Toyota Tundra Forum

I have been contemplating color matching some of the chrome and silver parts of the truck to match the truck. Here's a picture of the truck for those who haven't seen it:



Just not sure if a color matched truck will look right with chrome wheels. What I want to do is to paint the chrome surround, mirrors and door handles. I guess I could do the tailgate handle too while I'm getting the rest done. What do you think? Good, bad, ugly? I think it should look pretty good.

I know a guy who does a lot of car shows. He's always done GM trucks and they always had a sweet paint job on them. He does all the body work, paint, everything himself. He has his own garage to do all the work in. He does stuff like taking a GM truck and changing out the front end with a Yukon front end and repaints the whole thing with ghosted designs in the paint to match his tattoos. If any of his friends need help on trucks, they can go to his shop and use his tools or buy the beer and he'll help out. Nice guy.

Anyway, he said he was going to start painting parts for one of his trucks and I mentioned that I wanted his help to paint my grill surround, mirrors, and door handles. I said I could do the prep work but I have never done auto paint before and I'd rather let an experienced person do it. Of course I offered to pay for materials and his time. He said if I pull the parts and do the prep work (sanding, taping, etc.) he'll charge $50 + materials (paint, primer, promoter, etc.) or if I want him to do the prep work, he'll charge $100 + materials. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me. I haven't priced anywhere else but I would imagine their price would be higher.

Now I just have to decide if I really want it all painted. My biggest concern is rock chips. Another is if the painted tailgate handle will look alright. what do you think? I guess if I don't like it later, I could always find another blue Tundra to trade for their stock parts.

Edit: Oh yeah, I'm going to color match the headlights to the truck as well.

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2007 SR5 Crewmax 5.7L 4x4
Mods: nerf bars, Truxedo tonneau, radar detector power, 3M clear bra, fog lights, black billet grille, rear differential breather, parking sensors, Line-X, power tailgate lock, hood safety latch mod, one off driving lights behind grille, Pioneer NAV w/ OEM camera, Flowmaster 50 SUV dual/dual, blue LED dash lights, Volant CAI, Llumar tint, CompuStar Pro alarm, ProComp 6066 20" wheels, Cooper Zeon LTZ 275/60/20 tires, OME HD coilover lift, Firestone helper air bags, stereo cable lock, Tekonsha P3 brake controller
All mod descriptions and pictures © 2007-2009 by Toxarch. They may be copied only for personal use and the mods may be done for non-profit only.

I think it would look good. I personally have never been a fan of handles on a dark paint.

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07 DC SR5 Long Bed Desert Pyrite Mica, folding rear seat mod, Raptor step bars, OEM back-up camera, "iPod in the ashtray", Toytec 3" leveling kit

I agree with you that the price sounds pretty good and probably can not be beat.

I think a color matched front grill surround, door handles and tailgate handle would look pretty sharp Tox.

Oh yeah - headlights too!

Would go well with the black front bumper. Is your back bumper still chrome?? If so - are you thinking about doing that too?? Can you paint over chrome or does it have to come off??

I say get rid of all the chrome if you can (save the wheels of course).

Just my 2 cents - it is your truck so do what makes you happy!

re.ac.tor

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'10 CM SR5 4x2, S.A. Built & Purchased Sept '09, 5.7L, Sandy Beach Metallic, Drug Information in Lay Language

I say do it, but where do you draw the line? I think you should color match both your bumpers too. I don't think the wheels will look bad chrome once your done.

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2008 Tundra CrewMax 5.7 4X4
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Mods- Homelink Mirror, Expedition One front and rear winch bumpers, PIAA 510 Ion fogs, Backup Camera, Lund Interceptor Bug Shield, Truxxx 3/1 leveling kit, 20% front window tint, 18x9 XD Monsters +18 offset, 325/60 R18 Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ's, DiamondDeluxe 3Hole Dogbox, Bushwacker Fender Flares, Custom Front Emblem, Weathertech front and rear liners, Husky center hump liner, N-Fab textured step bars

How about this, color both bumpers, leave the door handle chrome. paint the mirrors. paint color on the wheels in the spoke grooves. I am not sure on the grill. Both could look nice.
you may want to remove the door vinyl also.

The rear bumper is still stock chrome. I want to build a new bumper sometime so I'll leave the rear bumper as stock. The front bumper has a liner on it and for some of the places I drive, it's better like that. A painted bumper is likely to get chips and scratches all over it. I will be painting the black handles so the chrome handles will still be there. I'll give those away to another member if the painted handles look good. An accent on the wheels is a possibility. But the door vinyl will stay. I am not a fan of removing the door vinyl unless it's a black truck. I'd actually prefer to put in a gloss black vinyl to make it look more like a solid window on the side.

You should do your grill surround with LineX so it matches your front bumper - black/textured. Anyone good at photoshop?

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Not a fan of the black Line-X grill surround. I think it makes the truck look like the work grade Tundra and doesn't go well with the rest of the truck.



After the cheap bumper coating fails in the future, I will most likely have a color matched Line-X Xtra put on the bumper.

I thought that at one time, but now I feel they are sufficiently different to not be confused. Plus, the rest of your truck sets it apart enough that I don't think anyone else would be confused. But if you don't like it that's all that matters for your truck.

It's rough but have a look.
If you get rid of your chrome handles I will take them and offer my black handles to another member in your honor!
I even have a black tailgate handle I can send you if you want a painted one.

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