1972 Side grille Restoration Question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 119
Likes: 3
1972 Side grille Restoration Question
I'm prolly going to sound like an idiot on this one (feel free to let me know I am if you want) but here goes...
... continuing the body off restoration of my 1972 coupe, the body is now in the paint shop and I received a call today with questions from the painter on the side grilles, which I totally forgot to go over with him. They've been wrapped up in paper and in a box since restore began... which has been a couple years. Turns out that there are a few areas where the chrome is flaking off in places (the thin chrome strips on the edges of the fins - not sure what to call those). Anyway where the chrome has flaked off, Bryar Blue paint can be seen underneath them in places.
Can anyone share the correct method of restoring those side grilles including how to reapply the thin chrome strips on the edges of the fins? Given the blue paint apparently underneath the chrome in spots, were the chrome strips applied somehow after the grille was painted? I'd appreciate some tips on how to proceed with restoration of the side grilles.. especially since the painter is waiting for me to advise what to do with them.
Thanks so much in advance !!!!
Roger
... continuing the body off restoration of my 1972 coupe, the body is now in the paint shop and I received a call today with questions from the painter on the side grilles, which I totally forgot to go over with him. They've been wrapped up in paper and in a box since restore began... which has been a couple years. Turns out that there are a few areas where the chrome is flaking off in places (the thin chrome strips on the edges of the fins - not sure what to call those). Anyway where the chrome has flaked off, Bryar Blue paint can be seen underneath them in places.
Can anyone share the correct method of restoring those side grilles including how to reapply the thin chrome strips on the edges of the fins? Given the blue paint apparently underneath the chrome in spots, were the chrome strips applied somehow after the grille was painted? I'd appreciate some tips on how to proceed with restoration of the side grilles.. especially since the painter is waiting for me to advise what to do with them.
Thanks so much in advance !!!!
Roger
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I'm prolly going to sound like an idiot on this one (feel free to let me know I am if you want) but here goes...
... continuing the body off restoration of my 1972 coupe, the body is now in the paint shop and I received a call today with questions from the painter on the side grilles, which I totally forgot to go over with him. They've been wrapped up in paper and in a box since restore began... which has been a couple years. Turns out that there are a few areas where the chrome is flaking off in places (the thin chrome strips on the edges of the fins - not sure what to call those). Anyway where the chrome has flaked off, Bryar Blue paint can be seen underneath them in places.
Can anyone share the correct method of restoring those side grilles including how to reapply the thin chrome strips on the edges of the fins? Given the blue paint apparently underneath the chrome in spots, were the chrome strips applied somehow after the grille was painted? I'd appreciate some tips on how to proceed with restoration of the side grilles.. especially since the painter is waiting for me to advise what to do with them.
Thanks so much in advance !!!!
Roger
... continuing the body off restoration of my 1972 coupe, the body is now in the paint shop and I received a call today with questions from the painter on the side grilles, which I totally forgot to go over with him. They've been wrapped up in paper and in a box since restore began... which has been a couple years. Turns out that there are a few areas where the chrome is flaking off in places (the thin chrome strips on the edges of the fins - not sure what to call those). Anyway where the chrome has flaked off, Bryar Blue paint can be seen underneath them in places.
Can anyone share the correct method of restoring those side grilles including how to reapply the thin chrome strips on the edges of the fins? Given the blue paint apparently underneath the chrome in spots, were the chrome strips applied somehow after the grille was painted? I'd appreciate some tips on how to proceed with restoration of the side grilles.. especially since the painter is waiting for me to advise what to do with them.
Thanks so much in advance !!!!
Roger
Generally you tape off the chrome edge which on a 1971 and 1972 car is pretty easy, on the 1970 (yes the grill was different) you must be a bit more creative.
You can paint the entire grille and then trim off the edges with a razor blade or something similar.
Willcox
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
Pretty much sums it up. To save a little shop charge, I stripped the grills with paint stripper. Then I tried to scratch up the surface, but chrome is hard to scratch, so I used aluminum tape on the edges and very lightly bead blasted the areas to be painted. After removing the aluminum tape I masked the top edges using 3m striping tape. Then handed them off to my painter. We decided to use a flat paint on the grilles. My car is black, used the same flat black on the wiper door moulding as well. I like it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
I'm prolly going to sound like an idiot on this one (feel free to let me know I am if you want) but here goes...
... continuing the body off restoration of my 1972 coupe, the body is now in the paint shop and I received a call today with questions from the painter on the side grilles, which I totally forgot to go over with him. They've been wrapped up in paper and in a box since restore began... which has been a couple years. Turns out that there are a few areas where the chrome is flaking off in places (the thin chrome strips on the edges of the fins - not sure what to call those). Anyway where the chrome has flaked off, Bryar Blue paint can be seen underneath them in places.
