Silver Argent Paint Prep

[money pit]

I'm preparing to paint the grille on my 70 Barracuda. What do I need to do to prep the grill before I paint it with the silver argent paint? Do I need to sand or scuff it, and prime the grill before I paint? Does anyone have any tips on painting the grille? I never used this type of paint.  Thanks

[73440]

I painted my grille recently with the silver argent.
I had to do a few plastic repairs , then i just used a red scotch brite pad over the entire grille.
The paint was originally glossy.
Then sprayed as normal using a few coats.
I did not spray a primer , if I remember correctly.

[73440]

I went back and looked at the photos taken I did not primer the grill I used the totally Auto silver argent paint painted mine in November of 20018 and it still looks good.
It was originally when I got it body color as you can see the color I went over in the Avatar.
Mine took two cans would have been nice to have a third can the catch a couple of the spots they were missed on the back slightly.

[70chall440]

What he said... It needs to be clean, grease free and have some "tooth" to it for the paint to adhere. I have tried "paint promoters" in the past which are supposed to help paint stick to plastic, however in my experience it just gave me problems; mainly fisheyes in the paint. I have found that if you prep it like you would the rest of the car, it will come out.

[money pit]

I scuffed the grille with a Scotch red pad and I'm going to clean it well. Is the silver argent paint for wheels the same paint used on the grille?  Thanks

[70chall440]

I believe that it is as far as color is concerned. As to actual paint, that I am not sure but I have heard that the argent paint on the grilles was actually a different blend because they are plastic, but that could be wrong as well. I do know that most people who restore the grilles shoot them with the same paint.

[73440]

http://www.totallyautoinc.com/paint/paint.html

This is where I bought mine.
When I talked to them in Nov 2018; they said they were discontinuing the paint.

[73440]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mopar-Textured-Light-Argent-Paint/172646321650?hash=item283285cdf2:g:C3EAAOSwvD5Z8MCK

I see some cans on ebay .
About the same price I paid from Totally Auto.

I had to keep switching nozzles as it would clog, it was about 40* outside when it was sprayed, as about the low temp recommended limit.

Just checked the cans I used and they are the same as the ebay item , mine had a date of 8/21/2017 and was sprayed in Nov 2018.

[money pit]

Thanks, I'll give Totally Auto a call. I checked the website, they don't have an online ordering system. 

[redo1973]

I too used Totally Auto.  Nice guy and he'll give you the better answer as for the color shade for your vehicle year.  I used the wheel argent and it was far too light for me as I have a B5 blue car.  I then re-scuffed with 400 grit and cleaned with the Eastwood Pre-paint. The new paint was darker and looks much better. Let me know if you want a picture but can say for certain that you shouldn't go wrong with Totally Auto product.  He mixes colors in batches.

[jimynick]

For what it's worth gentlemen, you want to clean the part and then sand it, or you're just sanding any possible contaminant into your surface. By all means feel free to clean it again when done sanding, with a proper Pre Kleano type product.  Here endeth the sermon. 

[money pit]

Thanks everyone for the great info.

[OE Argent]

Having restored many old used grilles from 1985-2011... i found the best way to strip them was in my aluminum etch tank (caustic soda for stripping aluminum) at about 135 degrees , not only did it etch away the original aluminum metallic to bare plastic and loosen/ clean what was left of the original paint... the solution actually rejuvenated the plastic and took the brittleness out of them..  Unfortunately, that option is not available to most...

the next best way was blasting using 320 grit aluminum oxide with 40 psi.  I never tried any of the methods listed here, but since the etch cleaner  worked, i don't see why Simple Green or Pinesol wouldn't work.  just don't use any type of paint stripper.

then i would repair, then prime them with epoxy primer. then used a custom mixed gray to simulate new plastic, then sprayed them with NOS Dk/med Textured argent.

Today is a luxury having new grilles... This grille was one of the bare BEA grilles i just sprayed for a past customer. spraying new plastic is just like the factory did it, i use SEM brand sand free 1st, it works amazing. then just shoot the OE argent in a gun like original (its lacquer)...

Mike