new grill
Ive been to hell and back with grills for this car and here is some advice.
We all pretty much agree that the chrome looks like crap
Colormatching the grill to your car is a big improvement but it has to be done absolutely right or it WILL chip. I have, however discovered a way to do it with no chipping.
TUTORIAL!
1. Remove grill from car.
2. Remove the Black inserts from the chrome part.
3. Sandblast the chrome off. (Most industrial shops have a sandblast station that they should let you use... just ask.) If you cannot sand blast start sanding with really fine sandpaper)
4. Wash COMPLETELY with soap and water. ( if you sand blasted the chrome, now you would use just a touch of fine sandpaper to even out the rough spots and wash again)
5. Put on rubber gloves. From this point on do not touch the grill with bare hands!
6. Wash and soak the grill in rubbing alcohol. make sure the alcohol thoroughly cleans every nook and cranny including around the mitsu logo. You know its clean enough to paint when you can run an alcohol moistened cotton ball over the whole thing and not pick up ANY dirt or discoloration on the cotton.
7. Lay the grill (you better still be wearing gloves) on newspaper in a clean area with no wind.
8. Spray the grill with PLASTIC PAINT PRIMER. DO NOT directly apply paint. It will NOT stick. The only exception to this is if you are painting with the new Krylon FUSION brand paint that is formulated for plastic bonding.
9. Follow all primer instructions (you may have to lightly sand and rewash but prob not.)
10. Apply first coat of paint. Wait 5 min and watch to make sure all paint is sticking. If it is not, then you either touched the surface with your bare hands or did not thoroughly wash.
11. If no probs occur apply 2nd and 3rd coat in 5 min intervals.
12. Allow 1-2 hours to dry depending on paint instructions.
13. Apply clearcoat closely following the instructions.
14. Make sure the grill dries COMPLETELY before putting it back on the car. (1-2 nights)
Enjoy a better looking grill.
Enjoy a beer.
Enjoy showing mitsubishi how it should have been done.
We all pretty much agree that the chrome looks like crap
Colormatching the grill to your car is a big improvement but it has to be done absolutely right or it WILL chip. I have, however discovered a way to do it with no chipping.
TUTORIAL!
1. Remove grill from car.
2. Remove the Black inserts from the chrome part.
3. Sandblast the chrome off. (Most industrial shops have a sandblast station that they should let you use... just ask.) If you cannot sand blast start sanding with really fine sandpaper)
4. Wash COMPLETELY with soap and water. ( if you sand blasted the chrome, now you would use just a touch of fine sandpaper to even out the rough spots and wash again)
5. Put on rubber gloves. From this point on do not touch the grill with bare hands!
6. Wash and soak the grill in rubbing alcohol. make sure the alcohol thoroughly cleans every nook and cranny including around the mitsu logo. You know its clean enough to paint when you can run an alcohol moistened cotton ball over the whole thing and not pick up ANY dirt or discoloration on the cotton.
7. Lay the grill (you better still be wearing gloves) on newspaper in a clean area with no wind.
8. Spray the grill with PLASTIC PAINT PRIMER. DO NOT directly apply paint. It will NOT stick. The only exception to this is if you are painting with the new Krylon FUSION brand paint that is formulated for plastic bonding.
9. Follow all primer instructions (you may have to lightly sand and rewash but prob not.)
10. Apply first coat of paint. Wait 5 min and watch to make sure all paint is sticking. If it is not, then you either touched the surface with your bare hands or did not thoroughly wash.
11. If no probs occur apply 2nd and 3rd coat in 5 min intervals.
12. Allow 1-2 hours to dry depending on paint instructions.
13. Apply clearcoat closely following the instructions.
14. Make sure the grill dries COMPLETELY before putting it back on the car. (1-2 nights)
Enjoy a better looking grill.
Enjoy a beer.
Enjoy showing mitsubishi how it should have been done.
oh yeah, one more thing, i eventually replaced my painted stock grill with the Ralliart one. It looks soooooooooo great. Better than all the other grills hands down. The person that was selling them on ebay is at this address: jspectuner@aol.com
Give him some time to reply, he is all the way in japan.
Give him some time to reply, he is all the way in japan.
Is there a lay away plan? My pocket is kinda empty after paying for $1200 in tuition and $500 in books, but I might have some extra dough in a couple of months, or a student loan at the least.
Last edited by elpedro; Sep 11, 2003 at 08:50 PM.
