Do i have to removehe grill before painting the car?

[montmorcey]

Every picture i look at, the grille has been removed before painting...is that necessary?
If yes...how do i get it off?

 

[thegreatjustino]

Not necessary, but if you leave it on, you'll need to put something behind it to prevent overspray onto the core support and radiator.

If you want to take it off, there are several bolts on each side that hold it to the fenders. Kind of hard to get your hands up there to get a socket on them. A lot of us just remove the fenders and grille as an assembly and then take the grille off when all three have been removed from the Bronco.

 

[allenfahey]

The grille is rather easy to remove. The best way is to remove the fenders and grille as an assembly. Then the bolts up under the top of the grille are easier to remove. Removing the grille isn't really necessary but it depends on the condition of the grille and fenders. It's always best to remove parts for paint, that way you can at least cut in the backsides of them. It also depends on the color and who is painting it. If you are spraying a metallic or pearl and you don't have experience painting cars you can have a color match issue. Color match issues by painting parts off the car is less of an issue with waterbourne which is probably what you are having to use there in Sweden. It can be an issue if you don't have good even coverage on the parts and you don't have an even drop coat.

At work if a bodyman has the part off the car I paint it off the car with rest of the car. For example a car gets a new hood, bumper, right and left fender replaced and blend the doors. I paint the hood and fenders along with the bumper off the car all at once when I also blend the doors on the car. There is only one exception and that is if it's a three stage, then I always cut the parts in first. Painting parts off the car is always faster (no masking/taping) , no tape lines, and many times less dirt gets in the paint. Neither way is right or wrong, it all depends on the painter.

 

[LSUpete]

I always like to paint the grille and fenders while they're off the truck, because I always paint the core and inner fenders black prior to putting the fenders and grille back on the car.

 

[BRONCROB]

Not trying to be too much of a smart ass...but...a Bronco is not a car.A car would be something more like a Mustang or Pinto...%)I would remove the grill and paint it off of the TRUCK so you don't have overspray on the core support.It also helps to prevent corrosion between body panels.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I am more impressed with a paint job when it was sprayed with the panels apart. Without the paint flowing into the seam. That joint will flex later and the paint will crack.

 

[blubuckaroo]

Not trying to be too much of a smart ass...but...a Bronco is not a car.A car would be something more like a Mustang or Pinto...%)I would remove the grill and paint it off of the TRUCK so you don't have overspray on the core support.It also helps to prevent corrosion between body panels.

Sorry but you need to look at the definition of "truck." Big narly tires and lift don't make it a truck. A truck is made to... well, truck loads, and my Lexus will carry just about as much load as my Bronco.
Don't let all this burst your bubble though. Cars are cool too.

Oh yes, back to the subject...
Pull the grill before you paint. You'll thank yourself later when you do any work on the front of the motor.

 

[TN1776]

I pulled mine off and hung it from the rafters when I also painted the hood, tailgate and windshield frame (all one session). Painted the rest of the tub basically together. For all of the reasons stated, it will be a better paint job when done off the car.

 

[montmorcey]

Thanks guys!

 

[Dano 407]

Pull it. It is NOT hard.


d

 

[nate213]

Sorry but you need to look at the definition of "truck." Big narly tires and lift don't make it a truck. A truck is made to... well, truck loads, and my Lexus will carry just about as much load as my Bronco.
Don't let all this burst your bubble though. Cars are cool too.

Oh yes, back to the subject...
Pull the grill before you paint. You'll thank yourself later when you do any work on the front of the motor.

i thought the bronco was one of the first SUV's

 

[Rustytruck]

I painted my Bronco apart. You get to seal up all the areas that Ford didnt and you can try to slow the rust process down. You can also sand areas to promote adheasion of the paint that you cant normally reach into making a nicer longer lasting finished product.

As for being a truck or not, Ford placed it in the Truck service manual and not the Car line service manual so it must be a truck.
In 1974 if it was a car it would have to have catalitic converters and unleaded gas but light duty trucks got them in 1975 as did the Bronco so the EPA says its a truck too.

Bronco's came in 3 distinct weight classifications cars don't.

By 1970 cars had to have shoulder belts but trucks didn't. So the DOT reconizes the Bronco as a truck.

How much more does it take to Secure the Bronco's history as a truck?

 

[earthguy]

i thought the bronco was one of the first SUV's

The title for my first bronco (a '74) read "station wagon". Who know station wagons were so dadgum cool?

 

[broncojo]

I like my wagon too.

 

[BRONCROB]

So do these guys:-*:-*:-*

 

[half cab]

Funny ...in '65/66 Ford calls it a sports car

 

[73azbronco]

I especially love the guns leaned up in the back...

 

[blubuckaroo]

I just love cars. And my Bronco is one of them!

 

[BRONCROB]

Funny ...in '65/66 Ford calls it a sports car

Damnit

 

[Broncobowsher]

They also have them titled as station wagons%)