- First Name
- Chuck
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2022
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 90
- Reaction score
- 165
- Location
- Northern California
- Vehicle(s)
- 1999 BMW M coupe, 2023 Ford Bronco Badlands 2dr
- Your Bronco Model
- Badlands
- Thread starter
- #1
I ordered a Badlands 2Dr which was perfectly setup with all the content I wanted in a Bronco. My one complaint about it is the grille, which i dislike probably the most of all the OEM grilles. It’s pretty flat, the staggered grille patten is not classic, and it is painted in a semi-gloss gray paint that doesn’t match anything else on the Bronco. The Base/Black Diamond grille I think is the best one which has some depth and a classic grille pattern in carbon black.
When I saw @Manx 1st gen tribute build (a truly stunning build), I decided to replace mine with the IAG Vintage grille. Only one problem: IAG only sells the grille in gloss white. There are no other white parts on the Badlands, and I’m not going for a heritage-style build with white painted wheels & hardtop that a white grille needs. Instead the grille would look best in carbon black or maybe hot pepper red surround with carbon black center.
Before committing to a design for a paint shop, I decided to try Hyperdip removable paint to see what it would look like in an all carbon black color. This is how it came out:
MUCH better! I did try it with and without the orange lens covers. I also tried the red-color ”BRONCO” letters that IAG includes with the grille, but the letters are very blocky and don’t look as good next to the orange lenses. So I removed and transferred the letters from the Badlands grille. I think this would look great with white lettered tires.
The Hyperdip was easy to do myself and took about 1.5 cans of the Frozen Black. With left over paint I decided to blackout my rear bucking bronco emblem. Very simple: no tight masking required, instead just peel off the paint on the sheet metal and it trims itself at the emblem.
I’ll keep it like this for a while to see how long the Hyperdip lasts, then will probably have the grille professionally painted.
When I saw @Manx 1st gen tribute build (a truly stunning build), I decided to replace mine with the IAG Vintage grille. Only one problem: IAG only sells the grille in gloss white. There are no other white parts on the Badlands, and I’m not going for a heritage-style build with white painted wheels & hardtop that a white grille needs. Instead the grille would look best in carbon black or maybe hot pepper red surround with carbon black center.
Before committing to a design for a paint shop, I decided to try Hyperdip removable paint to see what it would look like in an all carbon black color. This is how it came out:
MUCH better! I did try it with and without the orange lens covers. I also tried the red-color ”BRONCO” letters that IAG includes with the grille, but the letters are very blocky and don’t look as good next to the orange lenses. So I removed and transferred the letters from the Badlands grille. I think this would look great with white lettered tires.
The Hyperdip was easy to do myself and took about 1.5 cans of the Frozen Black. With left over paint I decided to blackout my rear bucking bronco emblem. Very simple: no tight masking required, instead just peel off the paint on the sheet metal and it trims itself at the emblem.
I’ll keep it like this for a while to see how long the Hyperdip lasts, then will probably have the grille professionally painted.
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