Color matched grill + plate bracket

[maxspeed96ct]

So this all started when I decided I wanted to paint my plate bracket. It was just scrathed like hell. Then I saw a painted grill thread and liked the look.

I got the basecoat and the clear from Automotivetouchup.com Touch Up Paint, Aerosol Spray Paint and Paint Touch Up Accessories
did 3 coats primer, then wetsanded, followed by 3 coats base and 3 coats clear .

The paint match is damm close , and the spray can worked well compared to others ive used.

The plate bracket was easy to paint , looks good. Dont have any installed pics yet though. Also did my trunk toyota emblem body color, and im ditching all the other emblems on the trunk

The grill was a painto tape up, up close you can see 1 or 2 spots were I could have done better.
Im not to sure about the paint sticking to the chrome. I sanded the hell out of it too. I think the best way to do this would be to buy a black grill and paint that but ill see how long this lasts.

Pics : (some are phone pics )

Grill just sitting there not clipped in

waiting to be installed

 

[Trevloc]

very nicely done! it looks like you really did sand the nonsense out of that chrome. hope it holds!

 

[blcktpgsr]

Next time please post some pics of the trucks overall look.....Great job!

 

[pbcolt]

yeah, definitely some shots outside in the sun. My front bumper has a lot of chips and I would like to see exactly how this matches...

 

[fightman80]

Looks good so far! Can't wait to see how it looks assembled!

 

[thorridder]

man thats cool, havnt seen that. bet it looks good

 

[maxspeed96ct]

I'll get a pic of the plate bracket tomoro, outside of the garage to. Project just ran me longer then I planned .

I didnt permanently attach the grill because I plan on installing my trans cooler this week. Damm new england weather is killing my mod plans

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

dude, that looks amazing. I am so doing this.

 

[maxspeed96ct]

well it was a nightmare to put the plate bracket back on , getting to the bolts for the latch is tough , almost impossible. But it looks damm good !

I'm upset with myself though because all the stock badges came off nice. I painted them black and re-attached.
But I had one sticker from " action toyota " that looked like crap . So I decided I wanted to remove it.
Went all bad, scratched the hell out of my lid, but it doesnt look to deep . I think some compound and polish will clear most of it up... (i hope)


Ill post up a daylight pic tomoro . Heres a peak at the LEDS

and a crappy night pic

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

dude I can't wait, you got me so excited hahaha

 

[maxspeed96ct]

dude I can't wait, you got me so excited hahaha

lol your a few steps ahead of me with the limited bumpers, thats my next project after I get some tires for my tundra wheels.


FYI, Honestly I think it would be easier to tape up the car, then to completely remove the bracket like I did.

The two 10mm latch bolts are so tough to get to.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

lol your a few steps ahead of me with the limited bumpers, thats my next project after I get some tires for my tundra wheels.


FYI, Honestly I think it would be easier to tape up the car, then to completely remove the bracket like I did.

The two 10mm latch bolts are so tough to get to.

I don't have limited bumpers, those have holes on the sides for flares I don't have. I just have stock base model bumpers (same as SR5). We have identical bumpers.

I replaced my back plate surround once before, I figure I am gonna leave that alone since the 99 highlander's was stock gray. I do want to paint the chrome on my grille, like you just did, because I don't wanna lose the billet or have to make another grille. Bumpers are gonna be a little interesting to find without the holes (have to find a 99 highlander strictly without chrome bumpers to avoid the side holes).

I'll just try to find them already green... might just get them repainted. I've realized there is really no bumpers for our 4Runner's that fit like OEM. The bottom valance on mine was a nightmare!

What is it that you want from a limited bumper?

 

[coinball]

Looks good. Where did you get the aerosol cans of matched paint?

I have a couple cans for my rig from Automotivetouchup.com Touch Up Paint, Aerosol Spray Paint and Paint Touch Up Accessories and I was wondering how good the rattle cans would turn out.

 

[spongerx]

Looks really good! Nice color match. :naughty:

 

[maxspeed96ct]

I don't have limited bumpers, those have holes on the sides for flares I don't have. I just have stock base model bumpers (same as SR5). We have identical bumpers.

I replaced my back plate surround once before, I figure I am gonna leave that alone since the 99 highlander's was stock gray. I do want to paint the chrome on my grille, like you just did, because I don't wanna lose the billet or have to make another grille. Bumpers are gonna be a little interesting to find without the holes (have to find a 99 highlander strictly without chrome bumpers to avoid the side holes).

I'll just try to find them already green... might just get them repainted. I've realized there is really no bumpers for our 4Runner's that fit like OEM. The bottom valance on mine was a nightmare!

What is it that you want from a limited bumper?

O I must have confused you with someone else.

I want to get rid of my chrome, but its nearly impossible to make paint stick it without chipping . Since my front bumper has some rust just starting to bubble. Im going to buy a set of these (f & r) without the flare holes.

99 00 01 02 TOYOTA 4RUNNER BASE SPORT F BUMPER BLK W/HO - eBay (item 120648154009 end time Feb-13-11 19:55:14 PST)

And paint them body color, and plasti dip my lower valence

Looks good. Where did you get the aerosol cans of matched paint?

I have a couple cans for my rig from Automotivetouchup.com Touch Up Paint, Aerosol Spray Paint and Paint Touch Up Accessories and I was wondering how good the rattle cans would turn out.

The paints I used were all rattle cans from automotivetouchup.com the primer, base and the clear.

Im amazed myself how good this looks , ive done paint projects before with reg duplicolor paint and they never came out this nice .

It has alittle orange peal, but since I have 3 coats of clear I might touch it with alittle wet sand /compoud /polish to make it look even better. :reddance:

 

[98piranha]

I need to remove my rear trunk garnish and was wondering if you can give me some tips on how to remove it.

Your help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[maxspeed96ct]

I need to remove my rear trunk garnish and was wondering if you can give me some tips on how to remove it.

Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Its a major pain in the ass. When you remove the interior door panel and then the metal sheild you see some of the 10 mm bolts for the bracket.

Keep on hand some 1/4" sockets with a swivel and some extentions. 3/8 might work but it will realy fight you. Theres a piece of white plastc that protects the window gears that makes it almost impossible to reach the bolts.

Also dont forget to detach the lock handle, and pay close atttention to how the handle is bolted on there.

Good luck , it will take some time but its not impossible.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I removed the rear license plate holder last week for painting and I can confirm that it is a huge pain in the ass.

 

[K092084]

What did you use to make the rubber gasket around the license plate holder?
I painted mine black because it was peeling and it doesn't quite sit flush with the body now.
Ans yes it is a huge pain to get the thing off.

 

[maxspeed96ct]

What did you use to make the rubber gasket around the license plate holder?
I painted mine black because it was peeling and it doesn't quite sit flush with the body now.
Ans yes it is a huge pain to get the thing off.

I just put a few small dabs of clear slicone on it , after finally getting it to stay on I let it sit overnight. And was carefull When I put the bracket back on.