Blue Ribbon 4x4 Build Thread

Nice

 

Thanks!

 

Probably a dumb question did you paint the grill surround and hood piece or was it color matched to begin with, if you did was it chrome? And was it a pain to do being its plastic?

 

I just recently painted the surround and hood piece. If you flip back a couple pages it’s there. The surround was bare plastic, so it got adhesion promoter, sealer, paint, then clear.
The hood bulge was chrome first and has had many changes. I sanded it and plastidipped it first. Then it got bedliner over that, sanded then paint. Later I sanded and applied sealer, paint and clear.

 

Ok, thanks! Been looking at this option if I figure out the direction I want to attempt to go if I suck it up and give it a try. Far from a pro here just a diyer that when I mood hits and the wife isn't around when I get started to question and stop me I'll try it. Wasn't sure if the chrome just needed scuffed or stripped completely.

 

This is the extent of my painting experiences so far, I had an 07 and the hood and roof were fading bad since it was outside 24/7 and probably not the greatest upkeep of the paint so I decided to do this, came out ok from a distance but once you got up close you could see the flaws of an amateur, plus I didn't have an indoor area and had to do it outside.
I like etching more buy my wife didn't like it so I'm trying to refrain for doing it to my 18 I have nowthis was in the 07 before I gave it to my daughter and took all the etched windows out and gave her fresh new ones. I kept the etched glass. Its boxed away.... why I dont know!

 

That’s awesome! Still an amateur here too. I’ve had do-overs and other mishaps. All in the learning. Paint will definitely keep you humble.

 

Thanks, humble,happy,frustrated and everything in between and then a dang bug flies into the best looking part

 

You know it.

 

So fedex of course split them up, I have two, waiting on the other two. I won these in the raffle at the Anniversary meet from last month.
They didn’t have my bolt pattern, so I went with something I can sell. They are 6x139.7 bolt pattern and 17”x9”. They fit the new gen Tundras, 2016-present Tacoma, and all 4Runners and the new broncos. They fit more trucks, but I gotta do more homework.

 

Those look good, unfortunately my wife doesn't like the bronze look so that's a no go for her 4runner!

 

Bummer! Man, I really like these. I wish they fit. I’ll have to get something else when these sell, hopefully.

 

Things I’ve learned this round:
Control coat: this is important with metallic paint. You spray your area and give a “dusting” about a foot from the panel to even out the metallics. Over a wide area I was getting subtle stripes.

Frog tape: I originally used blue tape to tape off the black, and the blue tape peeled my clear coat. Maybe I didn’t let it cure enough?

Blue Ribbon coats going down.

 

Also, lower pressure for paint - 22psi
Higher for clear. - 28 psi.
This gave me a much nicer finish with the base coat.

 

The amount of relief I feel right now is indescribable.
I’ll let it cure, then flow coat it. Let it cure, then cut and buff it.
But before that, I’ll get a shot in the sun tomorrow.

 

Looks amazing already, can't wait to see the finished product!

 

Thanks!

 

Oh!!!! I like that

 

Thanks Robert!

 

Looks slick as hell!

 

Thanks Adam!!

 

Back in action. Y’all tired of these shenanigans yet? So I burned through some of the black while wet sanding. That’s ok, because I’ve been thinking about respraying the black anyway. The hood was taped off and had a crisp blue to black transition. I was originally wanting to have a soft black to blue transition, almost like it fades to black. So here was my opportunity. I used caulk-fill..a 5/8” round of foam and taped it where I needed. Then sprayed the black. Next is the pearl. Then I’ll shoot the clear today also.

 

Wrapping it up!!! For real this time!!! 3 coats clear. Still gonna cut and buff, but no need for flow coat.
Very happy with how this turned out this time. I don’t feel the need to do anything over.

 

Can't wait to see it in the sun

 

Same.

 

Gimme a week and I’ll get it outside.

 

Now the question is how many redesigns happen in that week.

 

Hopefully none

 

I agree. He needs like 3 more hoods so he can go nuts on all the designs and show them all to us.