Preserving Grill pieces....C3

[Mark Heff]

I am trying to figure out the best way to preserve/refinish the front grill and side grill pieces from my 70 C3. I want to use them because they are original, but the front L/R grills are somewhat pitted and have a very dull finish at this point. The outside edges of the side grills are very dull also. Is there a way to get these edges looking good again ?
I am being a bit fussy here, they aren't horrible looking, but they certainly don't look original either. "Tired" looking is the best way to describe them. If I decided to purchase the front grill pieces, is there one company that produces close to original ? Thanks for any helpful input.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Preserving Grill pieces....C3

Mark,

1970s use one-year-only grille pieces on the front turn signal grille (side) pieces. They have the studs poking out the back, rather than the screws used in 71 and 72. As such, nobody reproduces them, and they are VERY expensive to purchase used in any condition.

Many people have the side pieces stripped (or do that part themselves) and then have them rechromed. The center piece and side pieces can then have the "egg crate" portions repainted in the correct dark gray. The original code for this paint can be found in the Archives, as can the technique.

The center piece was never chromed, and was of pot metal construction.

Patrick

[Dick W.]

Re: Preserving Grill pieces....C3

The front grilles for your car that are available today are the service replacement that GM sold/sells. One very obvious difference in them vs the ones that you have in your car is the attaching studs. The new ones have the later style attachment without the studs. I believe that there has been one or more articles in the Corvette Restorer magazine dealing with the restoration of these grilles. Replacement grilles are in the range of $300 each so you have quite a bit of leeway in restoration costs. I am not sure what a good plater will charge to replace this grilles, but I would have to guess that it would be in the range of $100+ each being that they are potmetal.

Good luck and Happy Holidays

[Mark Heff]

Re: Preserving Grill pieces....C3

Patrick and (once again) Dick,
Thanks for the input. The side "eggcrates" are going to be re-painted, so I was trying to learn how to bring the edges back to life. I didn't know if they were supposed to be chromed ? I appreciate your info and will look into the Archives section of the site for paint info, etc. I like to keep things original if I can, but will replace if necessary. The front grills didn't look very "chrome", so I didn't know how to bring them back to life either. I wasn't sure if they are supposed to be fully chromed ?? Thanks again for your time on the site. Dick, you are always posting helpful info for lots of folks. It doesn't go un-noticed by this new guy.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Preserving Grill pieces....C3

Mark,

The front side grilles (as opposed to the front center grille; maybe front outer grille is a better name?) hold the turn signals. These pieces were originally chromed, and then painted. The paint is flat black in the small groove around the actual signal lens, and the eggcrate is dark gray. The front edge of the eggcrate portion is left unpainted and so the chrome is visible. The entire front center grille is painted, and did not have any chrome on it.

The side gills were originally chromed and then painted too, but I was not referring to them; perhaps you were.

As I noted, the current front outer grille replacements are actually correct for 1971 only as they have the provision for fiber optic lights but attach via screws installed from the front edge.

Original 1970 grilles will go for at least 50% more than what Dick quoted, and I heard of an NOS set about 2 years ago at $1600. So, you REALLY have a lot of room to work with on restoring yours if they are original.

Patrick

[Chuck S.]

Re: Preserving Grill pieces....C3

Mark, you might try using Simichrome polish on all the exposed chrome areas, then giving the entire grille a good cleaning with dish washing detergent. In fact, you might start the process with a good cleaning using a stiff brush in all the corners, then wash it again after polishing to remove the residue. This process will be extremely labor intensive, but may allow you keep the grilles completely original. Removal and disassembly of the grille will be the best approach.

If the dullness you're seeing on the chrome is road film, you may be able to remove it with the polish. If the chrome remains dull after polishing, you may only be satisfied with having them rechromed and repainted.

[Wayne K.]

Re: Preserving Grill pieces....C3

Mark,

To make the cleaning process easier put them in the dishwasher on the pot scrub cycle but take them out before the dry cycle. If your married you may have to give your wife some shopping money and do it when she is gone.

Wayne

[Dick W.]

Re: Preserving Grill pieces....C3

Wayne, excellent idea. How many "frogskins" did that cost you? Or lumps on the head when you got caught?

Merry Christmas to all

[Mark Heff]

Re: Preserving Grill pieces....C3

Thanks for the info. I didn't know the turn signal area should be black and rest of grill gray, Patrick, that helps a lot. The grills are already out, so I'll be working on them, dishwasher/semichrome/toothbrush,etc. I think they will need chromed anyway, but a good cleaning will be attempted regardless. I definately have the correct 70 front grills, so want to keep and use them. The process of chroming the side gills, then painting in the correct areas sounds a bit tricky as far as showing the chrome edges again...I'll attempt to check the Archives section for the correct process of doing this.
Appreciate the replys.
Mark

[Wayne K.]

Re: Preserving Grill pieces....C3

Mark,

The side grills I did when I had my 70 turned out nice using fineline masking tape the correct width. Any automotive body shop supplier should have the tape.

Wayne

[Wayne K.]

She uses plastic when she goes shopping..

and I'm hoping she don't read this board as my head is plenty lumpy already from doing other naughty stuff.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Preserving Grill pieces....C3

Mark, correct 70 side grills have exposed chrome edges ONLY on the horizontal bars. The vertical edges of the louvers do not have raised edges like later 71-72 grills and are not chrome, but are body color like the louvers themselves.

[Mark Heff]

Re: Preserving Grill pieces....C3

Chuck, I tried to email you direct. Didn't work. Appreciate the info.
I'm still a bit confused about the side gills color/chome combo. Not sure what is painted body color, chromed, etc. What I understand so far is, chrome goes on edges that are horizontal only ?? Body color on vertical edges ? And what about the inside area of the louvers ? Body color or the gray color referred to earlier ? I don't have AIM yet. Just trying to get the scoop here, and trying to do it correct the first time. Sorry if I sound like a "dummy", just learning. THANKS.
Mark

[Chuck S.]

Re: Preserving Grill pieces....C3

Mark, sorry about the email. Some ISPs are used so much by spammers that I have set my spam program to refuse those ISPs altogether...hotmail.com is one example.

I think I may have misunderstood your question, and further confused you by talking about (fender) side grilles when you were asking about (front) side grilles. I will clarify the finish on both the front grilles and fender grilles

For the fender grille, think of it as a square-cornered, flat-bottomed "U" laying on its side: For 70, the "U" outline or outside edge of the grille is chrome, and the horizontal bars in the grate have chrome edges. All of the remaining area inside the "U" that is visible on the outside of the body (the angled louvers) is painted the same color as the body. Some restorers have made the mistake of masking the vertical edges of the louvers to leave them chrome...incorrect for 70, correct for 71-72.

The gray mentioned earlier by Patrick Hulst is only used on the front grilles. On the front grilles, there is a slight step just behind the front chrome edge of the vertical and horizontal bars. That step is where the painted area starts on the left/right grilles. The center grill is painted all gray with no chrome edges...the part is not even chrome plated.

If you have further questions, post only your ISP (not your address), and I will inform the gatekeeper.

[Mark Heff]

Re: Preserving Grill pieces....C3

Chuck,
GOT IT ! I understand. I appreciate your follow-up. The guy who will paint my car will need to know these important issues concerning, paint, chrome, etc. Now, if I can just get thru the Archives section properly and find out the proper Gray and Black Paint to use on the front grills.....Thanks again Chuck.
Mark