Painting Rear Deck Grille and Front Vent Screen

[ckmaggie]

I would like to paint the plastic rear deck grille as well as the front vent screen and I am not sure if this is a good idea or what product to use. Both items are looking a little faded and I thought a new paint job would look nice. The other option is to buy new (grille = $179 and screen = $21), but if I could save that money for other goodies I would rather try painting.

Thanks

[IROC]

You're talking the black grill on the engine lid? I painted mine with Wurth's Matte Black years ago and it matched the factory finish very well and has lasted...oh...six years now and still looks good.

Mike

[Rot 911]

What Mike said.

[ckmaggie]

Yes, the grille on the engine lid. I will give Wurth's a try.

thanks

[88911coupe]

Would any special preparation be required? Mine is starting to look a little gray in parts so should it be sanded it lightly first?
TIA

[Argo]

I used some self-etching primer and Wurth's black satin. One year later and they still look brand new.

Argo
88 Targa

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Ditto. Wurth's self-etching primer and Wurth's satin black. Works fine, looks great.

Stephan

[tobluforu]

Wait a sec, is it metal or plastic? On my 72 it is metal. I powder coated it and it looks awesome.

[Harlan Chinn]

A Scotch Brite works to lightly roughen the surface for the paint to adhere. This works for the front vent mesh grill and frame. The rear grill is plastic and originally unpainted. I just cleaned mine up and conditioned it to look like new. You could paint it, but once painted always painted. Wurth matte black is great stuff

[RickM]

Just clean and spray. It will be fine.

[911nut]

The rear grille on my SC is plastic. I cleaned it with mineral spirits and painted it with Krylon Plastikote, satin black. Still looks good one year later.

[RickM]

Paul,
Do you mean Krylon Fusion for plastic? Plasticote is a Smooth soft rubbery coating....almost like smooth body schutz.

[tobluforu]

Damn! All this time I could be saving weight and going with plastic

[Randy Webb]

Guess what -- the plastic doesn't save any wt. -- surprising but true. And I used a NBS traceable scale.

What we really need is for somebody to start making these out of carbon fiber. That would also look good beside saving wt.

You can use Black Again to restore the plastic w/o having to paint.

[Burnin' oil]

I painted the front screen with black gloss engine block spray paint, left over from another, non-p-car project. Piece of cake and looks good too.

[911nut]

Originally posted by RickM
Paul,
Do you mean Krylon Fusion for plastic? Plasticote is a Smooth soft rubbery coating....almost like smooth body schutz.

Rick,
I went into the garage and looked at the can. It's Fabspray (ooops!). Don't know if it's available any more. The can was a few years old.