Cleaned up the hood insert

[samneil2000]

I should have taken pictures of my hood insert before I started, and along the way. Sorry, I didn't. :o It was sort of a spur of the moment thing I started last weekend and finished up this morning. I bought a 3M sanding pad for my drill and some duplicolor trim paint from Auto Zone. I took the hood liner off. It was soaked and nasty so I tossed it in the trash. Then I unbolted the hood insert. A few of the bolts were pretty rusty and I even had a bolt break. It didn't break off the insert, it just broke right below the nut. I figured there were enough bolts on there that I didn't have to worry about missing one.

My insert was really bad looking. It was faded pretty bad and had some really light areas, almost white. I think those were from when I tried to use the refinish restore cladding stuff on the insert. That stuff doesn't work on the insert like it does the cladding, at least not for me.

So anyways, I laid the insert on a table and sanded it with the 3M scuff pad in my drill. The pad was like red, coarse steel wool. It took the top layer off of the insert pretty well. It did leave swirled scratches behind though. After that, I sanded it by hand with some 600 grit sand paper followed by 1000 grit. I could still see the swirls from the sanding pad, but I figured the paint would cover them for me.

After all the sanding, I wiped it down with a paint prep wipe I also picked up from Auto Zone by the paint supplies. After that dried, I put down a coat of the trim paint. I waited a few minutes and put down another coat. I think I put down 4 or 5 thin coats that day, and put the insert in the garage to dry.
Today I got it back out and could still see the swirl marks from the drill. I wet sanded it with 1000 grit paper and washed it off, and the swirls were pretty well gone. I then put down 2 or 3 more coats of the paint, pretty much finishing off the can.
I have to say, it looks fantastic. I'm not overly confident in my ability to do anything, but it usually works out in the end. This is no different.
Here's a few pics:
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/CIMG5542.JPG

This is what the hood looks like without the insert. Kinda nasty.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/CIMG5543.JPG

These are the drain holes. There should be rubber 90 degree connectors on the bottom side, with hoses tucked back into the hood. Mine were totally stopped up with dirt/gunk. I blew air through them and they seemed to clear up ok.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/CIMG5544.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/CIMG5541.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/CIMG5545.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/CIMG5546.JPG

[Mile High VX]

Looks Great!

Can you tell if its darker than the original color?

Well done...:bwgy::smilewink:bgwo::bgwb:

[Ldub]

Is that dark grey or light black???

I can't tell from here...:smilewink

In any event, it looks great!...:yes:

[VX KAT]

Is that dark grey or light black???

I can't tell from here...:smilewink

In any event, it looks great!...:yes:
I think we should take a poll on the color...;)
It looks fantastic, I'm getting inspired! I used R/R on my hood insert, it seemed to coat it nicely but I did get some fine lines in it from my application strokes (as I was leaning over car applying it.)

[samneil2000]

Looks Great!

Can you tell if its darker than the original color?

Well done...:bwgy::smilewink:bgwo::bgwb:

Thanks for the comments guys. I honestly don't know what a new insert looks like. Based on previous posts on here, it sounds like it has a bit of a dark gray tint to it. The paint I used is for body trim, like the black strips down the side of a pickup etc. It looks and even feels like new black plastic. In my opinion, it's about how it should be. But that's just my .02

[tom4bren]

Sam,

Looks great. One caution tho: I've got a broken hood insert stud on mine (back passenger corner) & the insert warps up. It depends on which stud broke on yours but you may find that it doesn't seat properly over time.

Tom

[vt_maverick]

Looks grrrreat!!! :D

[samneil2000]

Sam,

Looks great. One caution tho: I've got a broken hood insert stud on mine (back passenger corner) & the insert warps up. It depends on which stud broke on yours but you may find that it doesn't seat properly over time.

Tom

It's one of the ones at the front edge. If you look at the picture of the hood without the insert, there's a really rusty hole closer to the passenger side. That's the one. I guess I will just see what happens. I didn't even check to see if there was enough stud left to get a nut on. Hmmm




Looks grrrreat!!! :D

Thanks!

[Ldub]

it seemed to coat it nicely but I did get some fine lines in it from my application strokes (as I was leaning over car applying it.)

Are ya sure those were BRUSH strokes???...:naughty:...:rotate:...:laughing:

Sounds "rack" related to me...:uhohgray:

[don moore]

it looks like a darkist grey kinda blackish tint to me....looks great

[tom4bren]

Are ya sure those were BRUSH strokes???...:naughty:...:rotate:...:laughing:

Sounds "rack" related to me...:uhohgray:

My mind was heading down that same path. :) Glad I let you say it tho.

