DIY Sanding and Painting Black Plastic Trim-Color Match

[Burnsze15]

Hey all.

I’m looking to paint match some black plastic trim pieces. Some I just want to smooth and do Gloss Black and some Id like to change to the OEM White. It’s a 2023 3500 with the Black Trim Package (forgot the name of it).

For the gloss black I’ve been recommended SEM Gloss Black Trim spray and their Plastic Adhesion Promoter Primer after sanding the surface smooth. Thoughts and recommendations there?

As for the Color matching and smoothing plastic out of the textured plastic pieces, if anyone has done this successfully, and it’s held up over time without peeling, cracking etc could you provide either a little DIY tutorial or a link to a thread (couldn’t find a good one but could be the search limitations)?

For color match: Looking to do the under bed pieces, fog light bezels, pieces for the rear bumper (reverse sensor ones and the step/behind license plate piece), the front Valence, small parts of the main front black grille, and the bed top side pieces.

For Gloss Black the lower front grille, parts of the main black grille that are matte, and the shark fin antenna and XM antenna up top (matching a gloss black vinyl roof piece)

The mirrors are going to get sent out to be done by a company that does a fantastic job with them.

Thanks all!

 

[flan]

Sem is a good brand, I used their bed liner spray in the past. It sounds like you got the right ideas with plastic adhesion promoter and sanding smooth. Even smooth sanded will give paint some teeth to grip onto. Most factory stuff is pretty smooth prior to paint.

 

[Crusty old shellback]

Bulldog adhesive primer is what I used to paint plastic years ago.
Key is to use a dewaxer/degreaser.
sand smooth. Clean. Clean again right before you spray the primer/adhesion promoter.
Light sand.
Clean.
Clean again right before spraying your color.
Spray color and admire your work.
Prep and cleanses cannot be over imphasized.
Good luck.