Be honest with me…

I’m am full send on operation de chrome this girl. I opted to use dupli color match paint for the front bumper moulding piece. I think the quality of it turned out good but the color match is quite a bit off… am I just being picky or should I just paint it black? The other option I was thinking off would be to paint the entire lower bumper that wraps around the fog lights black. Looking for honest feedback? Thanks!

 

I think the black would look good. Is the red that different in person?

 

I'm not big on having a spotlessly clean truck.

I'd just run down a dirt road after a rainstorm. The colors being off mean nothing to me.

I get it, some of us want what shows to be perfect. Me, I'm big on the drive train being meticulously maintained.

Off color paint matching isn't gonna leave me stranded.

 

good effort, but it'll stick out like a bad repaint after a fender bender. I'm sure some won't notice, but it sounds like you will. Just my measly .02. Id go to a parts store that sells auto paint, they'll mix up spray cans in your color code, then use Y2K clear coat. Its a 2 part clear with hardener in the spray can you puncture and mix before you spray. It makes spray painting look good. Check out You Tube University its pretty basic with excellent results.

Good Luck!

 

it’s about what you see in the picture.. it’s noticeable to me. I feel like just painting the moulding black would look like an odd mustache.

 

Yeah, I think the black bumper would bother me more than the color matched paint being off.

 

Looks fine by me but it ain't my truck.

Sometimes these type projects end up being something that you wish you never started.

Good luck.

Heck, my Tundra front bumper has a bunch of dings in it from parking in the garage and banging into my rollaway toolbox... whoops. Being ok with imperfection helps me sleep better at night.

 

Find an automotive paint supply place that can mix color matched paint and put it in a spray can.

There are also online suppliers if one is not nearby.

 

What @assassin10000 said, but also remember: Basecoat matters. The current paint you have may be the correct color, what you're seeing may in fact be that, from the factory, they were using a dark primer under.

I've seen this happen a lot, where folks are repainting a single panel, and use a bright primer instead of dark, and the factory used a dark colored primer/undercoat, so the repainted panel looks way brighter. Classic example, a friend of mine has an IS300 in bright yellow (576). He had some damage to the front driver fender/quarter. He opted to repaint an aftermarket panel that was black. He tested the paint on the damaged stock panel - perfect match. He then sanded the black-primered aftermarket panel, assuming it'd be fine, and even after multiple coats, the panel looks muted, darker yellow, it lacks the brightness and pop.

 

I can see it popping a little but that could also be the fact that it’s new paint on a 20 year old truck.
I’ve seen a dark red truck in town that has the chrome painted black on the bumper and grill. I think it looks good.

You could wrap the chrome in black or another color and it won’t be permanent. I did that on my truck and I’m happy with it.
I did the plastidip spray paint on my mirrors and that hasn’t held up as well. After a months it’s chipped from bugs and a car wash.

 

Paint the whole bumper that color. Profit!

 

I think bumpers should always be a different color than the body.

 

Sun faded color and new factory color is really hard to get matched up perfectly unless one is a well seasoned pro. Just paint the whole rig, accept a difference, or pay top $$ for some serious skills.

 

Personally, I'd go with flat black paint all three chrome strips and the Toyota logo. That's staying with the original design, but just transforming the accents from positive (brighter than the paint color) to negative (darker than the paint color)

(EDIT: I'd paint the "V8" too.)

 

I ordered mine from here and the match is spot on. I painted the rear bumper.

https://www.automotivetouchup.com/?...BgjAYUDdNWhwj08cO6REBb4DNL3uevK0aAlsYEALw_wcB

 

If you look at the Salsa Red Pearl color from 2002ish to 2018ish you will see it change. It used to be darker and deeper like your truck, but if you park next to a 2018 4runner Limited you would see a totally different color. The newer vehicles are much brighter, much more red with a gold hue.

Toyota does this with their paint, same paint code over the years but they call it a new name. You can see the progression of color differences over the years. The 2008 4runner where the 070 Blizzard pearl was released, versus a 2012 4runner in 070 Blizzard pearl, versus a 2018 4runner in 070 Blizzard pearl are 3 totally different colors. Its literally the same paint code in the door, literally called the same color, but they are drastically different. In order to get it right you gotta use color chips and match your "variance" and get a paint shop to match it otherwise nothing on the shelf will ever match. I have not looked at your color but i bet there are at least 10+ variances over the years.

 

This is correct. You gotta look into what Toyota calls for, sealer, primer color, and base coat. The Toyota 040 super white like i have is grey primer on the metal panels, but all the black plastic calls for white primer. So if you are painting the body you go with grey primer and if you are painting a plastic bumper or grille you use a white primer. Then you use the same body color for base coat. There are specifications on "how" to paint and if you painted over the chrome without the proper prep or the correct color primer then you certainly wont match the factory color.
BUT, this also is assuming you have the correct color and its matched to your paint.

 

Well thank you everybody for the feedback! I looked up my code and ordered a kit from automotive touch up. I’m not expecting it to be perfect but hoping I can get it a bit closer than the bright red lipstick I just put on it! Stay tuned for attempt 2.0!!

 

Just in case you need it.

 

thanks! I found this earlier and confirmed the color code on my door jamb sticker. Salsa red.

 

IN for ideas.

I don't like the chrome accents either......especially don't like the chromed side mirrors and fuel tank door.

I did get OEM and junkyard door handles....going from chromed to white. Hope to get those on this fall or over winter, assuming we clear enough space in the new garage to put the truck up for winter.

 

I'm trying to think whether I've ever seen an Autumn Red Micah 1st gen before. I'm not sure I have. Looks like that and Platinum Metallic were both 1yr-only options.

 

after I install my grill today all the chrome will be gone except the rear bumper. New window trim, mirrors,painted the antenna trim,grill, and painting this front bumper moulding. Goodluck with yours!

 

I just noticed on that list that 2003 did not have a blue option at all. Well, when I decide to get my own Tundra and not the one claimed by my daughter, if I want blue, it will be an 05 or 06 most likely. I do like the Jade green too. That's the color of my dad's Tacoma that he wrecked before buying the Tundra.

 

that bright red looks like lipstick on a ....ermm, tundra.

 

I’m impressed with OPs paint job. Looks fantastic.

 

oh I agree it’s gotta go lol

 

Why nt leave it be? Chrome is pretty minimal there and works fine. If you get rid of it, front might look too plain?

 

to each there own. I just don’t prefer chrome.

 

^^^^

My default position: If it ain't broke...

I came to that default position over many years of fixing stuff that wasn't broke.