Plasti-Dip Prep and Fog light Removal (Gen4 Nose Blackout)

[LunchBox04V]

After months of going back and forth on what to do, I finally decided to start a facelift on my BP.
I would like to do several things to help improve the look, as well as improve the night vision of the car.
So here is the list of the planned phases... (also... sorry the second picture is so big, but it makes it easier to see)

1) Install HIDs (Ordered the TRS Retro-Quik system) - Full swap on the low beam, keeping the factory (well HiRs now) high beams.

1a) Clear the turn signals while I have the lamps apart.

1b) Black out part of the turn reflector bowl (see pictures below)

2) Plasti-dip the factory grill (prepping and stripping questions below)

3) Plasti-dip the factory bezels around the fog lights (prepping, and dismantling questions below)

So, I know all of this stuff is fairly easy, but I had a few questions on how to accomplish all this. I will include pictures as well.

For phase 2:
- The "chrome" plastic material on the outer edge of my grill is starting to peal off.
As part of the prep work for the plasti-dip, how would I remove this plastic/chrome stuff?
Is there anything I would need to do to prep the surface of the grill to accept the plasti-dip paint?
I'm trying to get a look like this... (I'll probably PM this gentleman to see how he did his)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/11/IMG_0270-1.jpg (http://s533.photobucket.com/user/etniesskater0713/media/IMG_0270.jpg.html)

For phase 3:
- How do I remove the plastic covers around the projector fog light?
What should I do to prep the painted surface for the plasti-dip?
Here is a picture of a BP with most of the elements of all three phases, except he has a different grill and he blacked out the low part of the lip area.
(again, sorry about the massive size, the car is in the lower right corner)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/10/attachmentphpattachmentid159400d13757565-1.jpg

Thank you all in advance. I've never seen a Garnet Red LGT with a blacked out nose, so I think it would be kinda cool. Anyone good with photoshop? lol

[LegacyPritch]

I just plasti-dipped my grill and headlights on my 3rd gen. All you have to do is clean it down the best you can. My friend and I ordered the kit on the internet that came with a pre dipping solution and used that. It actually started to take the chrome off of my grille and headlights a little bit but it wasn't my goal to take it completely off. If you don't have that just wipe it down and put a few very very thin layers of the dip on it. When I say thin I mean it won't even be a full layer on the grille. Do that for about 3 or 4 layers and let them dry in between each one. Then you should be able to worry about setting a full coat. Hope this helped at all.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/10/Legacy_zpsb5701df7-1.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/LegacyPritch/media/Legacy/Legacy_zpsb5701df7.jpg.html)

[LunchBox04V]

That's actually exactly what I needed to hear. I think I'll find an online kit. I'll need to strip or pick off the chrome on the grill.

[LegacyPritch]

Here is where we got our stuff from.

https://www.dipyourcar.com/

[LunchBox04V]

Might be a silly question... How tough is the standard black plasti-dip from the can? I don't want to have to
repaint the fog light shrouds every time I wash the car. I was watching one of their video and I didn't know
the plasti-dip was designed to come off. Lol would I be better off prepping it and just painting it flat black?

[86bratman]

My personaly opinion, if the peice is something you intend on leaving a certain color. Buy spray paint and do it right. I am not a fan of this plasti-dip movement, I find it iritating to say the least.

[LegacyPritch]

I believe plasti-dip is easier to work with than a can of spray paint. I have more pictures of a few parts I painted with spray cans of plasti-dip and it holds better to the pieces and it holds to the elements better than spray paint. I used regular spray paint on my Eclipse project I have and everything worked out fine but it is a skill that you want to have down pretty good no matter what it is you are using. If you'd like to see the other pieces I can glady upload them for you. As I said, it was the spray cans of plasti-dip that we used. That link I sent also has a tool on there to attach to the can to make it easier for some people. In the end it is all personal preference though!

[LunchBox04V]

I ended up going with Krylon Fusion Satin Black for the headlight blackout,
and the fog light bezel blackout. Looks just like I wanted.

[xSCARSx]

It looks good! If you have questions let me know! My car is the regal blue one you posted above lol

[LunchBox04V]

Shoot! I've been slacking. I'll try and upload photos tonight. Blacked out the headlights, did the HID swap from retrofit source, and blacked out the foglight bezels. Still working on the grill. Lol

[LunchBox04V]

Yay! Figured out mobile uploads.
Still trying to figure out what I want to do with the grill. lol you can really see the bubbled up chrome on the grill.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/02/59444D967E7A4538AC5A0243A7537E69-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/02/4B8E6F8625394EA18926E782363612E9-1.jpg