No More Chrome, all black everything on my FSport
#1
No More Chrome, all black everything on my FSport
So I don't really like chrome and wanted to do what I did on my last car and remove it all...(maybe I just like projects). Anyways I thought I would put this out there for people that wanted to know more details on what I did and get some ideas...(especially for that stupid emblem on the front that you can't do much with...but now you can!!)
I am super detailed so enjoy the long read or just look at the pictures.
I first went to Tommy over at Musicbox to do my calipers in high gloss black with the custom "FSport" decals - sorry I didn't take a picture with the wheels off, but you can get the idea. I got the decals made at MotoGFX (so give Matt a shout and he can get you the same ones). I think he did 3 coats of black and 4 coast of gloss.
After that was don't I went over and got all the chrome wrapped along the windows, the front and the back trim (you can see the pictures mixed in below. AND I did the inside portion to get rid of the glare problem (with a matte black):
Next step was to get new badges around the car and black them out. So they are plastic and you have to paint them a certain way so that you can wash them, wax them, etc. I got all the parts over at SEWELL as they offer a discount on all clublexus owners.
Here is what I did:
1) Bought the right paint (Spray Max) - Don't use anything else but Spray Max and don't get the fast drying junk. I went over to custom airbrush in SoCal and they know their stuff!!!
2) Buy the paint adhesion (Bulldog in my mind is the best)
3) Buy Spray max black trim pain
4) Buy the 2x High gloss (this can only lasts 48 hours so do everything all at once)
5) Scotch pad to make the surface rough.
Here are the pictures of what I did and what it looked like:
(I used 3 coats of adhesion - not too heavy; then 4 coats of black and 4 coats of gloss):
I had to get the front "L" emblem insert custom painted to match my car (but it was only $65 at the local paint shop that I use). You are probably wondering where I got it...well it came from a 2011 GX460 front bumper. I used all the part components from SEWELL PARTS to figure it all out. If you want exact part numbers check with the SEWELL site and don't forget to get the locking washers that go behind it...
Then while I was painting the emblems the exhaust tips were getting finished by my local powder coat guys (I DID NOT POWDER COAT them I used ceramic coating because of the high heat). I got them a semi-gloss black because ceramic coating couldn't get it to a VERY shinny black, though I like it better that way in my opinion. And I like it better than using high heat paint...
I then took the "FSport" side logos and used Plasti-dip for them...though I hate plasti-dip I just did that because my other emblems are on order, so when I get them I will hand paint them like I did the logos: (It turned out good, but I want to be consistant with the colors)
I have a few other posts on other interior mods I did too:
Enjoy!!!
** More mods to come I am sure **
I am super detailed so enjoy the long read or just look at the pictures.
I first went to Tommy over at Musicbox to do my calipers in high gloss black with the custom "FSport" decals - sorry I didn't take a picture with the wheels off, but you can get the idea. I got the decals made at MotoGFX (so give Matt a shout and he can get you the same ones). I think he did 3 coats of black and 4 coast of gloss.
After that was don't I went over and got all the chrome wrapped along the windows, the front and the back trim (you can see the pictures mixed in below. AND I did the inside portion to get rid of the glare problem (with a matte black):
Next step was to get new badges around the car and black them out. So they are plastic and you have to paint them a certain way so that you can wash them, wax them, etc. I got all the parts over at SEWELL as they offer a discount on all clublexus owners.
Here is what I did:
1) Bought the right paint (Spray Max) - Don't use anything else but Spray Max and don't get the fast drying junk. I went over to custom airbrush in SoCal and they know their stuff!!!
2) Buy the paint adhesion (Bulldog in my mind is the best)
3) Buy Spray max black trim pain
4) Buy the 2x High gloss (this can only lasts 48 hours so do everything all at once)
5) Scotch pad to make the surface rough.
Here are the pictures of what I did and what it looked like:
(I used 3 coats of adhesion - not too heavy; then 4 coats of black and 4 coats of gloss):
I had to get the front "L" emblem insert custom painted to match my car (but it was only $65 at the local paint shop that I use). You are probably wondering where I got it...well it came from a 2011 GX460 front bumper. I used all the part components from SEWELL PARTS to figure it all out. If you want exact part numbers check with the SEWELL site and don't forget to get the locking washers that go behind it...
Then while I was painting the emblems the exhaust tips were getting finished by my local powder coat guys (I DID NOT POWDER COAT them I used ceramic coating because of the high heat). I got them a semi-gloss black because ceramic coating couldn't get it to a VERY shinny black, though I like it better that way in my opinion. And I like it better than using high heat paint...
I then took the "FSport" side logos and used Plasti-dip for them...though I hate plasti-dip I just did that because my other emblems are on order, so when I get them I will hand paint them like I did the logos: (It turned out good, but I want to be consistant with the colors)
I have a few other posts on other interior mods I did too:
Enjoy!!!
** More mods to come I am sure **
Last edited by mikec78; 08-23-12 at 10:41 PM. Reason: pictures didn't upload
Trending Topics
#8
I like what you did to the license plate. I just do not understand why you did it.
#12
i need to get that decal cause i am getting my calipers painted also, but i live in atlanta, ga is there a wedsite that i can get it off of? also is that caliper paint heat resistant so it doesn't chip?
#15
Put the black on first then caliper decals, then clear over them...
---Mike