemble and post pics on T4R and brag about custom truck.:thumb3:

 

[chaz]

u can buy a black one from here, prices are fairly decent. Conicelli Parts Center

 

[JAC]

Or just buy an ABS insert from ebay and paint it black like I did... I just got to pop it out and there it is....my stock color match grill...

I think I paid about $36 for it.

 

[Hayden]

So nobody makes a matte black insert?

When I had my e36 BMW, I just bought a replacement that was already matte black. Popped old one out, popped new one in. It was like $10. No such thing for 4runners???

 

[patricksheehy]

I sprayed mine black and I've been quite pleased. I always knew that if I wanted to make it back stock, I could just buy another chrome one from the dealership and I can't imagine it being too expensive.

 

[beeftube]

I sprayed mine black and I've been quite pleased. I always knew that if I wanted to make it back stock, I could just buy another chrome one from the dealership and I can't imagine it being too expensive.

Black pearl emblems. Where did you find them?

 

[ki_soarer]

arent there some models that came with black grills? I have seen a few black grills on some runners around town, and have thought about this to replace my stock chrome grill.

 

[patricksheehy]

Black pearl emblems. Where did you find them?

I found a guy out in California that could get them for me. PM me if you're interested in getting his contact info.