Big Block Hood Grilles/vents 1966
I removed the vents and had them stripped because they were pitted. I thought I remember that the flat edge that goes around the out side is chrome and the edges of each opening is chrome and the inside or flat edge of the opening is argent. Does any body have and original that could help me with this.
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Re: Big Block Hood Grilles/vents 1966
You are correct! The flat edge is chromed along with the edge of each rib. Argent Silver for the rest of the ribs.
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Re: Big Block Hood Grilles/vents 1966
Wayne,
I have both originals and repos here in my hand and not a chance they have ever seen any black. The repos don't seem to have the argent silver on the back of the ribs. The rain shields are black and the small brackets are black phosphate.
Another opportunity to make the Judging Manual more original.
TheComment
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Re: Big Block Hood Grilles/vents 1966
David, I have late 66 originals and they are the chrome and argent silver as described. I did have to install rain shields. My question is does anyone have a good picture showing the "dum-dum" caulking around an original factory installed rain shield? Thanks, see you in Florida next week!Comment
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Re: Big Block Hood Grilles/vents 1966
Curt --- here's the factory 'dum-dum' on the passenger side shield of my late 396 (#23564 -- next BB hood installed was on a '66
). The owner in the '68-'71 period removed the rain shields [like many BB owners did back then] and stored them with the original valve covers in his father's barn, in Marshall Texas. I acquired them in early '90s, and there's been no "restoration".
Took 2 pics to show the detail -- firewall end is on left; radiator end is on right. Chrome plated Phillips screws were used. Haven't taken the drivers' side off, but if memory serves, it's similar. Looks like they used a dab of the material to hold the forward retainer on the shield (but now only outline remains). I used a dab of some other whitish-transparent glue to hold them in place for my installation.
You can see the outline (on the top edge) where the dum-dum extended along 95% (at least) of the length.Comment
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Re: Big Block Hood Grilles/vents 1966
Hello Wayne,Curt --- here's the factory 'dum-dum' on the passenger side shield of my late 396 (#23564 -- next BB hood installed was on a '66). The owner in the '68-'71 period removed the rain shields [like many BB owners did back then] and stored them with the original valve covers in his father's barn, in Marshall Texas. I acquired them in early '90s, and there's been no "restoration".
Took 2 pics to show the detail -- firewall end is on left; radiator end is on right. Chrome plated Phillips screws were used. Haven't taken the drivers' side off, but if memory serves, it's similar. Looks like they used a dab of the material to hold the forward retainer on the shield (but now only outline remains). I used a dab of some other whitish-transparent glue to hold them in place for my installation.
You can see the outline (on the top edge) where the dum-dum extended along 95% (at least) of the length.
I'm searching for the answer to my question of whether the 65 BB hood rain shields were in place during the hood black out. By the description you've given here they were not.
My next question is what shade of black were these rain shields? Are they the standard semi-flat back or are they more of a semi-gloss black?
From your description the retainwers have a blacl/gray phosphate finishe and are hend in place with chrome phillips head screws and some sort of strip caulking material.
Would you be so kinds to take a picture or two of the phillips screws for me and post them?
I'd appreciate any info you could give me.
As always thanks for your help!
Best Regards,
James West
Omaha, NE.Comment
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Re: Big Block Hood Grilles/vents 1966
James,
The hood grille shields were definitely not in place during the hood and engine compartment blackout.
The shields were dipped in basically the same black that was sprayed on the hood but because they were dipped, they would automatically look a bit more toward the glossy side.
The retainers were a grey plating of some sort.
If I remember correctly, there was also a length of "strip calk" between the shield and the hood.Comment
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Re: Big Block Hood Grilles/vents 1966
James -- Michael H. has answered most of your questions. Here's 2 more pics (add to those of mine in the post of Jan 16th, above). I just took a rag with Varsol, and all I could get is what I'd call a semi-gloss. On the 2nd pic close-up of the screws, you can see a drip (run) of the paint around the hole, confirming Michael's description of the method of painting.
[shields removed from very late 396 in 1969-70 timeframe, and stored in barn]
As for the screws, all 6 of mine are chromed Phillips, but 2 are LONGER and have NO captured toothed washers. Which leads me to assume (always dangerous
) that the long ones were at the middle locations (with the large hole -- ie. the one that goes on first to hold the chromed grille in place), and the others for the outboard holes (the ones that hold the shield in place and also the grille.
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Re: Big Block Hood Grilles/vents 1966
On these Big Block Grilles, the early ones had the forward most (triangular shape) louver "open to the back side".
Is this on both sides? (or just one side), and at what time period did they become closed off? Mid year 1966?Comment
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Re: Big Block Hood Grilles/vents 1966
Ron -- where do you come up with these sorts of observations ?
Are you working on the 17th edition of the judging guides ?
Here's the left (open triangle) and right (closed) on my late late 396. Can't vouch if grilles are original, although the rain shields are (removed [weren't they all ?] and stored in 1969 era owner's barn). Hopefully others will respond.Comment
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Re: Big Block Hood Grilles/vents 1966
Wayne,
I can't vouch for the two prior 66 BB that I know for sure were real as I found about this recently, however, the car I have now matches your last 65 396 description and that of another's March 66 BB.
I have heard that early on both sides of the tool were open and that by the time these became service parts, both sides were closed off - flashed over in my automotive parts lingo.
Maybe we'll get a couple of the early 65 396 guys to respond or it will be something to look at in the next regional/national.Comment
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Re: Big Block Hood Grilles/vents 1966
How about the fasteners?
Screws or hex nuts?Comment
. Pic is from an extremely late '65 BB [but can't guarantee they weren't replaced by previous owners].
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