Chrome LT Mesh Inserts to Black!

[LDHickox]

Hi everyone, new to the forum, but creeped for a long time!

i wanted to write a little thread and maybe help some fellow 2014-15 LT owners that want to get rid of the chrome for the LTZ black insert look.  I noticed a ton of guys going out and spending 200-300 just for a grill, but I hope I can save you every bit of that and you can just buy the 5.97 can of rustoleum auto from Home Depot.

 

First step was the obvious grill/trim removal.  4 bolts up top, 4 below, and  the 2 7mm on each corner.  Not gonna post pictures of this since there are so many tutorials already.

 

So once you pull the grill/trim off, there’s a sort of cowling you have to remove.  Use the 7mm socket from earlier to knock all these off.  Once that’s complete, you’ll have access to the clips holding your inserts in.

 

 

 

 

Not sure why image mage is flipped, but these clips are pretty resilient.  I used some wide needle nose to depress the clip and push the grill out.  Be careful and after each clip, slightly push the grill insert off so they don’t pop back.

this is the removed cowling you’ll be taking off the grill assembly.

 

I rattle canned the inserts after popping them out with a semi gloss black paint.  

 

3 coats did completely cover the inserts.  

Don’t go overly thick and make the clips on the outside too hard to pop back in also...

 

Reassembly was easier and faster than prior, the clips literally pop in within seconds, just work your way out from the middle for an easier time.  Reverse what you just did for reassembley and you should be good to go!

 

Hope this helps some guys who want to give it a go.  All in all it took me about an hour (minus paint drying)

 

It can be done though guy!  And the results are awesome!

 

[LDHickox]

Maybe someone can help me figure out how to spin images, but here’s the final product