Eye Shadow Fit For a Queen

Around the outside of the grille is a faded swatch of flat black paint. I am not sure if this is standard on 1966 F-250's, just Custom Cabs, some other Ford exterior package or if the wife of the original owner did it ???? But it is there and it is looking a bit like it has been a long day for Old Blue, so I will spruce up the old ladies eye makeup a bit and restore the visual definition around the front lights ...

I pulled the headlight trim by removing the 3 screws and since the grill was so dirty I polished the complete aluminium grill and headlight trim with a two phase approach. First, I used rubbing compound to get the blue overspray from the rebuild/repaint off the aluminium, as well as, many dead bugs from rides out to the beach through West Marin. This also took off the anodized finish from the grille, then I used Mothers Aluminium polish to make these pieces shine! I have read that shooting the aluminium with clear coat will keep the maintenance time in check but I will see how this works for now.

Flat Black is not a difficult color to find or procure and I selected Rustoleum Flat Black for the job. I masked off the outer grill above and below the top and bottom vertical struts (which were also painted black) and laid down two coats of paint and let dry.

After reassemble she was looking pretty snappy around the headlights. I have to say the effect is very subtle but there, kind of makes the middle section of the grille look to be floating.