Hi, Im gonna try to do the 3 bar grill mod this weekend. I was wondering what everyone thinks looks better. I got a black HHR and want to paint the grille black. What looks better Flat/Matte Black, or the glossy Black. I was thinking the matte black but I dont know if it would clash. Also I wanna shave off the front and back Chevy Emblems. Can anyone give me any tips and advice on the best way to do it. Also, how do you get the back silver piece of thats connected to the emblem. Well im on a roll, best way to paint the inside dash, door panels of the car. I want everything on the inside to be black. I want my whole car to be completely black, the grey, silver, and everything gets too dirty. Why not murder out the entire car. THANKS

 

believe it or not, I actually used a semi-gloss black or "satin finish" engine enamel when I painted another ca'rs grill. it too was plastic-chrome...I ended up scuffing the chips first with scotch brite, then applying 6 or 7 coats, lightly to ensure a nice finish...not too wet, not too dry.

My best advice is to use a paint that you can easily get in the future for any touch-ups.

if you find a paint to use at some out of the way store, and need to touch up roack chips in the future, you might end up with wrong-shaded polka dots.

here's the "finish" of my other car's grille after rattle-canning it with engine paint.




I know it isnt a HHR example, but at least you get an idea of the "satin finish"

 

Props to you with that grille, so thats satin black, cause I like the look of it. Did you clear coat? Is that just straight spray paint, or automotive spray paint? But props on that grille, looks nice.

 

Mine was painted the same as the body:


As for shaving the emblems. contact SindyDix. She did both of hers.

 

Where did you get those headlight covers? I've had my HHR for over a year but I worked on my Audio and Video first.

 

Some of the Supporting Vendors offer them..........

From RAS.........http://www.raceandstreet.net/Merchan...ory_Code=HHR-E

 

Couple of suggestions on shaving the emblems. On the grille, don't cut past the small supports (located between the louvers) until you finish removing the bowtie and installing the bridge. This will help keep the grille alligned until the middle is finished. I used the upper center and spliced it into the middle, you will have to center the point and fix the bottom of the piece because the bowtie is connected there. You will have to rebend the center metal support to fit, without the bowtie, it will hit the center piece. Keep all paint strippers away, I tried some urethane stripper (made for plastic bumpers) on a left over and it melted it into liquid form in under two minutes. There is no easy way around getting the plating off. The rear garnish is a piece of cake. You will only have to fix the top (where the emblem sticks out) and a small hole thats beneath it. I used a 3M panel bonder to splice and fix holes. The plastic repair product they make lifted when I primed it with epoxy primer. I'd recommend to paint the grille gloss and put a mesh or perferated metal behind it in flat or satin black. The most important advise for last, if you can't afford to buy a new grille and garnish, you can't afford to do this project.