Deleting chrome

I am looking to cover the chrome grill and later move to the bumpers if I don't replace them. I've asked around work and people here say either wrap them or hydro dip. I want to black everything out cause chrome is evil. I'm just curious what you guys recommend and what seems to be holding up well.

 

Easiest but least durable is plastidip

Could line-x them

Most people either get them powdercoated or wrapped

 

Replace them. @Roman is who you need to get in contact with. I've ordered several pieces from him.

 

I've thought of replacing them as well.

 

You can also pressure wash the chrome off the plastic, apply adhesion promoter, paint, clear coat, and done. automotivetouchup.com will make you rattle cans of color matched paint. I've done this on my Tacoma and Tundra. I think it turned out well.

 

how much psi to pressure wash the chrome off?

 

I did it with an electric one on my tacoma. Used a gas powered one on the tundra and it came off without too much fuss.

 

Did you chip a corner to start it? I am seriously thinking about trying this cause it'll save me money.

 

I had a rock ding to get it started with on the tacoma. Tundra had a big bubble so it was no trouble. If yours is still smooth, find a place that won't much show and a little nick will be a good way to get started. I don't know about your year, but mine grille has two pieces. I left them together so it would be stronger for pressure washer and took it apart go get the last little bits off and so I didn't have to mask anything off.

 

that looks really good. I got a buddy that used to paint cars and now is stationed here with me. So maybe one weekend and a case of beer plus the paint booth later I'll have a black grill.

 

Automotivetouchup also sells by the quart for those with spray equipment. Mine was all rattle cans.

 

This is the first thing I did the week after we bought it. I bought the color matched handles, mirror caps, the Pro grill and I had an extra set of bumper ends I took and had painted. I was going to have them powder coated but he assured me the paint would hold up just as well and match better. Also sent the headlights out for retrofit and blackout.

 

Oh yeah, if you are also going to do black headlight mod, the guides you will find here or tacomaworld are spot on and tell you all you need to know. If you have the time, totally worth doing yourself. I've done two sets now and not a drop of moisture in any of them.

 

All you need to know right in here.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/ultimate-oem-toyota-parts-thread.10707/

 

That thread is like Pandora's Box for crackheads. It starts there, next thing you know, you're pawning your kids.

 

Don't have kids and my wife loves custom trucks.

 

I want to put in a 5 to 7 inch lift. What do you guys recommend?

 

Holy smoke! That looks awesome! Good job. Bet you saved lots of money, for other mods lol.

 

D.A.D.
Ever consider typing out the recipe (step by step?)

And is your truck blue?

 

Truck does look a little blue in the picture! But its just regular old black. Must have been a nice clear day when I took that picture.

As far as a step by step goes....
I took the grille off my truck.
Took out the top insert piece, wishing the whole time I could put a light bar in there somehow.
Put it on the lawn and started hitting it with the pressure washer.
When I had gotten all of the chrome off that I could with the two pieces still attached to each other, I took them apart.
There are a tabs that you have to un-snap.
A bit of a fuss to do, but way easier to get the chrome off the inside edges this way and that also means you don't have to mask anything off when its time to paint.
Don't take them apart too early on as the piece with the chrome on it is far easier to work with when the inside is still attached.
Having a workmate of something you could strap it do and not care if it got wet might be useful.
Some of the chrome on the inside edges was a bit harder to get off, so I used a knife to plane them off.
Watch those edges of chrome sticking up, they will give you a nice fine cut.
I used some 300 grit wet sandpaper on the bare plastic.
Good wash and dry after that.
Coat of adhesion promoter.
Coat of self etching primer.
Coats of color matched paint from a rattle can.
Coats of clear coat.

Pretty sure that's all of it. I am by no means a professional painter, so it is quite possible that someone here might have a better idea on how to do this.

Black paint cost me $20, clear coat was $8 and shipping was $13 from automotivetouchup. I must have gotten the self etching primer at the parts store, don't remember how much it was but couldn't be too much.

 

Jus kiddin bro.... black out i plan on doing myself too

 

Im gonna try to peel it away.

 

Thanks D.A.D.!!!

 

Blackout....

 

I line-x mine. I go off road often so it's holding well and doesn't show scratches or pin stripes like paint would.
I got the UV treated line-x so it has a slight shine that goes well with metallic paint.

 

As black is an easy match, do you think they have the tundra blue?

 

Mine is officially done today.

 

thanks for the photoshop