This morning I block sanded the 2K primer and washed the grille bar down with wax and grease remover one more time. Last time at the store I noticed Rustoleum now offers Professional High Performance enamel, which is probably the same paint in a bigger can, but one advantage it offers is a high output spray nozzle that delivers 50% more paint. It actually applies paint more like a spray gun. Two medium mist coats and one heavy wet coat did the trick. No dust or bugs got in the finish, and it stretched out into a nice high gloss.
I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to paint the inside ring of the hub black which will require masking. I’m certainly enthusiastic to get this all back together and be done with this project.