Hood speaker grilles - gloss or satin paint?

[dave6666]

The title pretty much says it. Need to pull one of my grilles to get the rubber trim on the edge against the hood back in place, and thought I might dust them with some Rustoleum. There is some wax residue that would look better black. Yeah, I know, after getting the residue off...

 

[Rheeder218]

gloss did mine in the summer. nice little touch of difference

 

[grcforce327]

I realize just one side is actually an air inlet,but Chrysler parts labels this an air inlet screen.I'd like to meet the einstein that intially called them "speaker" grills,so I can hit him over the head and thank him for letting human nature,(follow the leader),take it's course.

 

[B767DRIVER]

I don't own a Gen II but If I get a vote it's satin.

 

[big-n-italian]

i did mine in gloss and like the look. the holes seem to tame the shinyness down a bit if that makes any sense at all.

 

[98viperGTS]

Just my thought but could they have made that one screw harder to get. LOL If you have taken the screens off you know which one it is.

 

[okloneranger]

I've kept mine original but have had them off twice to "reseat" the rubber. The second time I removed them I carefully glued the rubber to the grills with weather-strip cement. I also lost several screws into the hood each time. I used everything from magnetic screwdriver tips to tapeing the screws to the screwdriver tips to prevent this, but still managed losing a couple each time.

 

[NOTV8]

I've kept mine original but have had them off twice to "reseat" the rubber. The second time I removed them I carefully glued the rubber to the grills with weather-strip cement. I also lost several screws into the hood each time. I used everything from magnetic screwdriver tips to tapeing the screws to the screwdriver tips to prevent this, but still managed losing a couple each time.

I've been there too though your idea of gluing it is a good one. I will do the same the next time I remove it. Thanks for the idea

 

[DAMN YANKEE]

Dave, I found that common wrap-around door edge trim from any of the auto parts stores will fit perfectly and already have the right adhesive in the groove. Once done, you never have to go back and reset them. Those I have seen in the chrome strip as well.

Also, at the last meet I saw two interesting treatments, one was on a red rig and he had taken the time to chrome his grills and they looked absolutely great, the other guy had his powdercoated gloss black (blue car) very nice as well. The guy with the chrome is aVCA member, maybe he could post a shot of his untis.

 

[dave6666]

Hey, great tips everyone.

I'm a little confused as to why the screws would be getting lost or be difficult. Yeah, I know the hood pad is in the way, but I plan on unfastening part of the hood pad to make that easier to do. Maybe I am wrong and it is tough regardless.

So as long as we are swapping tips, here's a great place to get the fasteners cheap for the hood pad, as well as I bought some of the wheel well do-dads. Their prices are for like packs of 5, not just per each.

Northland Fasteners Search Results

Northland Fasteners Search Results

Northland Fasteners Search Results

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

Hey, great tips everyone.

I'm a little confused as to why the screws would be getting lost or be difficult. Yeah, I know the hood pad is in the way, but I plan on unfastening part of the hood pad to make that easier to do. Maybe I am wrong and it is tough regardless.

So as long as we are swapping tips, here's a great place to get the fasteners cheap for the hood pad, as well as I bought some of the wheel well do-dads. Their prices are for like packs of 5, not just per each.

Northland Fasteners Search Results

Northland Fasteners Search Results

Northland Fasteners Search Results

Dave, you are a genius (I almost blacked out typing that ). I'm gonna order a set of the hood pad fasteners (2nd link). Shipping and handling is $6.75 whether you order 1 set or 10 sets. If anyone else wants a set from any of the above links, lemme know and I can order for both of us so we can combine shipping

 

[dave6666]

Dave, you are a genius (I almost blacked out typing that ). I'm gonna order a set of the hood pad fasteners (2nd link). Shipping and handling is $6.75 whether you order 1 set or 10 sets. If anyone else wants a set from any of the above links, lemme know and I can order for both of us so we can combine shipping

The big fat round ones are on there too by the hood hinges. Don't forget those if you are dropping the whole hood pad off. At least they are on my '01. Dunno about you G1.5'ers...

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

The big fat round ones are on there too by the hood hinges. Don't forget those if you are dropping the whole hood pad off. At least they are on my '01. Dunno about you G1.5'ers...

