70 - 72 front grille restoration ?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,435
Likes: 793
From: Redondo Beach, California
They are cast aluminum. I've essentially asked this question also. Mine are slightly pitted. I suppose someone skilled could heli-arc in a blob of aluminum and then grind and polish it to restore the surface. I've never seen anyone advertise they could do this.
Last edited by 68/70Vette; Apr 16, 2009 at 06:38 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 223
From: Sherman CT
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
St. Jude Donor '24-'25-'26
I understand it is a very labor intensive (expensive
) proceedure, with a lot of masking and painting and scraping the paint off of the chrome leading edges. Richard Fortier, who advertises in the NCRS driveline publication provides such a service.( I believe he is one of the founders of Paragon reproductions) he is in Michigan and his number is 810 750-1472, I personally haven't had any work done by him, but he has a very good reputation over on the NCRS board. He is even repro'ing the exhaust tips for the 70-72. hope this helps.
) proceedure, with a lot of masking and painting and scraping the paint off of the chrome leading edges. Richard Fortier, who advertises in the NCRS driveline publication provides such a service.( I believe he is one of the founders of Paragon reproductions) he is in Michigan and his number is 810 750-1472, I personally haven't had any work done by him, but he has a very good reputation over on the NCRS board. He is even repro'ing the exhaust tips for the 70-72. hope this helps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Orange Park Florida
Do them yourself. It takes a while, but I stripped my '72 grilles (paint remover) filed down the rough edges, masked the chrome parts and used several coats of etching primer, then painted them with semi-gloss black. They turned out great. And, I painted the center grille to match the car (red) and moved it forward with spacers even with the side/front grilles. Looks good.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 3
From: Woodinville WA
I cleaned mine up and repainted them over the winter. I used the Krylon Fusion paint that has some texture in it and like the color and the feel. I only masked off the outside edge and used a razor blade to scrape the paint off the chrome in the grille area. Mine had very little pitting, mostly just old paint. NCRS may poo-poo what I used, but I am pleased with the results.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 3
From: Nixa Missouri
I cleaned mine up and repainted them over the winter. I used the Krylon Fusion paint that has some texture in it and like the color and the feel. I only masked off the outside edge and used a razor blade to scrape the paint off the chrome in the grille area. Mine had very little pitting, mostly just old paint. NCRS may poo-poo what I used, but I am pleased with the results.
Thats exactly the color I'm looking for.
Thank you.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 954
Likes: 40
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I'm sure it will be cost $300-400$ each.
The best and cheapest way is to restore them by your self if they are not broken or cracked.
Other way is to buy new NOS $500-$700 each, you can find them on ebay.
I restore my front grilles by my self and I think they come very nice.
Avner
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
How much money do you think to spend on sending them to a shop for restoring your original?
I'm sure it will be cost $300-400$ each.
The best and cheapest way is to restore them by your self if they are not broken or cracked.
Other way is to buy new NOS $500-$700 each, you can find them on ebay.
I restore my front grilles by my self and I think they come very nice.
Avner
I'm sure it will be cost $300-400$ each.
The best and cheapest way is to restore them by your self if they are not broken or cracked.
Other way is to buy new NOS $500-$700 each, you can find them on ebay.
I restore my front grilles by my self and I think they come very nice.
Avner
Glenn
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 3
From: Woodinville WA
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Hewitt New Jersey
70-72 Grilles
Is the center section behind the license plate restored the same as the outer grilles with the charcoal grey paint and chrome edges? I just pulled it off of my '70 and have not gotten a close look yet, and the NCRS judging manual does not specifically refer to the center section grille, but speaks mostly about the outer ones. Also, Rustoleum makes this 'Hammered finish' spray paint that I painted some file cabinets a while back with that looks like a dark steel grey with the sort of pebbled finish. I am going to check that out. And, the NCRS restorer did an article on restoring these a while back. I cannot locate the issue though.
Last edited by Lakecreature; Jan 10, 2013 at 01:10 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
The original color of the center grill section is a 'matte' black...close to a flat black, but not quite. There is no chrome on the center section; it is not finished the same as the side sections.
This was true on the piece in my car [which I am convinced came with the car], and another center section that I purchased in a swap meet. Most black surfaces on the C3 are semi-flat or satin black. The center piece is somewhere between flat black and semi-flat black...very dull in sheen.
If you bring that center section forward to blend properly with the side pieces, it also needs to be finished the same to look right: gray color (cast iron or the 'shimmer' stuff) on the sides of the 'egg-crate' slats and chrome color on the front edges.
This was true on the piece in my car [which I am convinced came with the car], and another center section that I purchased in a swap meet. Most black surfaces on the C3 are semi-flat or satin black. The center piece is somewhere between flat black and semi-flat black...very dull in sheen.
If you bring that center section forward to blend properly with the side pieces, it also needs to be finished the same to look right: gray color (cast iron or the 'shimmer' stuff) on the sides of the 'egg-crate' slats and chrome color on the front edges.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Jan 10, 2013 at 03:21 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 897
Likes: 246
From: Green Valley Ca
I understand it is a very labor intensive (expensive) proceedure, with a lot of masking and painting and scraping the paint off of the chrome leading edges. Richard Fortier, who advertises in the NCRS driveline publication provides such a service.( I believe he is one of the founders of Paragon reproductions) he is in Michigan and his number is 810 750-1472, I personally haven't had any work done by him, but he has a very good reputation over on the NCRS board. He is even repro'ing the exhaust tips for the 70-72. hope this helps.
) proceedure, with a lot of masking and painting and scraping the paint off of the chrome leading edges. Richard Fortier, who advertises in the NCRS driveline publication provides such a service.( I believe he is one of the founders of Paragon reproductions) he is in Michigan and his number is 810 750-1472, I personally haven't had any work done by him, but he has a very good reputation over on the NCRS board. He is even repro'ing the exhaust tips for the 70-72. hope this helps.Bob
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 823
Likes: 102
From: St Louis
St. Jude Donor '13
Do them yourself. It takes a while, but I stripped my '72 grilles (paint remover) filed down the rough edges, masked the chrome parts and used several coats of etching primer, then painted them with semi-gloss black. They turned out great. And, I painted the center grille to match the car (red) and moved it forward with spacers even with the side/front grilles. Looks good.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 155
Likes: 5
From: Illinois
Source for Center Grilles?
I have looked for an egg-crate style Center Grille for my 1970, but the catalogs only show those available for 1968-69. In Paragon, for example, there's no part number for 1970-72. Will the 1968-69 Center Grille and Mounting Brackets they sell work on a 1970? Appreciate your help ...
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 97
From: Lake Norman, NC
I have looked for an egg-crate style Center Grille for my 1970, but the catalogs only show those available for 1968-69. In Paragon, for example, there's no part number for 1970-72. Will the 1968-69 Center Grille and Mounting Brackets they sell work on a 1970? Appreciate your help ...
You could also call Gail Gee in Middlebury, PA. I'll bet he has some nice used ones on hand. Gail's phone number is (570) 376-3421. Good guy, nice stuff, fair pricing.
Hope this helps!
Last edited by redrdstr72; Jan 12, 2013 at 07:34 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
I emailed Paul's Chrome Plating about this a few days ago after I saw their ad on "My Classic Car"....$300 a side to restore the chrome; after that I would mask them and repaint the eggcrate part with some gunmetal-colored spray paint. I later discovered that there are still a number of platers operating in Southern CA and am presently in the process of getting quotes...more to come.