View Full Version : Color Matching
TankerTom
06-08-2005, 10:09 AM
Hey guys....removed my side molding yesterday now I want to get everything else the same color. I would like to paint my grill bar white (not chrome), the mirrors white, and the rear bumper steps white. How do I go about doing this? I have heard that the chrome grill is impossible to paint over so just find a new one....but what about the mirrors and rear steps??? They have a bumpy surface, can I sand them down and paint them or do I have to find some smooth ones? Do they make smooth ones? Any help is greatly appreciated.
CarbonEnvoy
06-08-2005, 11:20 AM
Yes, you are better off finding a factory white grill. You could also try to find some factory white mirrors from a Northface Trailblazer or Envoy Denali. I know EnvoyFan has white Northface mirrors on his Envoy, but I don't know where he got them. They are probably pretty pricey new, and pretty rare used.
From what I've been told, it's well worth having a body shop do the painting. They will properly prep the surface and use a flex agent needed for painting plastic. It will turn out better and they usually warranty the paint for a period of time too.
02EnvoySLE Guy
06-08-2005, 12:07 PM
Yes, you are better off finding a factory white grill. You could also try to find some factory white mirrors from a Northface Trailblazer or Envoy Denali. I know EnvoyFan has white Northface mirrors on his Envoy, but I don't know where he got them. They are probably pretty pricey new, and pretty rare used.
From what I've been told, it's well worth having a body shop do the painting. They will properly prep the surface and use a flex agent needed for painting plastic. It will turn out better and they usually warranty the paint for a period of time too.
Definitely have the body shop do the paint if you want a true match. Envoy Fan has mirrors off a Buick Ranier as I recall.
Envoy Fan
06-08-2005, 12:15 PM
Definitely have the body shop do the paint if you want a true match. Envoy Fan has mirrors off a Buick Ranier as I recall.
Yes, my mirrors were '04 Rainier parts. (Bought new, not cheap, but smooth so they could be painted). The smooth back mirrors are also found on NF TB's, some Olds Bravadas, Buick Rainiers, and now the '05 Envoy Denali's. (Hey, I had Envoy Denali mirrors before they were even released :p ) They were painted by the GMC body shop.
Some have had success in sanding down the rough texture on the mirrors. The chrome grille won't be satisfactory painted, get a color matched one.
Rear steps have been smoothed and painted by some. Don't know the success. '06 TB's will have different rear bumper with color matched steps.
TankerTom
06-08-2005, 01:03 PM
hmmm...i might just stop by a body shop and ask them what kind of magic they can perform on the mirrors and rear steps.
Envoy Fan
06-08-2005, 02:23 PM
hmmm...i might just stop by a body shop and ask them what kind of magic they can perform on the mirrors and rear steps.
Good idea. They can tell you what your "in for" to do this mod. :p
Onsite
06-08-2005, 02:41 PM
We do these types of paint jobs for our customers everyday. You really have two options here.
1. You can have them painted as they are. A lot of our customers take this cheaper option and they are pleased with the results. The color is the same and it shines but it is textured.
2. For our customers who are willing to pay for the extra labor, we sand the surfaces smooth and paint. This makes a very smooth look and the results are great. The only problem here is the time it takes to get them smooth. If you do not get them consitantly smooth you will be able to see the difference.
If you want the smooth look, compare the extra labor charge to the cost of buying smooth ones.
Oh yeah, I would not want to paint over chrome. We have done it before at the customers request and had some good results. But I still do not like to do it.