Can anyone share the correct method of restoring those side grilles including how to reapply the thin chrome strips on the edges of the fins? Given the blue paint apparently underneath the chrome in spots, were the chrome strips applied somehow after the grille was painted? I'd appreciate some tips on how to proceed with restoration of the side grilles.. especially since the painter is waiting for me to advise what to do with them.
Thanks so much in advance !!!!
Roger
... continuing the body off restoration of my 1972 coupe, the body is now in the paint shop and I received a call today with questions from the painter on the side grilles, which I totally forgot to go over with him. They've been wrapped up in paper and in a box since restore began... which has been a couple years. Turns out that there are a few areas where the chrome is flaking off in places (the thin chrome strips on the edges of the fins - not sure what to call those). Anyway where the chrome has flaked off, Bryar Blue paint can be seen underneath them in places.
Can anyone share the correct method of restoring those side grilles including how to reapply the thin chrome strips on the edges of the fins? Given the blue paint apparently underneath the chrome in spots, were the chrome strips applied somehow after the grille was painted? I'd appreciate some tips on how to proceed with restoration of the side grilles.. especially since the painter is waiting for me to advise what to do with them.
Thanks so much in advance !!!!
Roger
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,230
Likes: 4,324
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Roger,
The discovery by the painter of blue paint UNDER the presently exposed but flaking off 'chrome' makes me think that the grills were previously painted in their entirety and then a chrome like/silver 'finish' was applied OVER the paint.
I'd be interested in knowing what is under this blue paint…. perhaps the original chromed surface is still there… but you won't know that until ALL the paint is off the grills. Hopefully the chrome finish will be in good shape.
Two methods to achieve an appearance similar to that of the originals are to; one, tape the raised edges of the 'fins' with 1/8"/1/16" tape before painting, or two, use a fine, very sharp blade like one of the x-acto shapes to 'peel' the paint off the surfaces of the grill immediately after they've been painted. If the blade is really sharp and the timing is good the paint comes off in long 'strings'.
With some careful work either of these methods can lead to quite nice results.
I like the latter 'blade' method because I feel the 'tape' method leaves too much of a built up paint 'edge' where the tape is pulled which isn't consistent with the original appearance of the grill which I think may have been painted with some sort of mask (?) in place.
Regards,
Alan
The discovery by the painter of blue paint UNDER the presently exposed but flaking off 'chrome' makes me think that the grills were previously painted in their entirety and then a chrome like/silver 'finish' was applied OVER the paint.
I'd be interested in knowing what is under this blue paint…. perhaps the original chromed surface is still there… but you won't know that until ALL the paint is off the grills. Hopefully the chrome finish will be in good shape.
Two methods to achieve an appearance similar to that of the originals are to; one, tape the raised edges of the 'fins' with 1/8"/1/16" tape before painting, or two, use a fine, very sharp blade like one of the x-acto shapes to 'peel' the paint off the surfaces of the grill immediately after they've been painted. If the blade is really sharp and the timing is good the paint comes off in long 'strings'.
With some careful work either of these methods can lead to quite nice results.
I like the latter 'blade' method because I feel the 'tape' method leaves too much of a built up paint 'edge' where the tape is pulled which isn't consistent with the original appearance of the grill which I think may have been painted with some sort of mask (?) in place.
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Damascus MD
Painting side grills
Couple thoughts.
If using lacquer the razor blade method works very well.
If going with BC/CC it takes a bit more work IMHO.
The tape works well with BC/CC but you will get better results by re-taping between each stage since the paint will be a bit thicker and it will be harder to use a razor blade without chipping.
We painted and stripped my 70 grills 3 times before getting it right with the BC/CC.
We stripped, used a high quality etching primer (taped first). Then removed tape and used a razor blade and a little lacquer thinner to make sure the edges looked correct. Then we re-taped and repeated for the base coat. Re-taped one last time and shot the clear. Removed the tape and VERY carefully touched up with razor blade and lacquer thinner.
Lastly we baked them in the booth at the body shop.
Bill
If using lacquer the razor blade method works very well.
If going with BC/CC it takes a bit more work IMHO.
The tape works well with BC/CC but you will get better results by re-taping between each stage since the paint will be a bit thicker and it will be harder to use a razor blade without chipping.
We painted and stripped my 70 grills 3 times before getting it right with the BC/CC.
We stripped, used a high quality etching primer (taped first). Then removed tape and used a razor blade and a little lacquer thinner to make sure the edges looked correct. Then we re-taped and repeated for the base coat. Re-taped one last time and shot the clear. Removed the tape and VERY carefully touched up with razor blade and lacquer thinner.
Lastly we baked them in the booth at the body shop.
Bill
