Gloss black honeycomb grill

[Boydstang]

I really like the 2018 gloss black honeycomb grills on the new mustangs, being thinking about doing that to my 2015. Has anyone done this for theirs on here? Looking for tips and paint options and pictures too. Thanks!

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[Anthony 05 GT]

If you do decide to go that route I recommend you have it done with automotive paint with a catalyst. Adhesion promoter should also be applied to plastic before paint and clear.

 

[Monica_Stang]

Was just thinking about making a post on this. I’m also very curious with how it would look
Painting something gloss black is a pain though. I did my rear diffuser and it was very hard to get even

 

[Nagare]

[MENTION=26535]socal2fast[/MENTION] did his. Hard to compare to most other cars because the job on his is fantastic all the way around and he went for gloss black everywhere instead of just the grille.

 

[socal2fast]

@socal2fast did his. Hard to compare to most other cars because the job on his is fantastic all the way around and he went for gloss black everywhere instead of just the grille.

Thanks Nagare

Yea I went High Gloss black on the grill and love it. It keeps it nice looknig for years to come.

 

[5.0_SD]

Thanks [MENTION=28654]Nagare[/MENTION] for linking.. [MENTION=26535]socal2fast[/MENTION] your ride looks amazing with all the black gloss...how's it holding up for you? Now I'm tempted to paint myu cervini's grills since they are still in the box...hmmmm...OP, me thinks you may going down a rabbit hole like I'm thinking with this, lol!

 

[Boydstang]

@socal2fast wow! that does look good! did you have a shop do that or did you do that yourself? Thanks!

 

[ctandc72]

If you do decide to go that route I recommend you have it done with automotive paint with a catalyst. Adhesion promoter should also be applied to plastic before paint and clear.

Depends on the product line. Some product lines recommend against an adhesion promoter. Just follow the tech sheets for whatever product line and you'll be golden.

But you are correct - I DEFINITELY recommend base coat / clear coat.

Most people don't know this - but A LOT of auto body supply shops can put actual base coat (any color - they mix it like normal) into a aerosol can for you. I've used it on bumper repairs and other blends. Works great. You can also just buy the paint and use a Preval sprayer - but I like the tips on the custom aerosol cans much better.

As for adding clear....for small jobs I just buy Spray Max 2K clear. Comes in an aerosol can. It's an actual urethane 2 part clear. It has a button on the bottom of the can that releases the activator / hardener and once you shake it you have so much time to spray it before it hardens (just like you would when using a spray gun). Stuff works GREAT - especially for small jobs.

 

[Manders Mustang]

I've got it on my 2016 EBM, along with lower gloss black lower grille, side skirts, fog lights etc, I'm at work so no pictures but u can just about make it out on my Avi lol. (yes im an EBm with the GT grilles and splitter, they look better ok!)

I gave them to a professional bodyshop my friend works for who did them. Fairly easy, scotchblock, etch primer, sand, paint, lacquer, polish sorted. Should last a few years.

 

[Manders Mustang]

 

[socal2fast]

Thanks [MENTION=28654]Nagare[/MENTION] for linking.. [MENTION=26535]socal2fast[/MENTION] your ride looks amazing with all the black gloss...how's it holding up for you? Now I'm tempted to paint myu cervini's grills since they are still in the box...hmmmm...OP, me thinks you may going down a rabbit hole like I'm thinking with this, lol!

Looks and holds up great. It’s just like the car paint and was done at a shop with Clear coat over

 

[socal2fast]

@socal2fast wow! that does look good! did you have a shop do that or did you do that yourself? Thanks!

Had a shop do all the high gloss black with clear coat when I had the stripes painted.

 

[5.0_SD]

[MENTION=26535]socal2fast[/MENTION] that's what I fear chips...but you said you also did the 3M film protection in those areas too?
[MENTION=20131]Manders Mustang[/MENTION] How's it holding up? Is it base coat + clear coat? If so, and if you know, how thick (mm) is each layer? Looks fantastic! :cheers:
And to both of you...are they daily drivers?

 

[Manders Mustang]

[MENTION=26535]socal2fast[/MENTION] that's what I fear chips...but you said you also did the 3M film protection in those areas too?
[MENTION=20131]Manders Mustang[/MENTION] How's it holding up? Is it base coat + clear coat? If so, and if you know, how thick (mm) is each layer? Looks fantastic! :cheers:
And to both of you...are they daily drivers?

Daily driver, parts been done nearly a year, only ever had one issue which was the lacquer peeling but that was down to me jetwashing too close and hitting an air bubble on the splitter.

Process for painting them was: sand down, scotch block key surface (important!), clean, etch prime (3 coats - sand and clean between each, about 500-200 grit papers tiered up to 1000 depending on how rigid the "texture" is), then 3 coats of gloss black, with a wet sand at the end to smooth it down and remove impurities, then hit it with 2 coats of clear wet sand 2000-6000grit (tiered up), then polished and jobs a good un. It's a fairly easy task for any professional to do, i'm not a professional so a friend did it for me and grilles and fogs took a day, skirts/valance/splitter about 2-3days tops (and that's with the bodyshop having other work to do)

Depending on how much clear depends on how much it's going to be resistant to rocks and stones etc, the clear used on mine is actually a 2 pack clear that completely prevents rock chips (they're still perfect and unscathed), but certain objects in the right angle will cause scratches, but they're hardly noticeable.

I've found them a shitload easier to clean (especially as i detailed and sealed the parts before they went on!) than the textured plastic which gets goop stuck in there forever and heaven forbid a little bug gets speared in the texture it's a royal PITA to remove (use a needle anyone who has that issue!).
The one downside is, because it's gloss black, you gotta keep em clean otherwise they look pretty crap pretty quickly. :lol:. But as they're easy to clean it's no bother.

 

[socal2fast]

@socal2fast that's what I fear chips...but you said you also did the 3M film protection in those areas too?
@Manders Mustang How's it holding up? Is it base coat + clear coat? If so, and if you know, how thick (mm) is each layer? Looks fantastic! :cheers:
And to both of you...are they daily drivers?

On the front of the car I have the 3m film on the bumper,fenders,lights,hood,lower splitter. Not on the grill. It hows up great.

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