Blacked out my grille

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The Grand Marquis is my project car, and whilst preparing for all the major stuff, I tend to take on a small project every now and then. This time I decided to black out the grille, to go with the rest of the black trim.

After removing the grille, I slowly sanded down the chrome using 800 grit, 1,200 grit and finally 2,000 grit sandpaper. Then I blasted it with two coats of plastic primer and two coats of Krylon Camouflage Paint. I was tempted to use clearcoat, but I really like the matt black finish. Here is what it looks like on the car:

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Blacked out chrome on the rear end and the sides. I also tucked in the rear bumper a bit further inside:

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Overall, approximately $17,000 is being put into this car and I cannot wait to finish it all off (it's going to take quite a while). At the moment, I'm only just at the point of buying and storing (performance, suspension and body) parts. But here are some sketches of what the car will eventually look like:

side.jpg


Having a word with the paint shop, to see if they will be able to paint in a ghost image of a stretched black Panther on the sides (head will be at the end of the front fenders and tail will be on the rear quarter panel, with the actual body on the doors).

rear-end.jpg


grille.jpg


I was planning on replacing the body at one point, but thankfully there is no need to (accident free). But the driver's door, left rear door, left front fender, head panel, front and rear bumpers are being replaced as part of the makeover. Basically, anything that's been previously repaired and/or has body filler is being replaced.
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Nice job, I like it. If I could give a word of advice... Simplicity.

Remember, understated is always classy. It's easy to go overboard.
 
Looks great. You could have used a satin clear -- which is far from glossy. I've used Satin clear to obtain the look I wanted (non-glossy). I'm guessing the unprotected flat black will really fade in the sun. Very nice project.
 
Originally Posted By: BigBuck
Will the paint flake off? Any way to prevent it?


So far it's holding up, but...

Originally Posted By: kkreit01
Looks great. You could have used a satin clear -- which is far from glossy. I've used Satin clear to obtain the look I wanted (non-glossy). I'm guessing the unprotected flat black will really fade in the sun. Very nice project.


Thanks very much, I will definitely coat it with satin clear!
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Originally Posted By: BigBuck
Will the paint flake off? Any way to prevent it?


I used black bumper paint on my 2001 Ranger's grille and it held up very nicely for the two years I had it like that. It may still look good for all I know - sold it a couple years ago. Kuwait is probably a much harsher environment for paint though.

Looks good Falcon!
 
Looks good!

All your going to need once your done is a few red and blue stobes in the front and rear glass!!!

Then you'll look like a government agent!!!
 
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Have you considered a grill like the Marauder's?
mmfp_0904_01_z+2004_mercury_marauder+front_angle.jpg


It does not look it, but the Marauder grill is significantly different than other 98+ panther grills. It would need the entire front clip to make it work. Header panel, bumper cover, headlights, and corner marker.
 
That car is tastefully done. I like what you did. The bumper and door molding trim really sets it off. Good Job!
 
Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Have you considered a grill like the Marauder's?
mmfp_0904_01_z+2004_mercury_marauder+front_angle.jpg


It does not look it, but the Marauder grill is significantly different than other 98+ panther grills. It would need the entire front clip to make it work. Header panel, bumper cover, headlights, and corner marker.


Really? It looks like a plug and play. No wonder there aren't a ton of Crown Vics and Grand Marquis with it. I like how it adds an aggressive character to the front fascia
 
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Have you considered a grill like the Marauder's?


It does not look it, but the Marauder grill is significantly different than other 98+ panther grills. It would need the entire front clip to make it work. Header panel, bumper cover, headlights, and corner marker.


Really? It looks like a plug and play. No wonder there aren't a ton of Crown Vics and Grand Marquis with it. I like how it adds an aggressive character to the front fascia

Yeah. Getting it aggressive isnt a problem though. Heres a pic of a common formula over on CVN.

blackedvic.jpg

Little dark, best I could find in a hurry.

Police honeycomb grill. This one also has the outer edge painted body color.
Marauder Corner lamps. (These are not a direct fit either, but they can be made to work well enough that it looks factory.)
Paint the non-focusing surfaces (top, bottom, sides) inside of the headlamps black.
 
Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
I like it.
I cant wait to hear specs on what you are doing to it.


