599 HGTE Front Grill Refurb

[puckrup]

I have a few areas of paint bubbling on HGTE grill, if removed there is white aluminium oxide powder underneath. It is relatively simple to sandpaper back to bare metal with 180, 320, 800, 1200 grit wet and dry to reveal smooth ALU surface. Difficulty is how to mask stainless steel inserts that run horizontally and vertically on the slats.

Has anyone attempted this as a DIY project or can recommend a UK bodyshop that would undertake this restoration?

[F355GTS]

Quite a few of my stainless slats fell out along the way, can they not be easily removed for refurb of the main grill and then rebonded?

[puckrup]

They look pretty well bonded or pressed in, not for the moving. I reckon I could pry out the vertical strips but unlikely to get the 2 horizontal bars out without kinking

[puckrup]

I have found a great company in UK to refurbish HGTE grill. They will bead blast entire grill and powder coat to finish. This is only possible as they've found a way to gently prise out the stainless steel leading edges prior to blasting. This was presenting as a significant problem on how to mask and not damage finishing.
Update to follow once completed.

Edited by puckrup on Thursday 15th January 09:38

[puckrup]

F355GTS said:

Quite a few of my stainless slats fell out along the way, can they not be easily removed for refurb of the main grill and then rebonded?

Seems they were not very well bonded in the first instance, one fell out during packaging and the rest removed by resto company

[Hughesie]

Watching with Interest, quite fancy mine been done, in black though - Can the chrome bits be done black, or wrapped i guess ?

[puckrup]

Hughesie said:

Watching with Interest, quite fancy mine been done, in black though - Can the chrome bits be done black, or wrapped i guess ?

I will upload pictures of the finished article, powder coat or cerikote can be done to any level of gloss required, I am going for 33% gloss powder coat and keeping the stainless steel inserts. Might be a challenge to prevent the S/S finishing trim from chipping if painted/coated given the location. Wrapping maybe an option, they are thin and awkward to cover though.

The company is www.restoren.co.uk based in Sussex, contact is Anthony Howard.

[Hughesie]

I might actually just get one fabricated in some thinish tubularsteel.

Hughesie

[puckrup]

Hughesie said:

I might actually just get one fabricated in some thinish tubularsteel.

Hughesie

Now that is very interesting and unique! Keep me updated.

[puckrup]

Great progress being made, grill has been chemically stripped, bead blasted and powder coated. Has not been baked, finished article will be satin coated.

Edited by puckrup on Thursday 22 January 15:37

[cake eater]

Very nicely done

[puckrup]

Massive shout out to Anthony @ restoren.co.uk for his fastidious refurbishment of my HGTE grill. He went above and beyond to ensure base was properly stripped, degreased, blasted and powder coated to a satin finish. Managing to remove the S/S finishing strips prior to blasting made the process far more manageable. These have now been polished an refitted with panel bond. Finish is undoubtedly better than OEM and a 1/10th of the cost of replacement from Maranello. Will send final pics once refitted to car with new Cavallino emblem

[puckrup]

Project completed, highly successful outcome.

[DeuceDeuce]

Great job!