I my current grille is cracked cause a duck thought it would be a good idea to fly right into it lmao.

Anyways, found a used grille on a local classified site we have up here called kijiji. Think craigslist but not so ghetto and less scammers.

It's from an 04. I know it will fit (right?) but it looks like the centre part separates from the outer shell. Is this how it actually is?

 

That should fit

 

I don't believe so. Been awhile since I looked at those grilles, but I'm pretty sure it's all one piece.

 

Good to know. Thanks. Was hoping it was separate-able. Would make it easier to paint and possible do a billet insert down the road.

 

picked it up tonight for $40 lol. killer price imo.

well, my coworker picked it up. i get it tomorrow lol. any tips on painting it? never painted the chrome stuff before. im guessing its just a thin layer of chrome that will be fairly easy to sand right?

any tips on primer types? ive painted **** before, but nothing that will see the abuse a grille will. wanna get it right.

 

red 3M pad and sand the heck out of the chrome. You don't necessarily need a primer since it wasn't bare but I'd recommend adhesion promoter then a good base coat followed by good clear coat.

my grille surround was chrome, but you can't tell lol. I used PPG paint and UPOL clear coat

 

It fits, I replaced my chrome H one with this style. It's also two pieces.

See some of my threads/pics.

 

all 04+ grilles are interchangeable...why would anyone say it wouldn't fit?

 

Yeah I knew it would fit, just wasn't sure if it was one piece or two. But it's two so I bought it.

Now I gotta paint it up.

 

Now you can add billet for a 04-05. "Big mouth" style.

 

That's exactly why I wanted the two piece one haha. So if I decide down the road I wanna do billet it will be easier, and it can always go back to stock.

 

Alright, so any tips on getting the inner piece sellers yes from the outer shell? I was fiddling around with it yesterday but it didn't seem to want to budge.

And any tips for painting the center? It's that textured black plastic. Just clean it then shoot with primer then paint? Or Sand it smooth? Wanna get this right.

I've been known to skip prep when painting things because most things I paint it doesn't really matter if it looks good lol. But this has to.

 

My 01-03 can be kind of a ***** to remove. A couple flat-head screw drivers and "gingerly love forcing" of the plastic pops her out of there.

As for painting, give her a scuff and shoot 'her. I'd wait til temp gets above 50 unless it's absolutely necessary to get paint on 'her.