Tungsten Metallic Color Match Project

[Back in a Bowtie]

So from the very day i got my truck I've wanted to color match the grille, headlight trim, and bumpers.  Since there is no good vinyl match to tungsten / iridium metallic wrapping was out of the question (i envy you guys that have that option).  I tried a bunch of plasti dip combination but could never get close enough to my liking.  One day I saw a drivers side headlight trim piece on eBay so I bought it and figured id start from there.  Later found a passenger side complete headlight that had to mounting tabs (to the truck) busted off so it was basically for parts.  Then got a really good deal on a grille from a member here.  They sat disassembled on a shelf for a while but i finally got a chance to paint them.  I sanded with a DA to knock down the chrome and give it some bite.  4 coats of adhesion promoter, followed by 4 coats of primer then wet sanding.  For paint I uses AC Delco touch up paint (4 coats).  Took 6 5oz cans to do the 3 pieces.  I used the eastwood 2 part clear.  Man that stuff is good.  4 wet coats and they came out great.  There are a few spots where the color seemed to spit but they are hardly noticeable.  For rattle cans i think they came out damn good.  Just letting them cure for a while then ill polish them out and mount up.  Will update this thread along the way.  

 

 

Edited October 28, 2017 by 14tungstenLT

[B33tl3]

Looks good. 

It is a hard color to find. Took me a while to find door handles and mirror caps. 

Looking forward to seeing your results.

[seth7843]

Looks great. I plan on doing this with my Sierra grille.

[Justin Nachazel]

I’m excited for this one I’ve been thinking the same thing with mine but have been waiting on it. Stoked you are doing this on a Chevy too!

[silveradotech]

Let me know how you make out with this! My truck is a tungsten too and I've been looking to either colormatch or install a '16 front end

[bndawgs]

looks good.  best color out there 

[Back in a Bowtie]

update: got the grille put back together this morning with the illuminated bowtie.  I like the chrome honey comb but i guess well see once the bumpers get painted.  Need to get some 3m tape on my lunch to finish the headlight bezels.  Weathers pretty crappy up here today so probably won't be installing it for another day or two.  Plus id like to give the paint a bit more time to cure.  

 

 

[Justin Nachazel]

I think it looks great so far! Are you able to list the products and how much the project is costing you please? looks like you got the color prettyspot on

[Back in a Bowtie]

clear - (http://www.eastwood.com/ew-2k-aerosol-high-gloss-clear-26897.html) - 4 cans 

Color - (https://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-2015-2016-CHEVROLET-SILVERADO-TUNGSTEN-METALLIC-TOUCH-UP-SPRAY-PAINT-WA121V-/391902372176) - 6 cans 

Primer - (https://duplicolor.com/product/sandable-primer) 3 cans 

Adhesion Promoter - https://duplicolor.com/product/adhesion-promoter - 2 cans i think

3m double sided tape - (https://www.amazon.com/3M-38582-Exterior-Attachment-Tape/dp/B00JR4D70K) 2 packs 

 

total - about $150 (to paint)

 

I don't remember what i got the grille, drivers side trim piece and passenger headlight for.  But you could paint your existing parts so that's a variable anyway.  

 

 

[Almboss]

Thats looking pretty good. How rough of a grit did you use on the chrome pieces when you sanded them down?

[Back in a Bowtie]

1 hour ago, Almboss said:

Thats looking pretty good. How rough of a grit did you use on the chrome pieces when you sanded them down?

220.  then wet sanded the primer with 600.  

[Justin Nachazel]

Any update on the install??

[Back in a Bowtie]

19 hours ago, Justin Nachazel said:

Any update on the install??

not yet.  thinkgs got a little hectic for me last week.  Hoping to find some time by the end of this week to get it on.  Will likely do the grille first as thats a far easier task than the headlight bezels.  

[dblaz4685]

Looks great cant wait to see the parts installed. Great job

[Justin Nachazel]

Still excited for this haha