What to do with Side Grills?
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 97
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From: Tuscaloosa AL
What to do with Side Grills?
I've got the side grills sand blasted and ready to do something with and I'm looking for some suggestions on what maybe some of you have done with yours. I really like the look of a different color than original so I'm thinking of painting them a metallic titanium. My 72 is a modified restoration so I'm not going for a complete original look as the Vette I bought had already been modified. The original hood and windshield tray had been removed and an aftermarket hood was added. I actually like it much better knowing what I know now with the windshield tray system. Let me know what you think. Bagger
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 140
From: Western New York
Bagger,
I like a contrasting look, too. My '72, a white convertible with a hardtop, looked plain and simply washed out with all the white. In about 1976, I sandblasted the side vents and painted them a satin black, then used a razor blade to trim the very top edges of the vents. I've had nothing but compliments on them for the last 40 years. It's nice because my '72 now stands out from the crowd. Good luck with your decision.
Duane
I like a contrasting look, too. My '72, a white convertible with a hardtop, looked plain and simply washed out with all the white. In about 1976, I sandblasted the side vents and painted them a satin black, then used a razor blade to trim the very top edges of the vents. I've had nothing but compliments on them for the last 40 years. It's nice because my '72 now stands out from the crowd. Good luck with your decision.
Duane
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
If you blasted them then this might present a problem with using the razor blade to remove the paint from the edges. Originally the grilles were chrome plated on the side and then painted with an etching primer.
If you blasted the chrome off I'm not sure how that would look with the edges done not to mention how they will look if you don't coat them with something. (maybe clear).
What ever you use to color them with I'd still use an etching primer underneath, paint' doesn't like to stick to pot metal all that wel.
-Willcox
If you blasted the chrome off I'm not sure how that would look with the edges done not to mention how they will look if you don't coat them with something. (maybe clear).
What ever you use to color them with I'd still use an etching primer underneath, paint' doesn't like to stick to pot metal all that wel.
-Willcox
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
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From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
It was an easy choice for me with my 72 because even though my car only has 53k. miles the chrome edges were pitted and I thought the chrome on these egg crates looked cheap , so I sandblasted everything to make the epoxy primer and paint stick and just painted the whole thing. In my opinion it looks a whole lot cleaner. I don't want the egg crates to stand out , just blend in with the rest of the car.
