Davlyn

Active Member

• Apr 20, 2012

• #1

Does anybody know what colour the front grill on a P38 should be? I don't mean colour coded to the car I mean the correct name or code for the dark grey or black which ever it is.
The guy that had mine before me had the grill colour coded to the vehicle and I don't like it hence I want to have it repainted the right colour. I know the strip along the bottom of the grill needs to match the colour of the vehicle its just the rest of it that needs to change colour.
I've looked at loads of pictures to try and determine what colour they should be but they all seem to be in varied states of fade.
Any suggestions greatly received.

Dave

 

martynv8

Well-Known Member

• Apr 20, 2012

• #2

Mine was sun faded so i painted it the same colour (epsom green) to match the car but i did respray the headlight wipers in Landrover Java Black & look pretty smart so think your grille would look good in this. Got my paint from Halfords. The original grilles were not painted - just black plastic.

 

Andrealouisea

Active Member

• Apr 20, 2012

• #3

Echo Martyn, The original grilles and headlamp wiper arms were just black plastic that faded to a grim light grey after a few years. I had mine colour coded and it looks fab - far better than the grotty faded grey!

 

jt_armstrong

Well-Known Member

• Apr 20, 2012

• #4

Mine is also epsom green with a colour matched grill It looks fab however the wifes is rioja red and lets face it a red grill is going to look naff. The grill was well faded when we got it but a little bit of Forever Black worked wonders. Plastic back to factory colour and it looks fantastic.

 

Davlyn

Active Member

• Apr 20, 2012

• #5

So do I try and strip the paint off or repaint it??

 

C

clarkie

Active Member

• Apr 20, 2012

• #6

repaint it would be a lot easier

 

H

Hawaii

Active Member

• Apr 23, 2012

• #7

did mine with Halford's plastic primer & topcoat - colour was their dark grey - now perfectly matches the bumper (did the bits under the headlights as well - 1 can of each is plenty

 

martynv8

Well-Known Member

• Apr 23, 2012

• #8

same here, plastic primer, top coat & lacquer. You WILL want to do the headlight trims though when you see the new grille. I had to mask my front end off to do these as it looked like a pain in the ass taking these off to paint. Luckily the sunny weather in March helped!

 

MrGorsky

Well-Known Member

Full Member

• Apr 23, 2012

• #9

You can return faded plastic bumpers back to black with a paint stripping heat gun....apparently.

I've not tried it myself, but there are many video showing people doing it on YouTube.

The heat causes the black pigment in the plastic to be drawn to the surface or something, and as it cools the pigment stays near the surface. I'm not sure how long it lasts, but it's easy peasey.

Have a look....

Using a heat gun to restore automotive plastics - YouTube

 

Davlyn

Active Member

• Apr 23, 2012

• #10

thanks for all the replies guys. I managed to pick up a good second hand grill the other day, I've flatted the painted strip at the bottom and primed it I've just got to get and aerosol for the right colour now.

thanks for all the advice,

Dave