auto body question side grilles
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
The original grilles were chrome plated and then painted. If yours are chrome, buff the edges, primer with zinc chromate and paint them.
If the chrome is bad you will need to plate them first. If the chrome is gone and you buff up the pot metal it will shine for a while but will dull pretty quickly.
Taping them off will be a challenge, striping tape makes it easier.
Willcox
If the chrome is bad you will need to plate them first. If the chrome is gone and you buff up the pot metal it will shine for a while but will dull pretty quickly.
Taping them off will be a challenge, striping tape makes it easier.
Willcox
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
The rh side show up now and then on the flea bay, but no both are discontinued.
We sold our last RH about a month ago. Used we have one set left.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=24654
Willcox Inc.
We sold our last RH about a month ago. Used we have one set left.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=24654
Willcox Inc.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,214
Likes: 4,302
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi C71,
When I painted my side grills I taped the chrome edge. I didn't like the resulting look because I felt there was too much paint build up at the edge between of the chrome and paint.
I started over, painted the grills entirely, and used a VERY sharp blade to scrape/ shave the paint off the chrome. I did this as soon as the paint had flashed. The paint is still relatively soft so you get a very nice clean edge and the paint comes off in long 'strings'.
I used this same method inside the car on the gauge bezels, and console plate, and trim.
With a little practice I found it easy and got good results.
Regards,
Alan
When I painted my side grills I taped the chrome edge. I didn't like the resulting look because I felt there was too much paint build up at the edge between of the chrome and paint.
I started over, painted the grills entirely, and used a VERY sharp blade to scrape/ shave the paint off the chrome. I did this as soon as the paint had flashed. The paint is still relatively soft so you get a very nice clean edge and the paint comes off in long 'strings'.
I used this same method inside the car on the gauge bezels, and console plate, and trim.
With a little practice I found it easy and got good results.
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,214
Likes: 4,302
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi C71,
I spent 14 years restoring my 71 in my basement. The list of things I had to learn how to do and then try 5 times to get right is longer than my arm.
For some really odd people the joy is in the journey.
Regards,
Alan
PS: Here's a picture of the grills right before I stared with the exact-o blade. The dog is very faithful but very little help. She continues to eat wads of masking tape, but is good enough to go outside to gag them back up. She'd be hurt if she knew her head wasn't in the picture.
I spent 14 years restoring my 71 in my basement. The list of things I had to learn how to do and then try 5 times to get right is longer than my arm.
For some really odd people the joy is in the journey.
Regards,
Alan
PS: Here's a picture of the grills right before I stared with the exact-o blade. The dog is very faithful but very little help. She continues to eat wads of masking tape, but is good enough to go outside to gag them back up. She'd be hurt if she knew her head wasn't in the picture.
