'06+ Upgrade

**TJeno** · 10-13-2012

Hey everybody. I'm currently driving an '04 GP GT, and I've got a friend with an '06 Base GP. Anyway, I really like the look of the chrome rings around all of the vents and the door handles. I know how the door rings come off, but how do the trim rings around the vents come off? Will they just pop right out, or is it more difficult than that? Also, will the color on the rings match? I thought they'd be darker and match the Ebony interior of the '06 cars, but the trim pieces seem a bit lighter than the ebony color. I'm thinking it'll actually blend very well. I know some guys such as Drunkie did this, I was just wondering how you got the vent rings off, and if the color was noticeably off.

**FriboRage** · 10-13-2012

I just posted in the chat, lol

Grand Prixs Of North America • View topic - DIY Vent Gauge Install 04-08 GP's (Now with less balls)

Those instructions might help you.

**FriboRage** · 10-13-2012

Aeroforce gauge

That one has better pics for what you're trying to do.

**TJeno** · 10-13-2012

Originally Posted by FriboRage

Aeroforce gauge

That one has better pics for what you're trying to do.

Thanks for both of the replies, I was wondering about that part. Do you know how to take the rings off of the other vents?

**rperry435** · 10-13-2012

The chrome doesn't come off the center dash benzel. I remember that when I grabbed a set of chrome off a gxp and swapped them to my gtp. The left vents on the side - the whole peice comes off the left side of the dash with some 7mm

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**TheNoob23** · 10-13-2012

For passenger side vents get a flat head screw driver and slide it in the space between dash and ring then slowly push handle of screw driver in the direction towards the center of the vent to separate the ring from the dash and wiggle that side forward. This will get the clip off of the dash. There are a total of three clips on the back side of the ring they are all equally spaced around the circle. Repeat the process for the next clip and once you have two of them undone you can usually pull out the third without breaking the clip if you kind of wiggle the ring towards the side the clip is on

**TJeno** · 10-17-2012

And I'm back with an update!

I went to the scrapyard yesterday. I found all 4 chrome door accents, 3 door handle covers, the 2 vents on the drivers side, along with some trim rings (which ended up with broken clips, so I'll just order those along with the fourth door ring).

Anyway, as anybody who's been to a scrapyard probably knows - these things were dirty. Way dirty. I threw them into the sink with some soap-water and got to scrubbing. They all turned out pretty well, but I noticed something on the accents.

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As you guys can tell, there's clearly a lot of leftover residue sitting on them. They're scratch-free, it's just sitting dirt. I was wondering if a few more baths would take care of this, or if there was a certain kind of polish for everything that would really make it all shine.

**SlowNA06** · 10-17-2012

I'd hit it with Windex to start and work from there. Maybe some simple green. I'm confused that dishwashing detergent didn't clean them...

**TJeno** · 10-17-2012

Originally Posted by SlowNA06

I'd hit it with Windex to start and work from there. Maybe some simple green. I'm confused that dishwashing detergent didn't clean them...

It was simple handsoap, nothing heavy. I'll hit them with windex and we'll see what happens.

EDIT: I couldn't believe it, but window cleaner yielded unnoticeable results as well. It's like the dirt is like, stained on there. What else could I try?

**REDCRAPGP** · 10-17-2012

0000 grit steel wool could help but note it will give u minor scratches and use eagle polish to polish them up.

**nik12937** · 10-17-2012

As long as it wouldn't affect the finish (maybe some else will know), I'd try some simple rubbing alcohol, high 90's percentage isopropyl alcohol, and if that didn't work, lighter fluid, the non-pressurized used in zippo lighters. My old electronics teacher used that **** for everything, and I have yet to find a residue that it doesn't remove.

If worse comes to worst, I'd personally give it two or three coats of clear coat and then wet sand/polish it and be good for the lifetime of the car.

**SlowNA06** · 10-17-2012

I dunno, maybe save yourself some elbow grease and use a chemical stripper like this: RustOleum.com then clear coat.

**REDCRAPGP** · 10-17-2012

Hard to say it shouldn't mess it up but then again there's a expectation to everything. All else fails throw those on the back door panels and you won't notice lol

**TheNoob23** · 10-17-2012

where are you ordering the other chrome parts from?

**NegativeOne13** · 10-17-2012

Get some goo gone and let it set on there for a couple of minutes before you try cleaning it off.

**TJeno** · 10-18-2012

Originally Posted by TheNoob23

where are you ordering the other chrome parts from?

No idea.

Thanks for the replies, guys. I think I'll start off with the goo gone, we've got some here at home. If not, I'll try the rubbing alcohol/lighter fluid. I hope all goes well.