Grilles in Wiper Arm Area

[Rodney#40542]

I have a 66 Coupe and the Grilles in the wiper area are Chrome plated. Did they come from the factory plated or painted? I see in the NCRS Technical Guide Manual that they are supposed to be painted body color but mine sure to appear to have been plated from the factory. The car was originally silver if that matters.

Does anyone know the true scoop on this topic?

Thanks

Rodney

[Mike M.]

JG: Grilles in Wiper Arm Area-Painted Body Color *NM*

[Mark F.]

Re: JG: Grilles in Wiper Arm Area-Painted Body Col

Rodney:

I concur that the grille should be body color. Your '66 never had chrome w/s wiper grilles from the factory.

My reason for response is that your car sounds like one I used to own in the 70's. Are the last 5 numbers of your VIN 02667? Car was sold in San Jose CA en route to Placentia CA in '79. A silver/black L-79 with a 65-66 big block hood on it.

Welcome to NCRS. Never met a better bunch of car people.

Mark

[Rodney#40542]

Re: JG: Grilles in Wiper Arm Area-Painted Body Col

Mark, mine is 09605 was originally purchased in St. Louis. I bought the car from the second owner and he sez that he didn't chrome them and he bought it in early 66 after the original owner got 3 speeding tickets and had to get rid of the car.

[William C.]

Re: JG: Grilles in Wiper Arm Area-Painted Body Col

There has never been a documented original set of chrome grilles seen on a car where they could be verified as factory installed. I've seen a lot of nid-years since 1963, and all had painted grilles when new.

[Mike M.]

Re: JG: Grilles in Wiper Arm Area-Painted Body Col

agree with clup. it was camp in the 70's, especially amongst the NCCC guys, to have their ww grills chrome plated. mike

[alan drake]

Re: JG: Grilles in Wiper Arm Area-Painted Body Col

Agree, it sb color of car. Also note the color under the grille is (flat??)black.

[mike geary]

Re: JG: Grilles in Wiper Arm Area-Painted Body Col

The underside of the cowl grilles were also painted body color. If you take the carpets up, you can often find the four overspray patterns on the floor.

[Rodney#40542]

Re: JG: Grilles in Wiper Arm Area-Painted Body Col

Thanks for all the responses. Now I need to go hunting some replacement grilles. Are they all the same from 63-67 coupe and convertible?

Thanks

Rodney

[Jack H.]

Re: JG: Grilles in Wiper Arm Area-Painted Body Col

Same grilles (coupe vs. convertible)... But, instead of hunting down new grilles, why not have your 'originals' de-chromed and save the $$$??? Any decent chrome shop should be able to take your existing grilles, wait until their plating bath is about 'spent' and electrically de-chrome them for a few bucks.

The typical plating house wants to strip existing chrome by acid etch (saves the integrity of their chrome bath) and that can result in excess surface pit. But, a plating shop with savvy, knows they can reverse polarity de-chrome a part fast/easy IF they wait until it's about time to change the chemistry in their chromium tank....