grille replating
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: greeley pa.
grille replating
My rt side front grille is in need of new chrome.I used a shop in NJ for my rear bumpers some years ago and would use them again.Here's my question,I am assuming that the entire piece is dipped,if so how do i go about restoring the black areas? These are the '70 style,no screw holes.thanks,JC
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,404
Likes: 791
From: Redondo Beach, California
Don't quite understand. Here's a best try answer. The front grills (left and right) on the 1970's were cast aluminum and then they were chrome plated. For restorers this is a problem. There's not many chrome shops that can replate aluminum. To repair a used grill, your used grills have to electrolytically stripped of chrome/nickel/copper and then polished. Next they have to be first anodyzed. The plating process will needs to put copper over the aluminum, but the since the two metals are electically differenti an conductive anodyzing coating must be applied to the aluminum before the copper is applied. This conductive anodyzing processing is something that most chrome shops cannot do. However, once done the standard copper/nickel/chrome plating process follows. ....This my best understanding. I'm not an expert. Maybe someone has better knowledge and can fill in.
Last edited by 68/70Vette; Nov 28, 2006 at 11:11 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,347
Likes: 9
From: Salinas Ca.
Originally Posted by early71
My rt side front grille is in need of new chrome.I used a shop in NJ for my rear bumpers some years ago and would use them again.Here's my question,I am assuming that the entire piece is dipped,if so how do i go about restoring the black areas? These are the '70 style,no screw holes.thanks,JC
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 793
Likes: 11
From: Grafton MA
can someone post a closeup pic of what the grill is supposed to look like? On my 71 the chrome is decent...but on the bottom surface looks like it was black but it is chipping and it looks chrome underneath. i'm not sure what is supposed to be chrome and what's supposed to be black. I wanted to try to paint mine too....heck of a lot cheaper than buying new ones...couldn't believe how expensive replacements are.
Thanks,
Paul
Thanks,
Paul
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 197
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Muddywaters
Mask all the non chrome areas off and shoot it!! Muddy
mask & shoot. The catch is they were not sprayed black from the factory, they are a greyish color. I did a search and found the correct color. This photo may help
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 197
Likes: 1
Jeff,
I found the correct color on the forum........It was a dupont color, I went to my local supply house and found a color in spray can form that is almost exact.....(only the NCRS guys will know)
It is Dupli-Color Import Auto Spray dark grey # 8800564, I know the color is almost perfect because I bought two new bumperettes and they have a painted area next to the chrome and it looks great!
Oh and buy the way mask & shoot does mean spray paint
Good luck with your project
Butch
I found the correct color on the forum........It was a dupont color, I went to my local supply house and found a color in spray can form that is almost exact.....(only the NCRS guys will know)
It is Dupli-Color Import Auto Spray dark grey # 8800564, I know the color is almost perfect because I bought two new bumperettes and they have a painted area next to the chrome and it looks great!
Oh and buy the way mask & shoot does mean spray paint
Good luck with your project
Butch
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 91
Had the grill formula for a long time. posted awhile back
Gray: Dupont 863-42103 to match WOA-3406" (one paint dealer reports to match WOE-340 in 1998) This spec, which is off the original print, may mean little to a Dupont supplier. Use code 9931 below for current (in 1999) match.
Use primer/sealer first then:
use Dupont code 9931 at 5% gloss level. (a flattener will have to be added to achieve this level) This code also includes an additive that will yield the rough surface of the gray area.
Upon calling Dupont directly, the Dupont Number 863-42103 is not found in their data files,but the Old Stock# Dupont code 9931 is, and is superceded by their new number for DK GRAY METALIC 723199 and that formulation date was 8/2/1990.Both paint codes were acrylic laquer,or Lucite.
The paint shops reccommend a color photo to match the existing color,since laquer here in N.Y. is no longer available.The paint can be made in a Base Coat Clear Coat.
Dupont was kind enough to fax the ingredients of the Grey 723199.Their phone number is 1-800-338-7668.
Gray: Dupont 863-42103 to match WOA-3406" (one paint dealer reports to match WOE-340 in 1998) This spec, which is off the original print, may mean little to a Dupont supplier. Use code 9931 below for current (in 1999) match.
Use primer/sealer first then:
use Dupont code 9931 at 5% gloss level. (a flattener will have to be added to achieve this level) This code also includes an additive that will yield the rough surface of the gray area.
Upon calling Dupont directly, the Dupont Number 863-42103 is not found in their data files,but the Old Stock# Dupont code 9931 is, and is superceded by their new number for DK GRAY METALIC 723199 and that formulation date was 8/2/1990.Both paint codes were acrylic laquer,or Lucite.
The paint shops reccommend a color photo to match the existing color,since laquer here in N.Y. is no longer available.The paint can be made in a Base Coat Clear Coat.
Dupont was kind enough to fax the ingredients of the Grey 723199.Their phone number is 1-800-338-7668.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 473
Likes: 6
From: New Port Richey FL
I've had better luck just spraying everything and then wipe with a rag soaked in mineral spirits for the area that doesn't need paint, usually just the raised area. Works great for redoing your rally hubs too.