Painting stock grill/bulge surround

I really want my stock Grill surround and hood bulge (currently chrome) to match my black truck . Will paint stick to the material or will it be a waist of time and money? I know I can buy a TRD Pro one but I thought this might be a effective cost saving measure even after getting it professionally painted.

 

Several folks here have done it. It will stick. Don't know the costs to compare to just buying a grille.

 

@kicnit just did his recently. Came out awesome.

 

You can always Plastidip it as well. It's not permanent so you can change colors, if you wanted. There's a few guys on here that have Platidipped there's and it looks good.

 

I think I am going to dip it until I can pull the funds to do it right. I just got a ToyTec lift , new wheels n tires so funds are low. I can't wait to install the new gear and post pics.

 

I'm also wanting to change my SR grill to the Pro grille but don't have the almost $700 to buy the grille with color matched bulge/surround. Thinking of buying a knockoff grille insert and getting the surround/bulge painted. Did anyone paint there's to color match the truck paint? Can you color match with plastidip? My tundra is silver sky... thanks for you help!

 

I have a recommendation for you.. Instead of Plasti or paint, try brush-on bedliner. I used Monstaliner on mine bc it isn't quite as textured as the professional spray-in stuff.
Step 1 - Scuff up the existing Chrome w/ 85 grit paper
2 - BUlldog Spray on Adhesion Promoter
3 - Mix your Monstaliner 2-part (it's like Epoxy)
4 - Paint on 1st coat, but with a smooth "cabinet and door" small roller.
5- Skip the texture step and wait about an hour (forget exact time but its in the instructions)
6 - Pain on 2nd coat

DONE

Here is mine... I used the textured roller though, but knowing what I know now, the smooth small cabinet rollers would work PERFECT.



I've had mine on my chrome bumpers and a surround for well over a year and even wheeling hard in gravel etc, not a single chip or any signs of peeling. Since I have a CEMENT, the color didn't quite match so I bought a Pro surround, but I kept it on the bumper and kept the Monstliner surround sitting outside and results have been great. Black would be much easier to match. They will also send you a free paint-chip so you can see the color in person before you order. This stuff is DURABLE!!!

 

I had my friend who does backyard car painting do mine. paint match MGM. ...... spent $80.

 

I did it with sandpaper, self etching primer, Dupliccolor matched paint, and Duplicolor clearcoat.

I was a total amateur. It looked alright, pretty close, really. Lasted about 10k miles before the bug and rock chips started peeling back the paint.

 

Buy the older style pro grille in black, swap out the inserts and install on your truck. Sell the old pro grille insert by itself or with the chrome surround and make some money back. When all is said and done, you’ll have a factory painted surround and be out of pocket less than you would have to get it professionally painted.

 

My chrome grill on my 08 CM bubbled. I tried to smooth it out with a heat gun and it lifted the chrome. It's about to peel. It looks ugly. Im about to peel it up to see what is under the chrome and if it's printable. When I put the heat gun to it, it just bubbled. If it comes up that easy I'm gonna just paint it. I'll keep you posted

 

I bought a new grill and bulge off of eBay from sparks but I went to a local paint shop and they color matched my paint and put it into a spray can. It took almost two cans of color and almost two cans of clear to paint the bumper ends. The paint and clear cost me about $100.00. I think it turned out great so it was worth it. I think you could paint the bulge and grill and it would probably hold up well but it all come down to the prep.

 

That looks great. Perfect match. Im gonna kick that idea around

 

You should be able to find a 2nd gen grill on line for pretty cheap. I think I got the one for my second gen for about $200.00

 

That looks nice. I think my next tundra will be white. I'll look around

 

I put the 7” Bds kit on that truck. It was pretty easy to do and it road awesome.