How To: Color Match your LMM front end

[frank-customs]

The reason I'm posting this How To is because I had to search high and low just to figure out what I was doing. With that said, I will try to post my process as clearly as I possibly can. Pics will be soon.

Remove your front bumper - several methods to do this. First I popped the hood and took the cover that goes over the radiator to the grill off. Then remove the grill. All you have to do then is pull the fog light assemblies out (3 clips per light) and remove the 4 bolts that hold the bumper on.

Next take the bumper apart piece by piece. The 2 side pieces come off first then the lower plastic valance then the metal piece. Don't forget to remove the chrome trim piece on top of the hood.

Gather your paint/prep materials:
-orbital sander (way easy and fast)
-80, 120, 240 grit discs (you will use more 80 than 120/240)
-400, 600, 1500 grit sheets (more 400/600, only 1 or 2 1500 sheets)
-Painters tape (usually blue or green)
-Wax/Grease remover
-Laquer thinner
-KleenStrip Bulldog adhesion promoter (1 quart)
-2k High build primer (1 quart) with activator
-Base coat (1 quart) (I prefer PPG)
-Clear coat (1 quart) with activator
-hvlp paint gun

Preperation:
1) Scuff that tacky chrome film REALLY well with 80 grit. You don't necessarly have to sand all of the chrome off but be sure you have that chrome really super-duper scuffed. The black plastic lower valance can be skipped and just sanded with 120/240.
2) Go over everything with 120 then 240. The orbital sander really makes things go quick. Then apply wax/grease remover to everything on the surface.
3) Pour about 12-16 ounces of Bulldog adhesion promoter in your gun. This does not require thinner and it is VERY thin right out of the can. Spray 2 coats. Wait 3-5 min. in between 1st and 2nd coat and 5-10 between 2nd coat and high build primer.
4) Mix up 8 ounces of primer, 2 ounces of activator, and 2 ounces of your remaining bulldog in your paint gun. the bulldog will act as a thinner for your paint while giving it more stickiness to the surface. Give it 3-4 coats.
5) After each coat of primer, wet sand with 400 grit and after the final coat wet sand with 600 grit.
6) Mix 10 ounces of your base coat to 3 ounces of laquer thinner. Don't ask me why, but it makes the perfect viscosity for the gun. Put 3 Coats on, wet sanding with 600 ONLY if there are imperfections such as runs or orange peel, inbetween coats, and after the final base coat.
7) Mix 8 ounces of clear, 4 ounce of activator, 2 ounces of thinner. Make sure you hold the gun slightly closer to the surface and reduce the width of the spray a little so the "fan out" isn't as big of pattern. Apply 3 coats. You may wetsand with 600 but again only if there are runs. After the final coat has cured for a few hours, wetsand with 1500 to give it a nice shine and take care of whatever orange peel is left.

That should be it. It seems like a big undertaking but it really isn't. I'm 17 and I've never touched a paint gun before and it turned out 99.99% perfect. It will take 2-3 days so make sure you won't need your truck or have a 2nd vehicle. It is illegal to drive without a bumper.

This paint method can also be used on your mirrors, rear bumper, rear bumper cap, tailgate handle, etc... Be sure you tape everything off that you dont want paint on and have a clean area with plenty of ventilation. The only piece i used tape on was the grill. ALSO... do NOT worry if you have runs up the @$$ on your first primer coats. Just sand the runs away and adjust your gun/paint stroke accordingly.

If there are any questions please let me know!
-Mitch

[BLACKMAX1]

sub'd...

[jwcgmc1985]

ohhhhhhh l love custom stuff!!!!

[backwoodsdmaxx]

Sub to read later

[jwcgmc1985]

wait no wetsanding with 2000?!?!?!

[mackyoudip]

nice write up

now pics...

[frank-customs]

Alot of people tend to use higher grit than they actually need, to the point where the sandpaper isn't doing anything. But again, it's just the way I did it. Feel free to shy away from my method.

[frank-customs]

nice write up

now pics...

I'm one of those guys who would rather get pics on a nice day all at once than bad cell pics that make it look terrible lol

[mackyoudip]

Originally Posted by frank-customs

I'm one of those guys who would rather get pics on a nice day all at once than bad cell pics that make it look terrible lol

i gotcha, soon i hope!

[j.stanton2009]

Cant wait for a nice day! Ready for some pics!

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