new aluminum grill has painted black around lights

[nevada]

restoring my 72 C20 and wanted to replace my old beat up pitted grill...ordered one from Brothers. it came today and I see it has black paint painted around the headlight bezels, my original does not have the black paint and i really dont want to black paint.

anyone here have experience with correcting this? should I carefully sand off the paint or maybe try to find a aluminum matching paint to paint over it?

[leddzepp]

I wouldn’t sand it. Lacquer thinner should do the trick if you really want to remove it. Your original had the black paint there, it’s just worn off over the years.

[nevada]

Thanks, didnt know they all came with the black, there is no trace of it on my original and I like the look so will try the lacquer thinner. thanks again.

[a1vintage69]

I used triple OOO fine steel wool to remove my old paint but don't know if it will remove new paint. The steel wool did not scratch my grill. I also use it to remove old gm package glue like plastic off of nos bezels and door trim that the package has stuck to, works great and makes it nice and shiny . good luck,a1

[jocko]

If you just bought the grille new - it is likely anodized. If you are determined to return it to what your previous grille looked like after the paint wore off, I’d recommend starting with some thinner or mineral spirits on a rag and a lotta rubbin. Any method using an abrasive can easily damage the anodization. If you want to strip the anodized finish, there are methods outlined in different threads. Don’t recommend that though, it serves a purpose and eliminates recurring polishing.

[towbar]

pull one of your head light bezels off, the black should still be evident underneath where sun and weather hasn't worn it off.

[a1vintage69]

The Black paint is put on after the grill is anodized. The purpose of anodizing is to form a layer of aluminum oxide that will protect the aluminum beneath it. The aluminum oxide layer has much higher corrosion and abrasion resistance than aluminum, so steel wool fine 000 will not harm the anodizing. But I don't know the process of the new grills only the originals. I only know what my experience is with my grills.

[special-K]

Anodized aluminum with accent paint applied over, same as OEM.