Refurbishing Engine Grill and Window Trim

[pryord]

Do you have successful ways of refurbishing the black plastic engine grills of SCs? Mine is looking a little faded.

Also, I'm considering having my window trim powder coated while it's off the car. Is it worth the expense, or should I simple scuff and spray?

[Zeke]

Powder coat is tough. If they have the finish you want, I say go for it.

As far as the grille is concerned, I had a faded one on the Targa. Over the years, I've had fantastic results with a primer/sealer in a ratle can called XIM. You can get it in qts. as well. White or clear. It says on the lable that it sticks to non ferrous metals, glass and plastic. It does and very well. This provides a base coat for painting the plastic if you want to.

I have used XIM aound the home, shop and out on the job for years and it is the best. For instance, if I restore a house window sill with resin or epoxy injection and fill with epxoy or bondo (respectively), I prime it with XIM because the painter won't know what to do and put some cheap house primer on the repaired sill. That will bubble and blister many times. XIM never fails and any paint or primer can be then added.

I used the stuff on the SS Targa bar as well and the top coat looked great 12 years later when the car was sold.

Just a little extra info for yuz guys. find it mostly at home paint stores. Or here.

[RickM]

I've had perfect results with the satin "trim spray" that is available from any Auto Body supply shop. Wurth used to make a paint specifically for this purpose as well. Not sure if it's available any longer though.

[TerryH]

So I painted my engine grill with 3 coats of "Krylon Ultra Flat" last week. The can says good on plastic and it looks good now. Should I hurry and take pictures now before it flakes off?

['89cab]

When I had a plastic grill I used Black Chrome twice a year. Applied it with a toothbrush before I washed the car and it would look great for several months. Also used it on Targa bar and all other black trim and plastic. Don't use it on anything you plan to paint in the near future though.

[kcf7z]

The Wurth Satin trim paint is available. I was considering painting my chrome trim black when I decide to remove my windshield and replace my dash - Haven't had the guts yet - If I do this, does anyone know the best way to prepare the surface - sanding, etc...

[Zeke]

Originally posted by TerryH
So I painted my engine grill with 3 coats of "Krylon Ultra Flat" last week. The can says good on plastic and it looks good now. Should I hurry and take pictures now before it flakes off?

Nah, many paints these days have a high acrylic content and do well on plastic. There are even some rattle cans in the stores now just for plastic.

I'm just old school. A lot of the stuff we have now wasn't always availble and we had to find ways to make things work. I've been using bondo on houses since the '70's. And I've seen a lot of failures. People who know about the failures don't want bondo, but when done right, and they are educated to that end, it works.

Same with cars. Same with trim paints.

[goat]

I tried the meguiars trim detail product.
Worked really nice. hard to get all the nooks,
and had the same time frame as 89cab.

[Randy Webb]

There was a product that worked great on the grills (Black Again?) the company went out of business and someone bought the name but the new stuff under that name is not as good. People are hoarding the old stuff. Whatever you use, be sure to remove the grill and scrub it well with soap and water first. I'd try renewal first with painting as a back up.

The grill is something that cries out to be made in carbon fiber.....

Trim:
The plastic layer on powder coat will make it look different. Decide if you are going to like that look first. You could also send the Al trim out to be anodized. Also, there is an Excellence article where Jeff Gamroth's shop in Portland blacked out the trim on a yellow car they were putting a 3.6 or 3.8 in. I think it was published about 1 year ago and I think the yellow car is on the cover. You could look into whatever they used.

[rpiper]

kcf7Z: unless it's in terrible condition, don't paint the chrome trim. Chrome looks so good on these cars. My $.02.



I painted my grill with some leftover satin bumper paint fron the local auto parts store and it looks great after a year.

[RickM]

Originally posted by Randy Webb
There was a product that worked great on the grills (Black Again?) the company went out of business and someone bought the name but the new stuff under that name is not as good. People are hoarding the old stuff.

I have a couple of bottles of the old stuff. It's great. My research shows that the original formula was purchased by North American Oil and renamed "Black Jack". An inquiry to the company resulted in them insisting that their "Black Jack" Silicone based dressing was the original and the best with no detrimental effect to rubber.
There was no admission to buying the "Black Again" formula which did not use Silicone.

[kcf7z]

rpiper - I think you're right. You've convinced me. Great car.

[Zeke]

Well, as far as rejuvination goes, I have used a Magic Marker on more things than I will admit. On anodized lug nuts, it's great.

[TerryH]

Originally posted by Zeke
Nah, many paints these days have a high acrylic content and do well on plastic. There are even some rattle cans in the stores now just for plastic.

I'm just old school. A lot of the stuff we have now wasn't always availble and we had to find ways to make things work. I've been using bondo on houses since the '70's. And I've seen a lot of failures. People who know about the failures don't want bondo, but when done right, and they are educated to that end, it works.

Same with cars. Same with trim paints.

Nothing wrong with old school. When my rattling can paint falls off, I'll just bring my grill to you. I'll even let you bondo my termite damaged facia on the house. Is bondo better than wood putter/filler?

[Randy Webb]

I used Bondo on my former house - soak it good with Jasco first - it will kill anything - fungi, mildew, dogs, children.... better to replace the area tho.

[JRISER]

I used Mothers "Back to Black." I got some pretty good results, but it will never look like this new car.