How to clean up front grills? '72

[Douglas M.]

The front grills on my car are OK, with just some very minor pitting, but they look dirty back in the lattice, and even #0000 steel wool with WD40 doesn't seems to want to clean the dirt off.

What are my options on refinishing these, so they look new, and correct?

Any recommendations of who does this work? I am thinking complete rechrome and then painting of the lattice.

Thanks,
Doug

[Edward J.]

Re: How to clean up front grills? '72

Doug, I re-did my 72 grills just by painting them and cleaning the chrome edges, I did get the correct paint from OEM paints, it came in a spray bomb and was a perfect match.

Use a paint stripper on them and then steel wool, then you'll need a self etching primer then the correct paint to re-paint.

One note is to take a close look at the way the factory painted them, or even take a few pic.s of them so you can duplicate it. the area of the parking lamps there is a fade out of the black.

P.S The paint was't cheap for a spray can of paint, If by chance they are not making it anymore I Still have left over paint more than enough to redo another pair of grills, I would ask something for it and the shipping though. thanks Ed

[Alan S.]

Re: How to clean up front grills? '72

Hi Doug,
I agree with Edward about the repainting the areas of the grills that were painted originally.
If you believe your grills still have the original paint on them take a close look to see what parts of the grills and egg-crates were painted originally and what parts had the underlying chrome exposed. For example, the lowest row of egg-crates had no chrome showing. Also the chrome accent strip around the parking/directional lens has a groove in it that was painted black. Take a close look to see where that black paint ends.... typically about even with that painted row of egg-crates.
If you do decide to re-paint you may also want to re-do the painted areas on the bumperettes which had the same paint on them.
I found that because of how low the grills are mounted, (and the condition of our backs), even if the chrome plating on them isn't perfect they can still make a good appearance if detailed well.
Regards,
Alan

[Les G.]

Re: How to clean up front grills? '72

I purchased Cast Blast paint and refinished my grills, it is a perfect match to the original color. Also purchased special masking tape the width of the grill bars and taped everything. Did the bumper guards the same.

[Joseph M.]

Re: How to clean up front grills? '72

If you don't want to do the work yourself, Richard Fortier can do the restoration. He did my 70. Richard advertises in the Driveline

[Douglas M.]

Re: How to clean up front grills? '72

If you don't want to do the work yourself, Richard Fortier can do the restoration. He did my 70. Richard advertises in the Driveline

Thank you, but I do most of my own work.

This car isn't NCRS, but I did about everything except paint it.
I paid $500 for it in 1974, out of a Corvette junkyard.

Doug

[Douglas M.]

Re: How to clean up front grills? '72

BTW, the weird stuff under my '61 is lift bars in front of the rear wheels, and an air dam in front, and the usual header collectors underneath. I originally installed the air dam for fuel econ reasons, but found it helps high speed stability in the 75-130 MPH range.

For those that may wonder why the car is this way, instead of more original, when I bought the car, it had been wrecked, with moderate 'glas damage on one front corner, and no motor or trans, and seems to have been drag raced in the 1960's, based on the remains of wheelie bar brackets.

Knowing there was no hope of ever finding the original motor as the car was wrecked in idaho in 1969, and bought by me in MT in 1974, I choose a different path for it.

Doug

[Alan S.]

Re: How to clean up front grills? '72

Hi Doug,
Boy!!!
Those are some GREAT pictures of a really neat car.
The second from the last makes you think you have to get out of the way!!
It's always fun to see what people have in the garage.
Regards,
Alan

[John H.]

Re: How to clean up front grills? '72

Good-lookin' car, Doug!

[Douglas M.]

Re: How to clean up front grills? '72

Good-lookin' car, Doug!

Thank you.

It has come a long way since 1974. And these pics were after I replaced the left front fender and stripped and primed it.

Doug