New to the Forum so sorry if there is a thread on this and i couldn't find it

I am looking to paint my fender flares (OEM Chevy Fender Flares) to match my truck color.
The flares I have are textured.
Some people say the paint will just chip and peel, others say it will last.
Has anyone painted the textured flares? With or without sanding?
I think with a nice paint job and some clear-bra it would hold ok...

We've painted lots of textured body parts over the years. I assume you want it to be smooth and shiney like the rest of the truck. When done properly it will last as long if not longer than the OEM paint job. Although it is an expensive and slightly time consuming project. You will have to clean(wash with soap and water then wipe down with wax/grease remover),scuff(gray Scotchbrite pad and sanding paste),apply some sort of plastic adhesion promoter,prime with high build urethane compatible primer,sand primer smooth,and then finally seal,paint and,clear.Unless you can do all this yourself,you might be ahead to buy a set of flares already painted from someone used.The usual cost for this at my area rates is around $400-$500.Hope all this helps.:)

I think you are better off going to your stealer and getting some "smooth" ones that are already painted. I may be wrong, but I think you will be better off in the long run. There is a place close to me that paints all of the textured plastic on the truck for that custom look. I have seen plenty of them peeling. When I got my truck I thought about getting "gmc" front fender flairs. I don't recall them being too expensive. Not worth the hassle of worrying about the paint peeling.


My two pennies.

I think you are better off going to your stealer and getting some "smooth" ones that are already painted. I may be wrong, but I think you will be better off in the long run. There is a place close to me that paints all of the textured plastic on the truck for that custom look. I have seen plenty of them peeling. When I got my truck I thought about getting "gmc" front fender flairs. I don't recall them being too expensive. Not worth the hassle of worrying about the paint peeling.


My two pennies.

Any idea on what process and materials they're using? Have you test fitted a set of GMC flares? Are they any wider then the Chevy ones? I'm looking fo a wider set for my truck. The Bushwackers I have now just don't make it.

From what I saw when I was in their shop was, they would mask off fenders and other misc. body parts then spray the textured plastic. I did not like that idea at all! Hell anyone could do that in their garage, and I have seen some that peel. It has been about 2 1/2 years since I priced the factory fender flares so I have no idea what they cost. But IMHO doing it right once, beats doing it multiple times.:cool:

So does GMC produce some flares that are smooth? And why would they be different than chevy? What about the bushwacker flares are they smooth? I certainly only want to do this once and do it the right way. I think the smooth flares from the dealer cost about $100 more per flare... but that might be the only way to go...

So does GMC produce some flares that are smooth? And why would they be different than chevy? What about the bushwacker flares are they smooth? I certainly only want to do this once and do it the right way. I think the smooth flares from the dealer cost about $100 more per flare... but that might be the only way to go...

Both Chevy and GMC use a smooth flare on some trucks...The trucks that have the flares painted to match the body color are smooth..
I have yet to see a black truck come with smooth flares :mad:

possibly this weekend will be trying to paint mine. i have a friend that does it so he should know what hes doing. will post results if it happens this weekend.

So possibly I could get some white(colored) ones and paint over the top of those. Sounds good. I will research into this a little more at my local dealer...

I got mine off eBay. the set was just over $100 IIRC, then they were scuffed and painted IMO this is the best way to go since it doesn't take a bunch of time to sand them and there's no chance of leaving any of them textured....

Ox

Phatty, I had my black stock flares painted. Held up real well. Take a look.
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=542715&uid=437876

I painted my grille surround this weekend. Used some 400 grit sandpaper and a palm sander and removed all the texture. Some I had to do by hand. Then cleaned and sprayed with a plastic adhesion primer, then color, then clear. Did it all in my garage and looks no different than my old '04 LS that came painted from the dealer. I'll see how long it lasts but only cost me 4 hrs + $30 materials from Autozone.

Next I'll pull and do the same to the front flares. Anyone know how they come off the body (adhesive at the top edges??)?
Thanks

Hey, :nopics:

:D

I'll take some tonight. Painted the bowtie and got the Street Scene polished SS grille installed also.

Maverick ,
that looks really nice, what was your procedure?

Lock,
exactly right, they have 3M tape (about 1/4 inch IIRC) along the top edge all the way around and the push in plastic grommet things along the inside fender lip.

Lock,
where are the pictures? I want the SS bumper in a bad way, but wheels and tires first.

phatty

I'll get the pics up tomorrow (taking tomorrow off of work). I didn't add the SS bumper cover, just a grille.

I'm really not sure what to do with the bumper yet. Not sure if I want to go aftermarket 4x4 "meat eater" bumper, or something more street truckish.

SSduramax, thanks for the confirmation. Exactly what I needed to know before I pulled them off to sand and paint them.

Phatty, they just wiped them down with degreaser and sprayed them with an adhesion promoter and shot them white with factory paint. I drove through more gravel than most would ever do (daily) and they held up well till I sold the truck in 2003 with 126K on it.
http://pic13.picturetrail.com/VOL487/437876/542715/5917044.jpg

anyone put flares on w/ denali trim as well? just wondering how it would look.

Not the best (too bright), but here is the pic of the truck with the painted grille, painted bowtie and street scene stainless steel grille.

http://www.nwbombers.com/cpg/displayimage.php?pos=-129

How do I upload pics? Kept getting error msgs on a 67k file 600x500

Looks nice Lock, what did you paint your Bow Tie with? hds

div4gold,
I scuffed it with a scotchbrite pad, hit it with some plastic adhesion primer (duplicolor brand at autozone, schucks or GI Joes) and then painted it with duplicolor white auto paint that translates to the factory "Summit White" (I think duplicolor calls it Olympic white). Finished it with a couple coats of clear and reinstalled. Took about an hour to prep and paint, plus a few hours to let it dry thoroughly before reinstalling.