• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Painting the Grille Surround

Share this page

LAW75

LAW75

Jedi Hopeful
Country flag
Offline
Hello there. I have a AH BJ8 and I now need to paint the dull silver strip along the grille surround. I went to a car paint store for advice, direction and products. The paint person said there is no product that will allow painting over chromed metal without sand blasting or sanding down the area and then a process to follow. Does anyone have suggestions on what to do? Is there an adhesive primer that will adhere and allow the flat silver paint to stick and stay? Help, please.
 
They are correct. If it was me, you can take it to a chrome shop and have the chrome stripped with out blasting.
 
Or you could do what the factory did: just mask it and spray it. How long do you need it to last?

Don't go after it with aggressive chrome polishing (after painting), and it will likely last far longer than ... than ... well, longer than your remaining ownership.
 
Chrome is very hard but it can be sanded and abraded enough for paint to adhere. Power tools would be an advantage if available and used correctly. No gouging of course. A tool such as a 1.5 or 2 inch flat abrasive disc. Don’t use coarse grit. Maybe 320 and finer grit. Tape off the shiny part and go to it. I would not use single stage ( uncatalized ) paints. I believe Eastwood Restoration Supply Co sells 2k primers and top paint in flat silver in spray bombs. As a matter of fact those guys are the experts to talk to. Also they are very willing to talk to you about all restoration needs. Give them a call.
 
LAW75 said:
Hello there. I have a AH BJ8 and I now need to paint the dull silver strip along the grille surround. I went to a car paint store for advice, direction and products. The paint person said there is no product that will allow painting over chromed metal without sand blasting or sanding down the area and then a process to follow. Does anyone have suggestions on what to do? Is there an adhesive primer that will adhere and allow the flat silver paint to stick and stay? Help, please.
Click to expand...
Here's an option for you. Being in the automotive & industrial coatings industry for 35 years, this might be your easiest choice for the application you're looking for. > Eastwood Self-Etch Primer Gray for Automotive Car Paint <.
 
LAW75 said:
Hello there. I have a AH BJ8 and I now need to paint the dull silver strip along the grille surround. I went to a car paint store for advice, direction and products. The paint person said there is no product that will allow painting over chromed metal without sand blasting or sanding down the area and then a process to follow. Does anyone have suggestions on what to do? Is there an adhesive primer that will adhere and allow the flat silver paint to stick and stay? Help, please.
Click to expand...
Gee, when I painted my grille surround in 2007, I had no idea how hard it is to paint over chrome. I just cleaned it well, wiped it down with acetone, then used Autozone primer and silver paint to do the job. It has no defects today.
 
dougie said:
Here's an option for you. Being in the automotive & industrial coatings industry for 35 years, this might be your easiest choice for the application you're looking for. > Eastwood Self-Etch Primer Gray for Automotive Car Paint <.
Click to expand...
Call Eastwood and ask about abrading the chrome.
I'd also ask what type of tape to use that is flexible enough to follow the line in the chrome.
Will you be taking the surround out to paint?

Q&A on their site about this product:

Can the etching primer be sprayed over chrome?​

1answer
Answer this Question
  1. MattM
    · 2 years ago

    It can be applied over chrome but we would suggesting abrading the chrome before applying the primer.
 
Last edited:
Thanks everyone. What I did was a light sand with 320 and then 400. Cleaned off with acetone. Masked. Used WHT "very high temp" "flame proof" header paint. Color is "aluminum" and flat. Two very light coats 10 min apart and then one hour later a slightly heavier coat. If I must say, it looks beautiful. Now, only time will tell as to the last.
 
I recently used VHT HIGH Temperature paint on some engine parts. It is good up to 550 deg. F (288 deg. C). It has the note in the instructions: "Extremely important: After paint is completely dry it must be cured to substantially increase the durability of the finish and enhance chemical resistance. Bake at 200 deg. F (93 deg. C) for one hour. Finish is not chemical resistant until cured. " I imagine that VHT considers header paint will cure in service from the heat of exhaust. But is that paint appropriate for the grille? Did your can of paint have such a note as well?
 
I've used a propane torch with a flame spreader attachment to 'cure' this type of paint, with good results. You can see the change in the paint color and consistency with heat.
 
can silent. Called company and spoke with tech person. Said its paint will adhere as good as any other metal painting product. Not very informative but felt, as comments suggested, if Healey did it, why not try.
 
Back
Top