Thanks Dave, but the 2nd link clips are all I need. I dropped the pad, painted Sneaky Pete and reinstalled the pad last year sometime. I was able to reuse most of the clips, but a couple were damaged beyond re-usability. I didn't worry about it because the pad is still supported fine with the clips I did save, but at this price, may as well go on and buy a set.

 

[Flash Gordon]

If you want them to look as close to stock as possible....SATIN. I did mine last year and they look perfect. Believe me, I'm anal. I think I still have the can of paint I used. I'll give you the name or post a pic if I can find the can when I get home tonight.

 

[Batboy]

I had mine painted to match the car when I had my sills done. Not sure if they used gloss or satan though. I don't believe they clear coated and they don't look as shiny as the car. HTH.

 

[Mccarlin]

I had mine painted to match the car when I had my sills done. Not sure if they used gloss or satan though. I don't believe they clear coated and they don't look as shiny as the car. HTH.

Pics please I thought about painting mine to match the car too.

 

[dave6666]

I had mine painted to match the car when I had my sills done. Not sure if they used gloss or satan though. I don't believe they clear coated and they don't look as shiny as the car. HTH.

SATAN paint???

You Da Man!!!

 

[big-n-italian]

SATAN paint???

how do you think some people were able to get their cars dave? LOL

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Satin or flat. I did mine in gloss because I had a can of gloss around and was too lazy to get something else. It doesn't look bad but satin or flat would have been better.

 

[Jay Lopez]

The title pretty much says it. Need to pull one of my grilles to get the rubber trim on the edge against the hood back in place, and thought I might dust them with some Rustoleum. There is some wax residue that would look better black. Yeah, I know, after getting the residue off...

I used satin, and they look great. Mine were faded from age, but I think the satin finish is close to the stock color.

 

[1MEANSNAKE]

We powdercoated our super mirror black and they are beautiful. We can do them for anyone else if they are interested. You won't have to worry about fading ever again with powdercoating them. Turn around time is 1 business day We also have satin and can do any other color imagineable....

 

[dave6666]

We powdercoated our super mirror black and they are beautiful. We can do them for anyone else if they are interested. You won't have to worry about fading ever again with powdercoating them. Turn around time is 1 business day We also have satin and can do any other color imagineable....

Picture(s)?

 

[goldcup]

1MEANSNAKE I would be interested, pictures/prices? Car is just sitting, it would be the perfect time to send them.

 

[Batboy]

Pics please I thought about painting mine to match the car too.

This is the only one I could find unless I want to venture out in the cold overcast morning and snap a pic of my filthy car. High res in my gallery.

 

[DAMN YANKEE]

Batboy, they look great! What did you use as the bottom lip material?

 

[Batboy]

Couldn't tell you since I didn't paint them. The guy who did it is a Viper owner but doesn't frequent the boards. From what I understand he simply took them off and apart, used the same paint he mixed for the car and sprayed it on. I don't know if he did any sanding or primer but I haven't had any problems with them and he is a professional, so I would expect he did whatever was necessary. I'll ask him next time I see him and let you know.

 

[dave6666]

Thought I would post up what I did.

-> Took the grills off and ran them through the dishwasher.

-> Then pulled off the rubber trim and glued it on with black 3M weatherstripping adhesive. Kind of a PITA that black sticky monkey snot in a tube stuff, but the rubber trim being astray was the primary reason I needed to pull the grills to begin with.

-> Then painted 2 light coats with Rustoleum Industrial satin black. Masked the rubber trim with blue painters tape. Another PITA! Be careful as to not jar the freshly glued rubber trim.

The satin black is the ticket for OEM match.

 

[B767DRIVER]

Got any before and after pics??

 

[dave6666]

Got any before and after pics??

I can take some good after pics, but I declined to worry too much about the process, like before pics, because catching the light just right would have been the challenging ticket in the before shots. Which was like every time I walked out of the garage to gaze, but I doubt I could have captured it on film.

Wax residue was issue one. Creeping rubber trim was issue two. It's such a simple project and the satin paint is the OE ticket, my 0.02 is just do it.

 

[trainville]

Same on my '98 GTS. Had them powdercoated silver to match the car. Very durable finish and looks great!