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Old Sep 30, 2007 | 06:26 PM
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Smile free chrome grills

A couple of days ago i was thinking about repainting my grill because the paint was faded. When i looked closely at it, i seen where the paint was really faded that it was shiny underneath the paint. So i got some acetone and rubbed the paint off and it is chrome underneath it! I will post pics in my gallery of my grill very soon.

Notice: there was a few spots that i went through the chrome as well, because i rubbed to hard. But,luckily it was somewhere you cant notice. I recommend you try it in an area that is hard to see first though.
 
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Old Oct 1, 2007 | 12:23 AM
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Yes, pictures please! What kind of grill do you have...the 3-bar?
 
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Old Oct 1, 2007 | 05:23 AM
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I have the 3 bar. I dont know if this matters but i have an XLT.
I will try to get pics after i get home from work.
 

Last edited by Bobby82490; Oct 1, 2007 at 05:26 AM.
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Old Oct 1, 2007 | 09:58 AM
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From: south GA BABY!
you may have had an aftermarket grill installed in it at one time, factory grills wont do that, A AM grill you can rub off all the painted areas and the whole grill will be chrome. Ive done this on a number of my own and freinds vehicles, lauqer thinner works better.
 
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Old Oct 1, 2007 | 11:48 AM
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Originally Posted by SYKOLINCOLN
you may have had an aftermarket grill installed in it at one time, factory grills wont do that, A AM grill you can rub off all the painted areas and the whole grill will be chrome. Ive done this on a number of my own and freinds vehicles, lauqer thinner works better.
Do those grills look like the factory ones? jw because this looks exactly like the ford ones, is there somewhere i can look for a part # or something?
 
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Old Oct 1, 2007 | 12:31 PM
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I did it with my SD. I started with accetone but that was taking forever. I figured I could not make it any worse. I got a kitchen sponge with the rough stuff on one side, a bucket of soapy water, a hose and some household paint stripper. Took about 15 min. to do the job.
 
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Old Oct 1, 2007 | 12:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Bobby82490
I have the 3 bar. I dont know if this matters but i have an XLT.
I will try to get pics after i get home from work.
Ahhh...I also have a XLT, but mine has the honeycomb grille (which is broken anyways from a fender-bender).
 
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Old Oct 1, 2007 | 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by ATC Crazy
Ahhh...I also have a XLT, but mine has the honeycomb grille (which is broken anyways from a fender-bender).
It might still work, try it in a spot that is hard to see.
 
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Old Oct 1, 2007 | 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Bobby82490
It might still work, try it in a spot that is hard to see.
Na...it ain't chrome. It's cracked and chipped in several spots and it clear that it's just a plastic mold with one solid color. I'm not much of a fan of chrome anyways...
 
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Old Oct 1, 2007 | 12:53 PM
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Oh yeah ATC Crazy, i seen you have a '97, have you done the badges? They dont turn chrome(only 99 and newer do) but they do turn into a good looking black chrome, which looks way better than faded black. The only thing is that it takes off the XLT letters. I wonder if you can buy a stensel or something to paint the XLT back on?
 
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Old Oct 1, 2007 | 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Zip
I did it with my SD. I started with accetone but that was taking forever. I figured I could not make it any worse. I got a kitchen sponge with the rough stuff on one side, a bucket of soapy water, a hose and some household paint stripper. Took about 15 min. to do the job.
Mine
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...Picture083.jpg
 
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Old Oct 1, 2007 | 02:57 PM
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hey zip that looks great, i wish mine was that nice!
 
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Old Oct 3, 2007 | 12:20 AM
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i have a 1997 F150 XL...can i do this with my grill(bar type) and badges?

THNX
Duggy
 
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Old Oct 3, 2007 | 12:52 AM
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Mine was paint scratched and some chrome was showing. I at first thought the PO had painted it. It didn't look very good so I took a chance. If yours is plated under the paint then it is easy.
 
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Old Oct 3, 2007 | 06:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Zip
Mine was paint scratched and some chrome was showing. I at first thought the PO had painted it. It didn't look very good so I took a chance. If yours is plated under the paint then it is easy.
Thats what i figured the guy before i bought it did, i thought he probably painted it with cheap paint and it was fading.

Duggyb- your grill will probably work(try in an area that isnt noticable) and your badges will turn black chrome, only the '99 and newer badges turn completely chrome. Heres how i did the badges-
-Fill a spray paint cap( or other small cup) with acetone
-Get a Bunch of Q-tips and a rag
-Dip the Q-tips in the Acetone and rub the badges, once the Q-tip turns black get a fresh one( if you dont you will just spread the old paint around)
-If the badge turns white you didnt get all the old paint and acetone off, take your rag and dip it in the acetone, and clean up the old paint( same thing with the rag, keep using fresh spots on the rag)
Not sure i missed anything, please add to my instructions as neccesary.
 
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