DIY Installation + Paint Chrome Trim on CL9 CL7 Grill. Warning Lots of Pictures!!

[skyichigo]

There is several ways to paint match on your car. One of the most common mods is to make your grille the color of your car, which gives you a new look to your front end. Here is a helpful guide to help you along your way when attempting this task.

Materials Needed:
1 can of primer
1 can of Paint matched spray can (Bought at $50 from Paint Spot Footscray)
1 can of clear coat
1 can of grease and wax remover
Paper Towels

Tools Needed:
10mm socket
Rachet
Flat blade screw driver
PH.C phillips screw driver (for smaller screws)

Step One: Using hood release, pop the hood and use prop rod to keep it up.

Step Two: Locate the retaining clips for the radiator cover and remove the clips.
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/5039/6dcc900d.jpg (http://img849.imageshack.us/i/6dcc900d.jpg/)

Step Three: Locate and remove the retaining clips for the grille. (Should look like clips from above)

Step Four: Using a outward motion, pull the grille toward you to remove from the car.

Step Five : Go to the hood. Look toward the front of the hood on the underside and locate the 4 black plastic nuts which hold the hood chrome piece on. Using your 10mm socket and rachet, use a counter-clockwise rotation to remove the nuts. Pull the chome piece towards you after the retaining nuts are removed.

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/6393/20120618144029.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/i/20120618144029.jpg/)

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/586/20120618144043.jpg (http://img403.imageshack.us/i/20120618144043.jpg/)

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/63/20120618144738.jpg (http://img32.imageshack.us/i/20120618144738.jpg/)

Step Six : Locate and remove the 8 screws holding the lower "V looking" chrome piece on, using your screw driver in a counter-clockwise rotation. Pull chrome piece towards you.

Step Seven : Lay down all the parts on piece of paper, and start by cleaning it with the grease and wax remover

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/7463/20120618150510.jpg (http://img821.imageshack.us/i/20120618150510.jpg/)

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/298/20120618151741.jpg (http://img403.imageshack.us/i/20120618151741.jpg/)

Step Eight : Once clean, sand the chrome grill until the gloss faded

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/2315/20120618152743.jpg (http://img694.imageshack.us/i/20120618152743.jpg/)

Step Nine : Then start applying primer. Shake primer can for minimum of 1 minute, then apply 2-3 coats of primer. Please allow 30 minutes between coatings. Doing this step will give the paint something to adhere better on the surface.

http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/1416/20120618153639.jpg (http://img542.imageshack.us/i/20120618153639.jpg/)

Step Ten : Shake paint mix can for minimum of 1 minute. After 30-45 minutes of last primer coating, apply a coating of the paint mix to the pieces. Allow 30 minutes between coatings. You need to apply 3 coatings of paint. (Picture shows PWP, yes it looks like white until in sunlight)

Step Eleven: Shake Clear coat can for minimum of 1 minute. After 30-45 minutes of last paint coating, apply an even coating to the pieces. Apply 3 coatings of clear coat, allowing 30 minutes in between coatings. Doing this step, will help seal the paint you just sprayed.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/782/20120618203921.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/i/20120618203921.jpg/)

Step Twelve: After drying is complete, reassembly is the reverse of removal.

Before :
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/752/20120618144747.jpg (http://img256.imageshack.us/i/20120618144747.jpg/)

After :
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/1607/20120619131727.jpg (http://img689.imageshack.us/i/20120619131727.jpg/)

At this final step, I realized that the new color didn't match well with the rest of body paint. Following a member's suggestion here, I re-sand it twice with P400, buff it with Meguairs Cutting Compound, Respray with Pearl coat and clear coat. This is how it turns out :

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/769/20120622132115.jpg (http://img515.imageshack.us/i/20120622132115.jpg/)

PS : 1. When installing the CL7/ Euro-R Grill, you might need to cut small trim on the radiator cover to fit it perfectly or just install it without the radiator cover.
2. You might notice that the new paint looks darker than the hood and bumper. That's always being the case. Fresh paint versus paint that's been faded over time


Hope this DIY helps anyone who want to attempt doing this mod.

[ChaosMaster]

Very nice. Should go into the DIY thread though, as it may help other Honda owners as well. Would have thought that a paint shop would match the paint on your car or did you take the colour code to them?

[white_ep3_civic]

I like the color coded grille but I wouldn't be happy with that color match.

[longers]

Seriously that paint matching is f#cked.

[ChaosMaster]

Not really. I'm guessing he took the colour code in for the paint and that's how it came out. Colours fad over time, I mean I tried touching up my mother's car, which is a gold colour. Using the touch up paint that came with it, it was a lot darker/richer than the actual body work. Then again, the car is a decade old so you'ld expect the colour to have faded. The only way your car's paint will match that of the colour code is if it's new, recently has been repainted or you have paint protection on it.

On a side note though, I wonder how it'ld look with the bottom piece painted in black? Especially if you keep the old grill, might actually work out better and not have to worry about paint matching.

[cheapdouchebag]

its not too bad, theres no sanding down the clear and cut n polish yet, so it hasnt really been blended yet. if u look carefully at the bottom left of the grille outline u can see the part where it touches the sunlight and its almost a good match with the bumper.

its just not completed yet thats all.

[curtis265]

ouch@ colour accuracy

good DIY though

[Fredoops]

does the paint instructions involve baking?

if so then colour would be slightly different

[kristrifo]

white has got to be the hardest and ugliest colour to match

love the DIY but

i want to change my grill to something like that: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ACURA-04-05-TSX-ACCORD-CL7-CL9-CM2-FRONT-GRILL-MESH-GRILLE-/300726135413?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4604acaa75

[cheapdouchebag]

does the paint instructions involve baking?

if so then colour would be slightly different

it is true alot of painting the heat will smooth results out much nicely.
but, with acrylic paints it not as neccesary u can achieve results the same wihtout it

[Rudy]

Thats not normal and its not because of your car fading either :( Its a completely different shade. Something went wrong man. That's why I just say leave it to the pros imo for this stuff.

