You can easily strip the chrome from the grille or grille frame with Muriatic Acid. You can buy a gallon at Lowe's for $7.00. The chrome will just melt off, but the acid won't touch the plastic. BTW, use gloves.

Apply a spray on adhesive promoter, primer, and paint, and you can get a gorgeous grille from a spray can. I've had several paint guys think I got it professionally painted! Key is to wet sand the primer and color if you want a perfect finish. Even without sanding, it comes out very nice.

I even have professional air spray HVLP equipment, and the spray can finish is so easy, I didn't feel like pulling out the HVLP gun for this little grille frame. Nobody has been able to tell thus far... (keep the secret!).

 

I have done it to my 96 Dodge and like it alot better than the chrome. Next I will be painting the front chrome bumper to match the truck to. I have pics of mine in my profile here of mine, and it was painted with a can of spray paint to.

 

Acid dip or Soda Blast, either will work fine as long as the plastic is hard enough. But for 22 bucks I'd buy one just to keep the old one as a spare, never know when its gonna break. BTW, find a better way to fasten it on, otherwise they rattle going down the road when the rivets bust.