Painting stock fender flares?

[AZS10Crew]

I got to thinking today after I ordered some GTS smoke headlight and taillight covers, what it might look like to paint the stock "fender flares" a black (or very dark gray metallic) color? Would that look cool or ZR2 poser-ish? Would flat black be OK or something like the dark dark gray metallic that's on the ZR2's and ZR5's be better?

[Jim]

I got to thinking today after I ordered some GTS smoke headlight and taillight covers, what it might look like to paint the stock "fender flares" a black (or very dark gray metallic) color? Would that look cool or ZR2 poser-ish? Would flat black be OK or something like the dark dark gray metallic that's on the ZR2's and ZR5's be better?

If you are looking for opinions I have one. If I had an S-10 ZR5 the first thing I'd do is paint the flares the body color. If it was a Sonoma ZR5 I'd leave it alone.

[AZS10Crew]

Opinions are exactly what I was looking for.



I just thought that the black fender flares would look good with the smoke headlight and taillight covers I got. Now that I think about it though, the bumpers and adn grille and everything on my truck are body color, and I like the look of that, so why mess with a good thing?

[HenryJ]

IMO, " Blacking out" is done to hide what otherwise would "stick out" That is if it does not have a contrast next to it.

I think that the trucks with flares and rocker panels painted black look pretty good.

However, the paint matched flares on the Sonoma's and Highriders definately look great.



My truck looks a little "funny" (IMO) with the big black flares, but someday I plan to paint body line down black too.

This should hide the "Dumbo" ears, the only problem is that it may tend to make the truck look longer.

Here is a "photochop" of what it might look like:



I'd paint my flares body color, but as many scratches as I have now the paint wouldn't last long. The black plastic tends to hide the scratches pretty good.

[EDWRDM]

has anyone tried to put the larger ZR-2 fender flares onto the ZR-5? One of mine got damaged last week, $292 to replace from the dealer, $222 with my cousins employee discount. The ZR-2 flares are the same price and I'd like to put the 31" tires and wheels and a lift kit to make the ZR-5 have the same appearance as the ZR-2.

[HenryJ]

I'd be really skeptical about Zr2 flares fitting. Not that they could not be made to fit, but it would definately NOT be a direct "bolt-on".



Of course the rears are completely different since we have the Isuzu Hombre styled bed.

The fronts may also pose a problem since the Zr2 may have a larger wheel opening (rumor not confirmed in person)

It would be nice to experiment with though.

The ideal situation would be to find a wrecked one with all the flares intact (fat chance) and transfer the Crew Cab to that chassis, then mod the flares to fit. (pipe dreams)

[SlickDaddy]

I looked into it already.



The front ZR2 flares will fit and align up with the holes you have now. The front consists of 4 pieces, 2 on each side. There is the flare itself and a smaller piece for the lower facia.



The rears im not sure of. Anyways it was way to expensive, $300 for each flare plus $60 for each smaller piece. The whole truck would cost me $1320 from the dealer. Also I was looking at the sonoma's highrider since they would be painted bodycolor.

[HenryJ]

My appoligies I forgot that we were refering to a Zr5 here. There is a good chance the front flares would bolt on.



I stand corrected.