Hello Olds friends. Say I wanted to paint a rusty bumper (or grille), could I do it, or would the paint chip right off? I might be thinking about something other than a Olds... or maybe not.... Because I value you guys opinions I am asking here. This part is rusty- still solid but where chrome is gone it is rusty, where chrome is still there it is dull.

 

Chrome must be roughed up for paint to adhere long term

 

Sand it good with 320 grit paper.
Coat it good with hi gloss aluminum paint.
It's what we used to call a " Tennessee chrome job."
"Looks better than rust."

 

Best to use an epoxy primer.

 

I’ve painted chrome many, many times over the years. If you prep it and prime it right it will stick just fine. Two things that paint doesn’t like is chrome and rust. Since you have both, if you can, have it sandblasted. That will get rid of the rust and etch the surface to give the paint some bite. In your case I’d be more worried about the rust being a problem than the chrome.

If you can’t get it sandblasted, sand it very very aggressively with 80 grit sandpaper. Then prime, then sand and paint. Sandpaper doesn’t dig into metal like it does into paints/primers, so using something finer like 320 mentioned above will not have much affect on the metal and is better suited for sanding the primer for paint.

Either way, etching or epoxy primer is a must to get maximum adhesion.

Another option is to take it to a powder coater. You can either have it powder coated the color of your choice, or they can apply a powder primer for you to sand and paint. Either way they’ll blast it first. Powdercoat is relatively inexpensive compared to paint. This is what I did for the grille, running boards, inner fenders, etc on my 53 F100.

 

Thanks guys, I guess I'm gonna check about getting it sandblasted. New repops are about $5-600, don't want to buy one, but on the other hand, I don't want to spend good money on a lost cause- grille also had dents, etc. I just used the last of my epoxy primer, Norm- figures... Stuff is very pricey.

 

x5

You can get paint to adhere to chrome if you prep the bumper properly. FWIW, there are even reflective paints and powder coats that simulate chrome or stainless steel.

 

I generally use self etching primer on chrome instead of epoxy. It seems to bite a little better. They can both be kindof expensive, but you can get small kits, like pints from places like Eastwood for $25. There are even a couple companies now that make catalyzed paints, primers and clear in aerosol cans. You just pop the hardener cartridge, shake it up and go. They work great. I own a bodyshop and have access to any materials I want at incredibly low prices, but I still keep a few of the aerosol cans of primer, satin black and clear around the house because sometimes it's not even worth hauling parts to the shop.