Hey guys... I am in need of a new grill insert (1991 Z28 bowtie style) because I tried to paint my old one and the paint started eating it... Before I painted it I read lots of posts on here about people painting theirs with no problems... I used a paint made specially for plastic trim so I have no idea what went wrong.

Anyways... I am deciding between the classic industries replacement or a new one from the dealership since both are essentially the same price when ordering from Canada.

What I'm wondering is if the dealership replacement grill has holes or bosses on the front for the plate bracket or not... I'm pretty sure the one from classic industries is perfectly flat on the front side. Anyone know?

Thanks

 

Well I tried another kind of paint... same story... it makes all these spider crack marks when I coat it... right in the plastic!

I looked on the back.. and it's made out of PC (Polycarbonate).... the only thing I've found that doesn't cause a reaction is rust paint... Anyone have any experience painting these things? What is going on here?

Thanks

 

One I got for the earlier model, silver Camaro on it, had little dents in it where the bolts would go, no actual holes.

 

what happened to the original one i gave you off my car you bastard :P

 

I filled the holes that..... SOMEONE drilled in it and then I painted it after reading on this site that lots of people have painted theirs with no problems... well i tried 3 kinds of paint and it they all ate the plastic except for tremclad which looks like crap and is not really sandable. I ordered a new one from the stealership today. I really appreciate you helping me out with that though... I will find a use for it yet.

 

u can get a new one on ebay for like $40.

that's where i bought mine.

 

I ordered mine from classic industries and it had indents where the plate braket holes go.

 

I picked up my new one from the dealership today... and it also has indents where the bracket goes. The indents bother me a bit..... but I'm not going to mess with this one after the disaster with the last one.

 

J

what primer did you use?

that should have sealed it so the paint would not react to the plastic

 

I painted mine a glossy black, 2 works for ya, Krylon Fusion, won't chip crack peel or fade, primer not needed. Just clean with alcohol, then with dish soap, paint, dry, mount, perfect!

 

First time I didn't use a primer and it ate the plastic and left big 'crack marks' everywhere.... I sanded them out as best as I could and then tried again using a special automotive 'plastic primer' I found at Crappy Tire... and even that started eating it the same way...

I got a new grill insert from the dealership so I am all set now... but I just wanted to find out what kind of paint is used to paint polycarbonate...

 

I used engine paint on my old one, and it came out okay. Come to think of it...I use engine paint on everything.