What is the proper way to smooth and prep the top and bottom pieces of plastic on the front bumper of my '99? Is there a way to smooth the textured finish, or do I need to buy a new piece. I know enough about painting to be dangerous, but some tips on making it resistant to chipping and flaking off is appreciated. Also, if anyone has their truck finished like this, I'd love to see it.
Kyle
New project truck:
'00 ECSB 4wd, 5.3, 3" body lift, gap guards, 18x9 Moto Metal 951's, 305/60/18 Mickey Thompson MTZ's
To-do list: Built rear end, 6.0 swap with built top end, 4L80e, and a couple bottles in the bed.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(krwyellowZ28 @ Apr 6 2007, 09:37 AM) [snapback]88800[/snapback]</div>What is the proper way to smooth and prep the top and bottom pieces of plastic on the front bumper of my '99? Is there a way to smooth the textured finish, or do I need to buy a new piece. I know enough about painting to be dangerous, but some tips on making it resistant to chipping and flaking off is appreciated. Also, if anyone has their truck finished like this, I'd love to see it.
Kyle
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Where to start. The only problem with trying to refinish a textured plastic material is that it is hard to get scratches down in the pores. So it would eventrually try to flake. I have figured out a way though. Here that the shop we have a sodablaster(kind of like sand blasting but it uses granulized baking soda, and it doesnt warp the material as bad as sand). I woud hit the entire piece that you are trying to smooth out and paint with the sodablaster to etch it up really good, the baking soda is so small that it gets down in the pores. before you prime it, it needs to be sprayed with plastic adhesion promotor just to be on the safe side (better safe than sorry, but usually primer sticks to about anything). Then 3 good coats of primer, with a nice guide coat last, and sand it down and your ready to go. After your base and clear go it it looks better than the factory finish. Anything is going to get rock chips, but since I soda blast them, it leaves a better chance that the rock chip will stay a chip and not start pealing, also, depending on how flexible the piece is that you are painting, you might want to add a flex additive to your clear.
DANIEL CAMMED SS 13.46 @ 98.17-- 8.58 @ 80.31
2003 Silverado SS / LQ9 6.0L / Wheatley 93 Octane Tune / 224/228 .581 .588 110lsa / Patriot Gold Dual Springs / Comp Hardened Push Rods / Circle D 3800 stall / Pacesetter LT's / 4:10 Gears / Transgo HD-2 Shift Kit / K & N Cold Air Intake / Corvette Servo / Aeroforce Interceptor / Autometer Narrorband(Wideband on the way) / Mobile 1 Synthetic / Single Chamber Flows with X Pipe / Cats Delete with Cutouts
scuff with sand paper, spray adhesive assisting agent, spray with primer sand smoothe and paint it. not hard at all but make sure u so it right cuz u can screw it up. red did a pretty good job detailing it for u, and its not THAT hard to do.
Sprayed: PM sent sir...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(krwyellowZ28 @ Apr 6 2007, 09:37 AM) [snapback]88800[/snapback]</div>Wouldn't it just be easier to go to a junk yard and pull of the bumper cap from a 01-06 Tahoe or Suburban that has the factory painted bumper cap--and then prep and paint? Sounds like a whole lot more hassle than it is worth...just my two cents...What is the proper way to smooth and prep the top and bottom pieces of plastic on the front bumper of my '99? Is there a way to smooth the textured finish, or do I need to buy a new piece. I know enough about painting to be dangerous, but some tips on making it resistant to chipping and flaking off is appreciated. Also, if anyone has their truck finished like this, I'd love to see it.
Kyle
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2000 ECSB 6.0L
TORQUER V2 CAM ● COMP 918's ● 7.4 HARDENED PUSHRODS ● K&N SERIES 77 CAI ● 80mm BBK ●PACESETTER LT HEADERS AND 3'' ORY ● SUPER 40 FLOW ● 3000 STALL ● 4.10s ● BUILT 80e ● VORTEC PERFORMANCE TUNE ● MSD 8.5mm PLUG WIRES● ELEC. CUTOUT ● UD & ALT PULLEYS ● FLEX-A-LITE E-FANS ● 22" CENTERLINE STINGRAY III's ● LUND FIBERGLASS TONNEAU ● 2" LEVELING SHACKLES ● 12K HID LOWS & FOGS ● LEDs ● DEBADGED ● WHITE-FACED ESCALADE GAUGES ● KICKER 450.1 ● 2-CVR 10's ● DS60's ● K693's
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