At a glance:

ENGINE
- 2003+ Valve Covers with Oil Fill Moved to Passenger Side
- 2003 Job 1 Engine Beauty Cover with Chrome V8 Logo
- Mercury Marauder Air Box with 80 MM MAF Sensor and Tune
- Tune for 98 RON fuel
- 2004 Police Interceptor Zip Tube
- ADTR Ported Upper Intake Plenum
- ADTR BBK 75 MM Power Plus Series
- Steeda 4.6L SOHC Pullies (Pre 2001.5)
- Ford Racing 4.6L High Volume Oil Pump and Pickup
- Ford Racing PI Intake Manifold

TRANSMISSION
- J-Moded Valve Body
- Magnefine Inline Transmission Filter

SUSPENSION
- Police Interceptor Front and Rear Springs
- Bilstein Shocks All Round
- Addco Front and Rear Sway Bars

DRIVETRAIN
- Ford Racing 8.8” Trac-Lock 28 Spline Differential

EXTERIOR
- Monochrome Paint Job (Bare Metal Respray)
- 1998-2005 LS Series Door Trim (Front/Rear Doors and Front Fenders)
- Matt Black Door Handles to Paint Body Color
- Body Color Grille with Black Vents
- Gunmetal Tinted Headlights
- Gunmetal Tinted Corner Lights
- Silver Coated Amber Indicator and Marker Lights
- 2003+ Tail Lights
- 2006+ Rear Fascia with Blacked Out Chrome Strip
- Mercury Marauder 3½ Inch Exhaust Tips (Black Chrome)
- 2003+ Mercury Logo on Trunk Lid
- Mercury Marauder Rear Spoiler
- 17x7 2002 Crown Victoria LX Sport Wheels (HPP wheels for now)
- Mercury Marauder Center Caps
- Headlight Wiring Relay Upgrade
- Daytime Running Lights
- Moth Side Mirror Glass with Indicators
- LED Turn Signals on Back of Door Mirrors

INTERIOR
- Job 1 2003 Grand Marquis LS Extended Length Overhead Console
- 2003+ Ashtray Assembly
- 2006+ Grand Marquis Chrome Door Handles
- Job 1 2003 Grand Marquis Wood Trim with Power Pedal Switch
- Job 1 2003 Grand Marquis LS Door Trim
- 2003 Grand Marquis LS Gentex Rearview Mirror
- Power Passenger Seat
- 2003+ Air Vent Tubes to Accommodate 2 DIN Head Unit
- Pioneer GPS, Entertainment and Communication with SD, USB, VR
- Police Interceptor Instrument Cluster
- Sill Plates with Chrome “Grand Marquis” Lettering
- 2003+ Front Seat Head Rests
- Trunk Cargo Organizer
- Auto-Down Passenger Side Window
- Power Adjustable Pedals

Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Have you considered a grill like the Marauder's?


The Marauder and the 2003-2005 Grand Marquis share the same grille. The only problem is, as Colt45ws pointed out, I would need to replace the header panel, bumper, headlights/corner lights, grille and both fenders. Some people have retrofitted a 2003-2005 grille on a 1998-2002, but there are some gaps when you look at it close up.

Originally Posted By: rg200amp
Looks good!

All your going to need once your done is a few red and blue stobes in the front and rear glass!!!

Then you'll look like a government agent!!!


grin.gif


Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
It looks awesome!


Originally Posted By: GMBoy
That car is tastefully done. I like what you did. The bumper and door molding trim really sets it off. Good Job!


Thanks very much!
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Originally Posted By: Volvo_ST1
When I saw that topic I was afraid of Falcon attempting home dentistry. Pimp that ride!


LOL!
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Should get a set of Stainless Works headers. Cam it too. Dont bother with the FRPP PI manifold; its the same as the one you have now. (Unless you have one of the rare factory PI manifolds with plastic coolant crossover)
 
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Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
Should get a set of Stainless Works headers. Cam it too. Dont bother with the FRPP PI manifold; its the same as the one you have now. (Unless you have one of the rare factory PI manifolds with plastic coolant crossover)


Got rid of my uber rare plastic manifold.
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Thanks for the heads up, will definitely look into those. Have you installed your headers yet?
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Didn't want to start a new thread for this, but here are a set of 16" steelies I picked up today. My current set of teardrop wheels need to be refurbished, so I figured it would be handy to have another set of wheels.

Picked up the wheels for $100, 2002-2005 Mercury Mountaineer center caps for $50 and 20 shoulder lug nuts for $10. The wheels needed a bit of TLC, one of them caked in brake dust. Took about 4 hours to clean them up, sand them down and blast them with Krylon High Heat paint. Painted my exhaust manifold and radiator with this stuff, so it should hold up on the wheels.

Going to get a set of Goodyear Assurance ArmorGrip tires tomorrow, probably OE size (225/60-16 98V). Although the 255/55-16s are tempting. Here's what the wheels look like with the Mountaineer center caps:

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002.jpg


The stuff I used to paint them:

003.jpg
 
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