Si Grille Paintjob

[J-Ro]

I know there is a DIY over at ClubSi for re-painting the grey part of the grille, but here we go again, but for the entire grille.

I got a hold of a scrap NHBP Si grille, so I got lucky. The only downfall was that it was pretty beat up, and had been sitting outside in the rain for a while.

1) The first step was to dismantle the grille. It comes apart in three pieces; remove the two Phillips screws holding the badge and remove the badge, then remove the six remaining screws to separate the body-coloured piece from the grey piece. I wetsanded the two grille pieces with 320 grit paper. Other people use finer grits.... that part isn't majorly critical.



2) A close of of some of the flaws that remained after sanding. If you bought a new one, you don't have to worry about this.



3) I removed the Si mounting tab, since I don't have an Si (yet... ). I shaved it down and sanded it, but it still required touch-up work.



4) Some views of the parts after Bondo was applied. You can tell by how pink it is that I added a lot of hardener. Make sure you work with it fast; the batch I made was unworkable within 3-4 minutes, but luckily I didn't have much to cover.









5) The paint I used... from left to right: grey Krylon primer, DupliColor gloss black, Motomaster clearcoat and colormatched Atomic Blue (Honda paint #B537M)



6) The former location of the Si tab after sanding with 320 grit. Any Bondo work should feel completely smooth to the touch after sanding. If you feel anything at all, you have to sand more, or do another Bondo application.



7) Masking the H-badge location. I didn’t get JDM badges, because I think they look bad with Atomic Blue, so I left that part stock.



8) The scratch in Step 2 sanded down. If you’re working on a flat area, you can sand the scratch out, provided you’re not going really deep. I had initially used Bondo, but the NHBP paint was starting to flake (whatever hit it, hit it hard), so I sanded it right down to the plastic.



9) Two layers of primer...



10) After 3 layers of primer, I sanded lightly with 320 grit to get rid of any roughness.



11) One layer of blue...



12) Two layers of blue...



13) Three layers of blue... the colour is now uniform. The Number One Cardinal Rule of Painting: light coats! If you have to do a lot of coats, so be it. Don’t try to cut corners by putting a thick layer on. You may get lucky, but chances are it will come out looking like crap.



14) The stock grey piece completed: 3 layers of primer, 3 layers of black, 3 layers of clear.



15) The body-coloured piece completed: 3 layers of primer, 3 layers of blue, 3 layers of clear.



16) Re-assembled and complete.






Hope all that helps. I’ll take more pictures when it’s on the car. I have to let the clear dry for a few more days, then get a good install day weather-wise, then I’ll take some installed pics.

[Civic Pride]

Looking good J-Ro, I was wondering when you where going to do this.

Now lets see some pictures of it on the car.

[GeezerSi]

Very nice. Can't wait to see it installed.

[Si Speed 317]

J-Ro, you're awesome. I might want to paint the bottom part of my grille nbp, but where would I get the nbp paint?

[ryryninja]

Looks awesome.. too bad I suck at painting

[BlaqkAudio]

Awesome DIY. Bookmarked and

[J-Ro]

Originally Posted by Si Speed 317

J-Ro, you're awesome. I might want to paint the bottom part of my grille nbp, but where would I get the nbp paint?

Haha, thanks You can buy colormatched paint from pretty much any automotive store; I got mine from NAPA. A large spray can with a good quality spray head (this is key!), ready in an hour and $25.00 CDN.

The NHBP paint # is B92P.

Aw hell:

Fiji: B529P
Royal blue: B536P
Atomic blue: B537M
White: NH578
Silver: NH700M
GG: NH701M
RR: R513
Habby: YR557P

Now everyone's covered

[Si Speed 317]

Originally Posted by J-Ro

Haha, thanks You can buy colormatched paint from pretty much any automotive store; I got mine from NAPA. A large spray can with a good quality spray head (this is key!), ready in an hour and $25.00 CDN.

The NHBP paint # is B92P.

Aw hell:

Fiji: B529P
Royal blue: B536P
Atomic blue: B537M
White: NH578
Silver: NH700M
GG: NH701M
RR: R513
Habby: YR557P

Now everyone's covered

Thanks J-Ro! I appreciate it a lot! You're the man!

[truflip]

Since there is no such thing as Atomic Blue Si Grill, this is a one of a kind super sexy grill

[cto424]

awesome...thanks

[Sleepy]

oooo how much? I will pay you to do one for me, that one would look sexy on my ride too.

[nerd_1]

Nice......patience is key!

[BlaqkAudio]

Once again, pure sexiness. Can't wait to see the pics of it on your car. I was thinking about painting the grill base FBP to put on my NHBP.

[jumboshrimp23]

nice job. cant wait to see pix on ur car!!!

[24boosted]

Awesome job but the clearcoat won't last. It's not the catalyst activated type like PPG uses so it will flake or dull up after a couple of months.

[J-Ro]

That's why I'm not getting rid of the stock grille. I want to ask some of the paint dept. people at work to see what they use.

[dnv]

Looks good, subscribed for pics.

[Phalanx]

VERY nice. i may end up painting the lower half of my Si grille to match the rest of the body at some point. this will be a great reference :thu,b:

[CivicDude]

good write up

- want to see installed pics!

[asndragonboii]

Originally Posted by J-Ro

Haha, thanks You can buy colormatched paint from pretty much any automotive store; I got mine from NAPA. A large spray can with a good quality spray head (this is key!), ready in an hour and $25.00 CDN.

The NHBP paint # is B92P.

Aw hell:

Fiji: B529P
Royal blue: B536P
Atomic blue: B537M
White: NH578
Silver: NH700M
GG: NH701M
RR: R513
Habby: YR557P

Now everyone's covered

Can they also make touch-up paint cheaper than it costs at the dealership? I read that the dealership touch-up paint doesnt really match the paint on the car. I have GG. What other store besides NAPA can do this? Autozone type store?