aftermarket grilles

[510paesan]

My 03 is still in the shop after someone backed into it during Halloween weekend : the hold up is that Ford will only sell the superseded grille with a monochrome finish. I personally don't like it, the factory color was black originally. The body shop I took it too will not attempt to correct it, because then they won't be able to "warranty their paint"
Does anybody know of a good aftermarket parts dealer: no fitment issues, no damage on shipment, all the paramount stuff.

[CoreyM75]

As far as I know the aftermarket grilles fit poorly. Hope you find one that works.

[RubberCtyRauder]

It's hit and miss with aftermarket grille. Some have luck , some don't. Ford does not have marauder grilles left that's why you got chrome marquis one. I would soda Blast it and paint it. So they don't warranty the grille paint is not a big deal. Last I saw, member Embassy still had a new oem black grille for sale. Not cheap though.

[03blackvegas]

Here we go again......, the paint shop is either lazy, or incompetent, the grill pictured is chrome over plastic, the chrome is not going anywhere, therefore if the chrome is PROPERLY sanded, or scuffed, then a good epoxy sealer is sprayed over the chrome, then the paint and clear will have no problem sticking as well. I personally have done this many times with different parts where it's chrome plastic.

[RF Overlord]

How about trying this (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=99562&highlight=rain+x+headlights) on the grille?

[03Merc]

Ford dealer painted mine to DTR, it was black originally tho. I'm sure they can paint the Chrome finish n make it look perfect.


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[HeavyMetalMerc]

can always try hydrographic film or water transfer pattern, or straight black only ave to dip it.

[Bad_S55]

can always try hydrographic film or water transfer pattern, or straight black only ave to dip it.

I dipped my spare grill in black & then went over it with clear. It didn't come out bad, but it's nothing like real paint.

[510paesan]

Here we go again......, the paint shop is either lazy, or incompetent, the grill pictured is chrome over plastic, the chrome is not going anywhere, therefore if the chrome is PROPERLY sanded, or scuffed, then a good epoxy sealer is sprayed over the chrome, then the paint and clear will have no problem sticking as well. I personally have done this many times with different parts where it's chrome plastic.

what epoxy primer do you recommend ? i was going to rock hard it but the temperatures you have to cure that stuff at will warp the plastic - so that's out the window.

[03blackvegas]

what epoxy primer do you recommend ? i was going to rock hard it but the temperatures you have to cure that stuff at will warp the plastic - so that's out the window.

Any epoxy primer from a reputable name brand, just stop by an auto paint supply store, tell them what your doing, and they should be able to recommend one. It's actually a sealer, intended to be put on with one medium coat, set for a few minutes, then painted over the top. The key is to scuff with a Scotch brite pad, or 600 grit wet-n-dry sand paper, try not to go thru the chrome.

[510paesan]

Any epoxy primer from a reputable name brand, just stop by an auto paint supply store, tell them what your doing, and they should be able to recommend one. It's actually a sealer, intended to be put on with one medium coat, set for a few minutes, then painted over the top. The key is to scuff with a Scotch brite pad, or 600 grit wet-n-dry sand paper, try not to go thru the chrome.

I ended up getting a grille from RockAuto. fits pretty good.

[Marauderjack]

Most aftermarket grilles are sorta flimsy and if ya crank on the mounting studs you WILL deform them!!:argue:

Just finger tight works and it will not ever fly off...GUARANTEED!!:beer:

[510paesan]

I sorta was thinking that even after I did the prep work on an OEM grille, even low temps in a large paint oven would deform the plastic as well.

[RubberCtyRauder]

I sorta was thinking that even after I did the prep work on an OEM grille, even low temps in a large paint oven would deform the plastic as well.

Why do you need a paint oven? paint it, clear it, wet sand with 1500 to 3000 grit and buff..done