[skyichigo]

The paint that I ask to get mix is the correct one like the one under my hood NH624P, I also watched the guys mix it for me following the "notches" guide. I am sure it will be blend in time. But if you are not confident, IMHO, you can leave it to a professional. All the parts cost me nearly 80$, taking it to a spray painter might cost you $120 or more. But, well, IMO, that's a big experience I got by DIY-ing it. And it's fun. Also as Patrick said, I will try sand it down tomorrow since the paint just dried up today. Then + cut and polish. See how it goes

[cheapdouchebag]

so...... when u told me u got paint mixed.. you didnt get a sample scanned through along with the code?

because if thats the case, after a finalising sand down, cut and polish (and wax if u like), if the paint supplier was only provided with the code and not a sample as well then u may have a white that will stand out much brighter than the rest of the body sorta "newer/fresher" white.

When i ment sand down. it has to be a WET sand. remember the gritts i told you

If u like a comparision - here is a pic of a fender i did with clear coat and after a W&D sand down cut n polish. compare the two pictures. both were taken from the same phone and both was acrylic based paints. You be the judge.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/716/20111204180440.jpg/ <--- BEFORE FINISHING
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/407/20111210181045.jpg/ <--- AFTER FINISHING

[Rudy]

^ Theres nothing one can really tell from those pics and apply it to this situation. No amount of sanding/polishing/baking/frying is going to change the eggnog white to frosty white imo. Thats why I say leave it to pro as they can make the necessary minor adjustments on site if the colour doesn't match up despite having correct colour code. They (the good ones anyhow) also will know the right factory matching primer to use, which alters the final colour. Even pros can stuff it up (from my experience), so the amateur has little chance. Don't get me wrong, i'd be happy to be proved wrong..im on your side!

[cheapdouchebag]

the reason why it looks eggnogy in my opinion if they've got the colour code correct, is possibly the clear coat.
1K acrylic clear from a can is not as easy to apply, thus giving off the milky 'eggnog' colour resulting from halfdrying mid air while dispersing onto the part. we're all just guessing theres only so much we can tell from a picture. need an upclose at least. hence why sanding will improve the clear coat at least, and if worse goes to worse it has to be redone. my explanations are there to encourage OP to keep at it! and to not panic if his messed it up

[skyichigo]

Appreciate your inputs guys. I only supply the shop with the paint code, no sample, cause I thought they will end up mixing the same paint like the OEM. Well, it looks quite unmatch at close, but I am also not too fussy to get it fixed at this moment, cause I thought at least it looks way better than the chrome :) Rudy, you got your point by referring to shop, but what Patrick tried to say is that he does a lot of paint job, he's just sharing his experiences. And i really appreciate it. But, well, even the pro starts from bottom didn't they? I am not really expecting a "Professional" result with this first DIY attempt. But well, at least it doesn't turn out as bad as I think. Next time, as precaution, I will try to supply a sample to the shop. It's just my fault really when I asking them to match the paint without sample. At the end, this "DIY" is worth for trying, just with more pre cautions :)

[cheapdouchebag]

i wouldnt go back there again to that paint shop if i was you. every paint shop i go for repairs that require paint matching, will not give me the paint unless i provide a sample e.g fuel lid if im painting a metal part, and random non metal part of the car if i was to paint a bumper for instance (simple terms, plastic sample for plastic).

Id try next time Bodyshop paint supplies, paintmobile or another place. at least not that place u went to.

[Rudy]

Appreciate your inputs guys. I only supply the shop with the paint code, no sample, cause I thought they will end up mixing the same paint like the OEM. Well, it looks quite unmatch at close, but I am also not too fussy to get it fixed at this moment, cause I thought at least it looks way better than the chrome :) Rudy, you got your point by referring to shop, but what Patrick tried to say is that he does a lot of paint job, he's just sharing his experiences. And i really appreciate it. But, well, even the pro starts from bottom didn't they? I am not really expecting a "Professional" result with this first DIY attempt. But well, at least it doesn't turn out as bad as I think. Next time, as precaution, I will try to supply a sample to the shop. It's just my fault really when I asking them to match the paint without sample. At the end, this "DIY" is worth for trying, just with more pre cautions :)



All good brutha..despite the colour difference, the actual quality of the work you did looks very good! I can understand that it's worth it to give it a shot. Good luck bro.

[skyichigo]

Yeah was thinking to go to automotive paint supplies then ask them for color chart, and try to match my bonnet before I order the paint.

[skyichigo]

Fixed! :) Check the Picture After. Following Patrick tips, I wet sand it, buff and cut polish, then re-sand again and re paint it with "Pearl" only + 2 layer of clear coat. Looks heaps better now

[cheapdouchebag]

Well done! would like a fail and win picture comparison before n after corrections.. otherwise your gunna make previous posts appear to be be EXTREMELY anal about paint match.

u have cut n polished the new paint right?

[Rudy]

Glad it turned out well this time. Looks excellent! Good job bro.

[skyichigo]

Well done! would like a fail and win picture comparison before n after corrections.. otherwise your gunna make previous posts appear to be be EXTREMELY anal about paint match.

u have cut n polished the new paint right?

Yes I did cut and polish. lol I ll put it back then..


Glad it turned out well this time. Looks excellent! Good job bro.

Thanks. +Rep? lol