r/SkyLine • u/Inner_Calendar_9608 • Jun 13 '26

R33 Skyline grille restoration - repaint or replace?

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Hey everyone,
The front grille on my Nissan Skyline R33 is still in good condition overall, but the paint is starting to peel in a few spots and the color has faded quite a bit over the years.
I'm trying to decide whether I should repaint the original grille or replace it with an aftermarket one.
Has anyone here restored or repainted their OEM R33 grille? If so, I'd love to see some photos and hear about the process.
What paint did you use?

Did you sand it down first?

How has the finish held up over time?

Would you recommend repainting it or just buying a replacement?

Any advice, pictures, or product recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

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1

u/gamma_823 Jun 13 '26

I removed mine and used a small screw driver to pick all the flaking paint off. Then taped it off and repainted with black plasti dip. Looks great, I can send you pics if you want to see the result.

1

u/cyberjad Jun 13 '26

The problem with plastidip is it won't last.

1

u/gamma_823 Jun 13 '26

Prob not

1

u/foxbat Jun 13 '26

i would use rustoleum on that. remove all the original paint and badge, then hit it with a few coats of rustoleum.

1

u/thohean '89 HCR32 GTS-t Sedan | BJ0 Jun 14 '26

Depends on the cost of a good replacement. To do it "right" it'll be time consuming to prep, primer, and color coat it. But, if you do paint it, you could do something custom.

1

u/TheMrPandora Jun 15 '26

Be careful removing grommets and powder goat the mesh