Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

[Jeff W.]

I am sure everyone is tired of visiting this, but here goes. Having blown my budget for my annual winter project I am touching up my grills that are going to need to be sent out and re-chromed at some point. I purchased the OEM Trim Coat spray can that the rep said matches the color exactly. The can top, as you see in the picture, matched perfectly but came out much darker. I have read through several other posts and this color has been described as "dark gray". What I had on my grill was not dark gray, but a light gray as seen in one of the photos with the tape peeled back. I plan on talking to OEM paints on Monday because if the paint came out as the color on the can top it would have matched perfectly. I have seen the PPG#32939, but I am not set up to use a spray gun.
Your thoughts?
Thanks

[Terry M.]

Re: Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

Jeff,
Are the last pictures (far right) the unmasked photos? I ask because I believe the chrome should be showing on the lower surface of the horizontal step as well as the front face of the grilles.

[Jeff W.]

Re: Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

Yes it is a shot of the front. I need to strip some the rails still and I need to get the entire set up re-chromed and that will have to wait for a while, my concern is the color of the OEM paint if that is correct or not.
Jeff

[Terry M.]

Re: Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

I understand your concern about color, and I tend to agree with you -- it is lighter than I would expect. Lighting is such an issue in photographs that I am reluctant to pass judgment on the shade without seeing it in person. If you believe the photos fairly represent the color, then yes, I think it is too light.

I mentioned the painted v chromed area to be sure you were aware of the proper line of demarcation.

[Jeff W.]

Re: Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

Terry I was thinking that the last picture was actually too dark. I thought the color shouls have been like the light gray cap in the first picture.

[Terry M.]

Re: Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

Which is the more accurate representation in the third photo -- the row closer to the camera, or those farther away?

I think the row close to the camers, where one can see the sparkles, is acceptable -- but in my opinion still on the light side.

Rememebr you asked for opinions, and you know what the expression is about opinions?

[Jeff W.]

Re: Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

Terry I do appreciate the opinions. This will get me by until I am able to re-chrome and then I will get some of the PPG and have them sprayed. Thanks for the help.

[Alan S.]

Re: Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

Hi Jeff,
May I suggest that in your search for colors you give Eastwood's 'Zinc Phosphate' spray paint a look.
It might even still fit in this Winter's budget!!!
Regards,
Alan

[Jeff W.]

Re: Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

Terry, I have been informed that I did not use the correct terminoligy for what I have been asking. The above shots are of my side marker grills. Does that change your assesment of the grill color or did you understand what I meant?
Thanks for the help
Jeff

[Jeff W.]

Re: Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

The parking light grills not the center grill

[Patrick H.]

Re: Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

Terry I was thinking that the last picture was actually too dark. I thought the color should have been like the light gray cap in the first picture.

Nope.

I suspect there may be a limit as to that color(s) can be molded into a cap, and their accuracy. I think you may be asking too much of a piece of plastic.

The correct gray is a very dark gray. Some have even thought it appears as flat black but it a dark gray. So if anything the paint color may still be too light. Unfortunately I can't find a picture of my grilles (!) to show you this.

As an FYI, the "service" grilles that came from GM for many years were painted in a lighter gray color as well as masked in a different fashion. So, if you're trying to match your old color, you may have had a) grilles repainted by a previous owner, or b) grilles painted by GM in a color that differs from the color we expect.

I hope that helps.

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Re: Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

I took it you were referring to the front grilles, with the parking lights in them. I was NOT considering the center grille. I think we were on the same page.

I am delighted to see Patrick's post above. I was beginning to think I had this wrong.

I will get to the garage at my earliest opportunity, but I am not optimistic that 1) a photo can do justice to the finish of these grilles, and 2) mine are probably dirty and cleaning them will not happen in the wintertime given the lack of heat in my garage. So I expect a sub-par photo at best.

I remember quite some years ago, when I was preparing the car for final Duntov judging, my daughter and I cleaned the front grilles. At the time she had small hands, and was able to get between the openings easily. I was stunned at how the coating sparkled on those when it was clean, and how the chrome edges set off the dark interior finish. It was much more pronounced in sunlight than in artificial light. That is why I am not optimistic that a photo, unless taken by someone more skilled than I, will do that finish justice.

[Jeff W.]

Re: Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

Thanks to everyone for their input. I am going to go forward with finishing up the project as I am getting the itch to feel the wind blowing through what little hair I have left.
Jeff

[Patrick H.]

Re: Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

Thanks to everyone for their input. I am going to go forward with finishing up the project as I am getting the itch to feel the wind blowing through what little hair I have left.
Jeff

FYI, the "masking lines" you show above are not exactly in the correct place.
Also, the center grille should NOT be chromed, just the side marker grilles.

Just wanted to be sure you understood this before moving on.

Patrick

[Jeff W.]

Re: Another round of C3 grill questions, sorry

Thanks Patrick, I was doing a test on the grills when I took that picture. I decided to paint them and get them back on the car for this year and next winter have them rechromed. Here is a pic of the finished product.