Shroud, Paint or No Paint

[mikester]

Got the radiator for my wagon the other day. Since I have an extra early Cutlass shroud I thought using a one piece would be the way to go. Its been hanging on a hook in my garage for a long time. I honestly thought I already painted it the same Duplicolor low gloss black that I used on the AC box but after looking at it yesterday I see that its all original. My buddy suggested spraying it with something like tire dressing to shine it up. Did that today and along the top you can still see where the adhesive was for a label. I didnt want to sand the thing because I dont want to break the smooth surface of the plastic. Did that to an inner fender and it just made more work.
So my choice is cleaning all over again, spraying it with adhesion promoter and doing it in the Duplicolor like I did to the one in the 81. Or, leave it original.
What do you guys think ?

I also have a quart of SEM matte clear. I could clear it but I dont know how that would look.






The low gloss black doesnt look too bad in the 81.

 

[pagrunt]

I've used spray bombs formulated to bond with plastic. I can't remember what if I used satin or low gloss on my two shrouds. Picked them up at Wally World.

 

[fleming442]

I wouldn't do it without an adhesion promoter, but I also don't l Iike Armour All on tires.

 

[mikester]

I wouldn't do it without an adhesion promoter, but I also don't l Iike Armour All on tires.

I used Formula 303 on the shroud. Its the only thing I use on the plastic interior parts in my trucks. Back in the day I used Armour All on my tires. Then I switched over to Ardex tire dressing. All that crap does is attract dust on to the rubber. Same with the dressings out there for black exterior trim. Looks good the first time but the plastic looks like crap after a year. When the dealer was prepping my daughters new Grand Cherokee I told them not to use anything on the outside except for a coat of wax.

As far as the shroud, looks like Im going to clean it tomorrow and the first day its not humid I'll paint it. More work. LOL

 

[Ribbedroof]

I use a citrus-oil based degreaser on plastics, leaves it with a sheen without fear of peeling down the road. Smells good too!

Not a fan of painted plastics underhood

 

[69hurstolds]

I can always make you a label to cover up that crap!

 

[mikester]

I can always make you a label to cover up that crap!

Thats an idea but what kind of label ? Its not exactly a stock setup.

 

[69hurstolds]

What do you want it to say?

 

[mikester]

What do you want it to say?

I have no idea. LOL.
Since I like the OEM look I think its just going to get a coat of GM Low Gloss black. Easy unless I dont get all the Formula 303 off.

 

[Gwarren79]

kind of off topic, buy when you switch from V6 to V8, what shroud do you use? 307 cutlass?