[tom4bren]

It's one of the ones at the front edge. If you look at the picture of the hood without the insert, there's a really rusty hole closer to the passenger side. That's the one. I guess I will just see what happens. I didn't even check to see if there was enough stud left to get a nut on. Hmmm





Thanks!

Mine was the one at the very top left in your second picture. Since mine was at the corner, it's much worse. I think you'll be OK.

[H3_VX]

Has anyone found a paint that is very close to how the stock insert would look off the showroom floor? I'm a stickler for stock look and have no idea what it looked like new. Mine is pretty faded as well and while i'm fixing the bolts I may as well tackle bondo and painting it as well. I have a small spot that looks like a crack waiting to happen.

[VX KAT]

Has anyone found a paint that is very close to how the stock insert would look off the showroom floor? I'm a stickler for stock look and have no idea what it looked like new. Mine is pretty faded as well and while i'm fixing the bolts I may as well tackle bondo and painting it as well. I have a small spot that looks like a crack waiting to happen.

Hey Brandon- there's been a few threads on painting the insert. I even copied the picture on one cuz it came out so good, and I recall it wasn't hard at all, and was a readily available spray paint. Looked absolutely stock, but I can't recall who did it...guess you'd be able to use the Search to find it. :thumbup: But Sam's looks great, looks stock to me, so maybe think about using that DupliColor.

[PK]

There has been discussion about this in the past.
I can't remember if we resolved it as "dark grey" or "light black".



Now, where did I put that fireproof suit??

PK

[H3_VX]

There has been discussion about this in the past.
I can't remember if we resolved it as "dark grey" or "light black".



Now, where did I put that fireproof suit??

PK

I would think light black would match an unfaded cladding better. When I hit my cladding with 333 it is definitely more black than gray.

[H3_VX]

Just watched this vid and @ 1:03 you can hear the guy say FLAT BLACK hood insert. :yeso::yesy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoylQOpSC7k&feature=g-vrec&context=G2264752RVAAAAAAAADA

[Ldub]

FWIW...SEM Bumper Coater (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CI0BEBYwBA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsemproducts.com%2Fproduct-catalog%2Fspecialty-products%2Fbumper-coater%2F&ei=tBCBT7mJEsrdggeCkIXZAQ&usg=AFQjCNHOHKxD2veSdHWqy8qjK80TOgmbWQ&sig2=4hg3FJdueepZYB3XhcDdAg)is pretty close by my eye...not gloss, not flat...satiny...:yesgray:

[H3_VX]

FWIW...SEM Bumper Coater (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CI0BEBYwBA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsemproducts.com%2Fproduct-catalog%2Fspecialty-products%2Fbumper-coater%2F&ei=tBCBT7mJEsrdggeCkIXZAQ&usg=AFQjCNHOHKxD2veSdHWqy8qjK80TOgmbWQ&sig2=4hg3FJdueepZYB3XhcDdAg)is pretty close by my eye...not gloss, not flat...satiny...:yesgray:

WOW, that might be the golden ticket. I was just gonna buy some Duplicolor Trim Paint, but this might be better.

[Ldub]

WOW, that might be the golden ticket. I was just gonna buy some Duplicolor Trim Paint, but this might be better.

Duplicolor Bumper Coating (http://www.duplicolor.com/products/bumperCoating/) is nearly the same in appearance, I used it on my wheels (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC02649.JPG), since I had a few cans lay'n around...:thumbup:

But IMO, SEM has a higher quality...just one man's opine.

[Mile High VX]

FWIW...SEM Bumper Coater (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CI0BEBYwBA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsemproducts.com%2Fproduct-catalog%2Fspecialty-products%2Fbumper-coater%2F&ei=tBCBT7mJEsrdggeCkIXZAQ&usg=AFQjCNHOHKxD2veSdHWqy8qjK80TOgmbWQ&sig2=4hg3FJdueepZYB3XhcDdAg)is pretty close by my eye...not gloss, not flat...satiny...:yesgray:

Lots of color options there...what do you think is the best.

I would go with either the Dark Grey or the Flexible Bumper Coater just from looking at the .pdf file on my PC.

[Ldub]

Lots of color options there...what do you think is the best.

I would go with either the Dark Grey or the Flexible Bumper Coater just from looking at the .pdf file on my PC.

I always bet on black...;)

IMO, the flexible bumper coater is a good choice, it's what I used on the last "go round" with the hood insert. A flexing agent is useful in a piece that experiences not only road/trail vibration, but also, more extreme temp variations (expansion & contraction) than anything else on the vehicle that would be painted, calipers being the obvious exception.

FWIW, I've painted my insert 3-4 times, & the SEM Bumper Coater is the best finish I've achieved to date, only time will tell if it's durable.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC02606.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC02624.JPG