Well this is a slower time of year for me and it seems I always come up with a way to spend some money. But my truck now has stainless fender trim and stainless rocker trim and I want to change her look,any ideas? I would like to put extended flares to match paint (graphite) and do away with stainless. I would also like to have my grill and all to match, I've never seen a graphite sport package but thats what I'm looking for. Any luck painting grill and looking good? Or do they make them that way from factory? I haven't seen an 02 sport package but they might have em. Thanks Jake

 

Jake,

You can paint anything, the problem being getting the paint to adhere to the surface. The problem with the "chrome" grilles on the stockers is that it is plastic chrome, it WILL peel off if chipped or sanded too much. AND if it does peel, it is a PITA to completely peel the rest off.

Your best bet is to find a used sport grille, or if you feel like you have nothing to lose, sand you chrome one with a 320 grit or 400 grit dry, making sure that you have no "shiny" spots remaining. Clean with isopropyl alcohol, and paint.

Be care of using mineral spirits on plastic, normally it will melt it. An ammonia based cleaner works as well as isopropyl alcohol as a degreaser/cleaner.

good luck

 

I didn't think you could paint the grill with much success. Did they offer the sport package in graphite? I'm going to a local body shop next week to check into it. Which way should I go for flares I seen some on a few members trucks that look good. I think they were Xenon or something I'll have to check. Jake

 

Jake,

I've painted hundreds of "chrome" grilles, which IMO is 99 too many. But ALL of them have lasted. The prep work is time consuming, and due to the fact that I owned a body shop, I was able to spend goof off time doing stuff like that. Paying someone to do it would be another story entirely.

The bushwacker flares are expensive, but I've had good experiances with their fit and final finish. I don't know for sure if Dodge carries the sport grilles in a Pre-colored or already finished state. You'll have to check with them.