I'm thinking of painting my grill. So I need your opinions so here is a picture and a poll. I will be painting my truck flat black

 

The actual grill inserts, or the surround?

 

All of it including the bumper

 

Gloss black

 

Ew. Whenever I see them painted I feel like someone cheaped out and was hiding something.

 

I don't like them painted either.

I bought my 79 with a painted grill surround and it looked like crap to me.

 

I wonder how I can polish up the Aluminum surround before I paint the grill inserts?

 

Not the best way to do it, but I used a drimel with a polishing wheel and compound.


It took a long time, and quite a bit of little wheels.
Don't see my self doing that again.

 

if you have a lathe or a drill press, chuck the buffing wheel up in that and and slow the wheel down to a good buffing speed and buff it with mothers polish.

 

The only thing I have is a drill and a air cut off tool.

 

If you search the forums and use the term polishing anodized trim, you will find a LOT of information on how to get rid of the oxidation. The real key is to get it shiny and then shoot it with several coats of clear to prevent oxidation from returning as quickly. Other option is to take it to a chrome / aluminum shop and have it polished (mine ran $300 but they removed all scratches and dings). It is now getting sprayed with professional grade clear. Still cheaper than a new $600 grille surround.
BTW-I used Krylon "Argent" Steel Wheel paint on my plastic inserts and 4 coats of clear over them. they look fantastic.

 

The fun part will be a few dents,scratches and tears in the surrounds. But the grill inserts look like a good cleaning will work. I'll look up the polishing trim here a little later.

 

If you painted just the inserts and buffed the surround, I think those look pretty cool. But, the whole thing painted...not so much.

 

If you are going to do it 'argent', may I suggest the 'cheap' aftermarket grill shell. I bought one for my truck. It's not shiny, but more of an unpolished aluminum. With some tweaking, I'm happy with the fit.

 

Paint it all!! but that's just me